A little while back my dad, my brother, and myself went out shooting. We went out into the desert, and to a common spot that a lot of people shoot. This day was no exception. What I observed others doing made my skin crawl. There was blatant disregard for not only the most basic safety procedures while shooting but even the most basic common sense concepts. I know not every group of shooters out in the desert has a NRA Certified Range Safety Officer present. However some of these groups that were out there shooting we're doing some thing that were so brazenly stupid I was firmly convinced that what I was exposed to was a lower echelon that I not previously had any knowledge of within the human gene pool.
The bottom line that I want anyone who reads this article to understand is DO NOT EVER CROSS THE LINE OF FIRE!!!! In case you are not familiar the line of fire, it is as simple as if someone is shooting stay behind them. Do not advance in front of someone who is shooting ever, even if you are a fair distance to either shooter's left or shooter's right. This is the most basic practice of firearms safety. This group that I witnessed out in the desert had 3-4 shooters at any given moment spread out in a 30' wide area that had staggered out at all different distances. I honestly thought someone was going to get shot, it was as if they loaded up their guns walked a few feet to either the left or right of the person shooting and would advance towards the target as if they were the only person out there.
Shooting can be a ton of fun, it is one of my favorite past times. However guns, like any other piece of equipment can be dangerous if you misuse them. Show respect for both the guns and the others that may be out there. It isn't just your life that you may be risking. Also if you see someone doing something dumb, either talk to them or leave. Don't try to stick it out, it isn't worth risking. Shooting with a group of people who know and understand proper safety can be some of the most fun that you will ever have, but being out there with people being dumb can be frightening.
The bottom line that I want anyone who reads this article to understand is DO NOT EVER CROSS THE LINE OF FIRE!!!! In case you are not familiar the line of fire, it is as simple as if someone is shooting stay behind them. Do not advance in front of someone who is shooting ever, even if you are a fair distance to either shooter's left or shooter's right. This is the most basic practice of firearms safety. This group that I witnessed out in the desert had 3-4 shooters at any given moment spread out in a 30' wide area that had staggered out at all different distances. I honestly thought someone was going to get shot, it was as if they loaded up their guns walked a few feet to either the left or right of the person shooting and would advance towards the target as if they were the only person out there.
Shooting can be a ton of fun, it is one of my favorite past times. However guns, like any other piece of equipment can be dangerous if you misuse them. Show respect for both the guns and the others that may be out there. It isn't just your life that you may be risking. Also if you see someone doing something dumb, either talk to them or leave. Don't try to stick it out, it isn't worth risking. Shooting with a group of people who know and understand proper safety can be some of the most fun that you will ever have, but being out there with people being dumb can be frightening.
This is good way to get shot, but since that hurts really bad, it is not a good idea
Hopefully you can see the difference between the two. If you cannot please let me know where you live so I never go shooting anywhere near where you are
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