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It can happen anywhere . . .

Man shot, robbed at Wagoner shooting range

Kenneth Wallace Payne, 73, of Wagoner, was shot multiple times Thursday morning at the Fort Gibson Wildlife Management Area Shooting Range. Authorities are asking for the public's help to find the person responsible. . . . . At least four guns were stolen from him, as well as a portable tool chest.

I would like to be on that jury.
Course that very statement disqualifies me.

This kind of thing has happened more often that you would think, going back several decades. Never shoot alone on unmonitored ranges, for a large variety of reasons.

It's pretty easy to sneak up on somebody wearing ear protection and concentrating on a down range target...or who has left their long gun/s on the bench to walk down range to service a target.

It can happen anywhere; especially, if you shoot alone as I do - most of the time.

...saw that in "The FBI Story"...learned my lesson there...always leave one loaded and pay attention...where better to steal guns???

Until the mid to late 1990s, there was a shooting area like that in the Angeles National Forest I used to go to called "Kentucky Flats." The Forest Service eventually shut it down because the twice annual cleanups were too expensive. People dragged all manner of crap out there to shoot at, and they never hauled it back out with them—old washing machines, engine blocks, bowling balls, refrigerators, what have you.

Anyway, all kinds of people would go there to shoot, some less savory than others. I would never walk down to the target area without either having someone back at the truck to cover me, or carrying my weapon (loaded) down to the target area. There were several instances of people having their guns stolen that way, although I'm unaware of anyone getting shot when their guns were stolen. Although I never witnessed it, friends of mine who owned the Hidden Springs Cafe (Amos and Jim, the owners were shooting buddies of mine) lived up there in the mountains and they told me that Sheriff's Deputies had responded on more than one occasion to calls of automatic weapons fire at Kentucky Flats. It turns out that this place was also a playground for Los Angeles area "social clubs" where they went to test out new (illegally acquired) toys.

I never ever went there alone. My buddy Amos was a retired LA Co. Deputy, and he was a pretty calm and imposing figure. He died a few years back of a terrible lung disease picked up overseas on a trip with his wife. I still miss him.

BTW, Amos was a vet too. U.S. Navy, end of WW2 through Korea. Tough old bird. I've got several "Amos Stories" that I treasure.

speedsix wrote:...saw that in "The FBI Story"...learned my lesson there...always leave one loaded and pay attention...where better to steal guns???

Yepper, although I mostly shoot my CZ 452's and my 10/22's at the range, my SA compact 1911 is on my hip - cocked and locked. I almost pulled it the other day when some dude appeared behind me unnanounced. He saw me reaching, his eyes got big and he apologized for "sneaking" which he really wasn't doing intentionally. The point is, ear protection sorta' puts one at a disadvantage. OTOH, so does deafness.

Although you're concentrating on your target, you must remain aware of your surroundings at all times AND in all places.

The Annoyed Man wrote:Until the mid to late 1990s, there was a shooting area like that in the Angeles National Forest I used to go to called "Kentucky Flats." The Forest Service eventually shut it down because the twice annual cleanups were too expensive. People dragged all manner of crap out there to shoot at, and they never hauled it back out with them—old washing machines, engine blocks, bowling balls, refrigerators, what have you.

Anyway, all kinds of people would go there to shoot, some less savory than others. I would never walk down to the target area without either having someone back at the truck to cover me, or carrying my weapon (loaded) down to the target area. There were several instances of people having their guns stolen that way, although I'm unaware of anyone getting shot when their guns were stolen. Although I never witnessed it, friends of mine who owned the Hidden Springs Cafe (Amos and Jim, the owners were shooting buddies of mine) lived up there in the mountains and they told me that Sheriff's Deputies had responded on more than one occasion to calls of automatic weapons fire at Kentucky Flats. It turns out that this place was also a playground for Los Angeles area "social clubs" where they went to test out new (illegally acquired) toys.

I never ever went there alone. My buddy Amos was a retired LA Co. Deputy, and he was a pretty calm and imposing figure. He died a few years back of a terrible lung disease picked up overseas on a trip with his wife. I still miss him.

BTW, Amos was a vet too. U.S. Navy, end of WW2 through Korea. Tough old bird. I've got several "Amos Stories" that I treasure.

or both...

OMG! I have a friend named Wallace Payne. Thankfully, his first name is not Kenneth, nor does he live in OK, nor is he 73 years old.

This is exactly the reason I almost always have on of my guns concealed and on my body when at the range and shoot the others. The only time I'll pull out my concealed gun to shoot it is if I'm sure I'm alone or there are a bunch of people there.

The Annoyed Man wrote:Until the mid to late 1990s, there was a shooting area like that in the Angeles National Forest I used to go to called "Kentucky Flats." The Forest Service eventually shut it down because the twice annual cleanups were too expensive. People dragged all manner of crap out there to shoot at, and they never hauled it back out with them—old washing machines, engine blocks, bowling balls, refrigerators, what have you.

Anyway, all kinds of people would go there to shoot, some less savory than others. I would never walk down to the target area without either having someone back at the truck to cover me, or carrying my weapon (loaded) down to the target area. There were several instances of people having their guns stolen that way, although I'm unaware of anyone getting shot when their guns were stolen. Although I never witnessed it, friends of mine who owned the Hidden Springs Cafe (Amos and Jim, the owners were shooting buddies of mine) lived up there in the mountains and they told me that Sheriff's Deputies had responded on more than one occasion to calls of automatic weapons fire at Kentucky Flats. It turns out that this place was also a playground for Los Angeles area "social clubs" where they went to test out new (illegally acquired) toys.

I never ever went there alone. My buddy Amos was a retired LA Co. Deputy, and he was a pretty calm and imposing figure. He died a few years back of a terrible lung disease picked up overseas on a trip with his wife. I still miss him.

BTW, Amos was a vet too. U.S. Navy, end of WW2 through Korea. Tough old bird. I've got several "Amos Stories" that I treasure.

Funny you mention the "social clubs" thing...I saw this thread and was going to post about something I witnessed many years ago and this made me think of it...I was stationed in Northern California and there was a range in the foothills up behind the base. An unsupervised public land range. Anyway, my supervisor and I went there to shoot our 9mm pistols. When we got there, an older gentlemen was showing a small kid how to use a .22 rifle. No problem. We stayed clear of each other and notified of ceasefires. After a while, a "low-low" car showed up...four or five guys (can't remember after a decade has gone by) got out, opened the huge trunk, threw a couple of small TVs out into the shooting area, stepped back with what appeared to be Uzis, Mac-10s, something like that, and blazed away...just ripping rounds off, tearing those TVs to bits...then they hopped back into their car, and rolled out. My supervisor, the older gentleman and myself just kind of looked at each other; the little kid's eyes were like saucers they were so big...pretty scary...those dudes COULD have just tore us up with those things (which were illegal in California, EVEN IF they had the Fed paperwork, which I HIGHLY doubt)...glad I wasn't alone, for certain.

Oldgringo wrote:

speedsix wrote:...saw that in "The FBI Story"...learned my lesson there...always leave one loaded and pay attention...where better to steal guns???

Yepper, although I mostly shoot my CZ 452's and my 10/22's at the range, my SA compact 1911 is on my hip - cocked and locked. I almost pulled it the other day when some dude appeared behind me unnanounced. He saw me reaching, his eyes got big and he apologized for "sneaking" which he really wasn't doing intentionally. The point is, ear protection sorta' puts one at a disadvantage. OTOH, so does deafness.

Although you're concentrating on your target, you must remain aware of your surroundings at all times AND in all places.

Ever tried electronic hearing protection? The ones I use actually amplify sounds well enough that I can hear people talking in normal tones from a pretty good distance. I hear better with them than without them --and they provide good attenuation for gun shots.

Perhaps as little as 20 years ago...the thought of being robbed/other at the shooting range would never have occurred to me, but I confess to thinking of just that very thing recently.

Normally, I do most of my shooting/sighting in at my home range, but during/before Deer Season I will go the Rifle/Pistol range. The club I belong to is literally "out in the woods" and well secluded.

When I go...its usually on a weekday early in the morning...because I have the entire place to myself.

Even though we members close and lock the gate behind us...upon entering the premises, the ranges are not that far from the road leading into it...and you would never see anyone (on foot) approaching IF they exercised any stealth at all.

It would be an easy matter to surprise someone, take their phone, load up their vehicle and drive it back down to the road/gate. Traffic on that road most mornings is sparse and any gunshots heard would not be too out of the ordinary.

As stated, in days past...I wouldn't worry about this in the least, BUT crooks/thieves/criminals have become more imaginative and daring. It doesn't hurt...to stay alert!