Comments on: Shocking Video — Fatality Barely Averted

By: Jim See

Jim See — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 20:17:13 +0000

Looks like the 8th target the shooter engages was the closest to hitting the worker, you can see by the down range dust that they hit in the far right corner of the pit nearest the worker. I’m surprised the potential victim didn’t notice that and call out a cease fire immediately.

By: Anon

Anon — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 17:15:46 +0000

Make sure the range officers don’t wear white shirts. They are too similar to the silhouettes!

By: steve

steve — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 23:16:27 +0000

The RSO must check downrange to verify that there is nobody downrange especially in this case where downrange is cluttered with targets and obstacles.

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 17:26:57 +0000

This is a USPSA match. There are very specific rules laid out by the USPSA to be followed to ensure the range is safe, as well as specific range commands the RO is to use for each shooter. After the run is finished, and the RO issues the appropriate commands, the shooter shows clear and holsters. At that time, the RO is supposed to call the range clear and only THEN allow people down range to score and paste the targets. Once targets have all been pasted, the RSO is SUPPOSED to make sure all heads are accounted for, in that no one from his squad is still down range, before he starts the next shooter. This is where things fell apart. The stage design did not help any, but ultimately it boils down to the responsibility of the RO/RSO. Period.

By: rr2030

rr2030 — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 15:09:40 +0000

“They ought to call it rapid fire plinking as that is all it is.”

I wonder if there are people shooting other disciplines that think bench rest is for people that cant hold a rifle skilfully enough, with out resting it on a bench, to hit anything?

The safety issue should never have happened, that aside, I think its foolish to knock another guys legitimate discipline .

By: Todd Koonce

Todd Koonce — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 10:25:28 +0000

Maybe incorporating a RO position in an elevated vantage point would be beneficial. It would allow full view of the entire shooting area when using stages that require limited shooter and ground level RO fields of view.

By: Krister

Krister — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 10:19:34 +0000

It gives a kind of a new meaning to a “no shoot”… But it seems what saves them is they have arranged the targets so the shooter always sees the backstop, there is no panel behind any target – on purpose or not. To me that is one of the “golden rules”, if you cannot see where your bullet will land, dont shoot.

By: Brent

Brent — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 05:55:36 +0000

they should have a board that the staff lock on to with a padlock before moving down range. Its easy to see if there is a lock on the board for the ro. then when they return they remove the lock.

By: each

each — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 02:58:35 +0000

Brilliant idea for the helper to be wearing a white shirt the same color as the targets as well! !

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 22:17:43 +0000

How the range officer let someone go down range is beyond me. On top of being lucky that they saw the man on the range, he was fortunate that he wasn’t hit with a stray round bouncing off a target.

They ought to call it rapid fire plinking as that is all it is.