Apr newsletter - Riverside Gun Club
Transcription
Apr newsletter - Riverside Gun Club
G U N C L U B Riverside Located in the densely wooded New England countryside with facilities to support our members whether your interests are competitive shooting, breaking clays, fishing, plinking, sharpening your skills for hunting or just socializing. Quarterly Newsletter Archery Year round programs for both junior and adult archers. USA Archery, State Assoc., National Assoc., and the Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) program. Pistol & Rifle A variety of programs for a range of shooting interests including participation in the Highpower, CMP Civilian Marksmanship Program events and the NRA Jr Rifle Program April 2015 Skeet & Trap Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday Shoots every week. Three fields are configured to support different shooting programs including skeet, trap and 5 stand with lights Banquet Facility Large function hall, dance floor, band stand and attached kitchen area with a separate entrance area and full function bar has a capacity of 150. Rental includes bartender and cleanup. Caterer and DJ available for functions. Clubhouse Outdoor Patio, Horse Shoes, Trout Pond, Sports Bar Big Screen in the Smoke free Club House, Banquet Hall dates available. Fish & Game The trout are jump’n in our fully stocked trout pond. Badges available at the clubhouse. Trout Pond Activity from the PRESIDENT’S DESK This is a great opportunity to spend quality time with your family. The Trout Pond opening Day is always a big event for both Adults and Kids. Opening Day is Saturday, May 9th. Get out the rod & reel and bring the family. If you don’t have fishing equipment there will be some club provided equipment. The concession stand will be open: Breakfast is available at 7AM and Lunch is available at 11:30 AM. Fishing hours are from 7AM to 4PM. The opening day derby will be open to the to the public (derby day only) for the price of $10 for adults and $7 for kids. Members season pond licenses are available for $15.00 and kids licenses are included with their jr. membership, which is $15.00. Prizes will be awarded in two categories both adults and youths. There will be a raffle as well. Sportsmen in this country have always been among the most vocal and active advocates for conservation and wildlife management. American pioneers were the first to recognize the need for laws that would not restrict their rights. Thanks to President Theodore Roosevelt who called for the first laws that would restrict the commercial slaughter of wildlife and created hunting and fishing licenses. Those laws were the foundation of a conservation model that generated a very successful conservation program. In 2014 the US Congress initiated and passed the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act, but unfortunately it was defeated in the US Senate. This bill would have removed federal red tape that unnecessarily block access to certain public lands for hunting and fishing. Hopefully congress will not continue making life difficult for sportsmen. Navigating the Massachusetts gun laws and regulations hasn’t been smooth sailing either. The State of Massachusetts enacted legislation in my view, imposing unnecessary firearm regulations that are cumbersome and difficult to understand. Cutting through the legal-ease was hard to do on our own. We want to be law-abiding citizens even though we face relentless cultural and journalistic attacks in order for them to remold the world to fit their ideology. Going forward, Riverside will continue to promote good sportsmanship and conservation programs. It is important for our families to be able to hand down from one generation to the next the tradition of hunting, fishing or participating in recreational shooting sports. I will continue to advocate for legislation that protect this right for the next generation. Mike Connelly President Riverside Gun Club 16 Wilkins Street, Hudson, MA 01749 (978) 562-2404 PO BOX 152 R I V E R S I D E G U N C L U B RANGE TALK R A N G E T A L K Pin Shoot CMP High Power Team The pin shooting competition is back up and running this year…we will schedule one per month to be conducted at the 25 yd. outdoor range as weekend day, 10:00am to Noon. Prizes are awarded—top shooter gets 511 Tactical Shirt. Shooters should bring semi-auto center fire—minor (up to 9mm) and major (40 cal. and Up) revolver—Minor (up to 38 Spl.) and major (10mm & up.) We will be shooting at 5 pins at 25 ft. within 30 seconds. The event is open to the public---members and non-members welcome. The event costs Members: $8:00 and Non-Members $10:00. For information concerning the event check the club calendar on line or contact Eric Larson: [email protected]. The Civilian Marksmanship Program known as the CMP is an opportunity to shoot the WWII vintage infantry rifle, “M1 Garand.” The program is also open to Non-Members… You have the opportunity for instructional shooting club provided M1’s with 60 rounds (only the cost of Ammo) $75.00 per shooter. There is a half hour of instructions and supervised shooting in the standing, sitting and prone position. The course is approximately 3 hours and you will receive a certificate that authorizes you to buy government surplus M1s when available through military sales. You can sign up for the course by contacting John McGrath, email: jjmcgrath99@ comcast.net or call 508-3539316. Course dates are: Apr 12, July 12, Aug 09 & Oct 11. It’s cool—It’s fun! After last years winning season, the team is gearing up for a new season that begins with a home match on April 19th hosting the Northeast High Power Rifle League (NEHPRL). Introduction to the rifle team for those interested members will be April 12th at the CMP shoot. We are looking for new members---come out for an exploratory visit…Contact Team Captain, Paul White, Event Dates: May: 16th June 21st July 19th Aug: 16th Sep: 19th Oct: 18th Riverside Gun Club [email protected]. Pistol Team Arny Buckman, Team Coach awarded trophies during the Time for Spring Cleaning. We annual pistol team banquet are planning an outdoor range culminating a 20 week shooting season. Receiving honors, is cleanup April 11th at 9:00am. John Reilly (L) for the highest average for the season and Joe Romard (R) for the seasons most improved shooter. Range Cleanup http://www.facebook.com/riversidegc.org http://riversidegc.org/ 2 R I V E R S I D E G U N C L U B Education & Training 2015 is a great year for education & training at Riverside On February 21st the Utah Concealed Carry course was held and the successful graduates are now eligible to apply for the concealed carry permit in Utah which has reciprocity in more than 30 states. As an aside – Massachusetts, of course, has reciprocity with no (zero, nil, nada, zippo) other states and recognizes the carry permits of the exact same number of states. Given the position of Massachusetts, it is surprising that 21 states actually honor, without reciprocity, our unrestricted Massachusetts license to carry. for a Firearm Identification (FID) card or a License To Carry (LTC) in Massachusetts. Many other states require completion of and NRA course for licensing. Be aware that some states require a recent completion of an NRA course in order to apply for a concealed carry permit. One such state is Maine where the requirement is to demonstrate that the applicant has knowledge of handgun safety by having completed an We will be conducting the NRA approved safety course within Basic Pistol course three times the last 5 years. this year with the first session Firearm accidents are, and starting on Tuesday, May 12th continue to be, at an all time On March 31st, Jon Green, and finishing on Saturday, low. This is primarily due to the director for education and May 15th. The other dates the great increase in firearm training for the Gun Owners are available on the Riverside education and training. Action League (GOAL) gave website. Knowledge and always acting a tremendously informative As a public service the NRA with safety in mind is keeping seminar entitled Mass Gun Home Firearm Safety course us all safe. Laws for Citizens. There and the NRA Basic Pistol course were more than 50 members are open to the public. Both Questions? and guests in attendance. courses award NRA certificates The subject matter, being of completion to the graduates Contact Bill McDonough – extremely important to all of us along with the Massachusetts [email protected] . sparked quite a few questions State Police Basic Firearms and was eye opening to many Safety certificate which is of our members. required with the application Riverside Gun Club Our internal educational program has been very successful. We held a NRA Home Firearm Safety course with and optional live-fire session on February 28th and had 10 students complete the course. This course will be offered four more times during the remainder of the year with the next session being held on Saturday, April 25th. See the Riverside website for additional dates. http://www.facebook.com/riversidegc.org http://riversidegc.org/ 3 R I V E R S I D E Range Officer Committee Range officers are on the ranges to assist members who are having difficulties, to provide instruction on rules and procedures and to correct unsafe conditions. Range officers can be identified by their white button with green lettering. If you are unsure of anything concerning the ranges, please ask. If a Range officer is not available, there is a copy of the new range rules and procedures at each range. In addition, a copy can be downloaded from the Riverside website, even while on the range if you have a smart phone. We hold informal range officers meetings generally on the first Monday of the month to discuss issues and observations and identify ways to improve the things that we are doing. Everyone is welcome at our meetings and new range officers are always encouraged. Our next three informal meetings are scheduled for May 4th, June 1st and July 6th. The meeting will start at 7:00 PM and we will meet in the members’ lounge. If you have any questions or comments or want to volunteer to be a range officer, please call me at: (781) 314-6330 or email me at: [email protected] . Riverside Gun Club G U N C L U B Range Safety, et al The Riverside Gun Club has released the 2015 Edition of the Range Rules and Procedures – all ranges; indoor, outdoor, rifle/ pistol, skeet & trap and archery, all in one stand alone booklet. The new rules and procedures are divided into logical sections and allow the reader to quickly find the rule or procedures desired. One new section is on emergency procedures. Many of the rules and procedures remain unchanged, however many rules have been modified for improved safety or clarification. In addition, there are some new rules. Firing Positions Change in firing line positions on the 25 yard range - One new rule changes the acceptable shooting positions on the 25 yard range. It is now a violation of the rules to shoot between the benches and the low fence at the front of the shelter on the 25 yard range. Shooting from this position provides little advantage over shooting from the official firing line which is behind the benches. The physical distance gained is only 1-2 yards. The reason for the shooting position prohibition is safety and confusion. It is very common for shooters to load their firearms behind the bench and walk to the area in front of the benches to the low fence to shoot. Upon running out of ammunition, the shooters turn around and reload magazines/ cylinders from the front side of the bench. Their guns are then reloaded and they turn around to face downrange for shooting. http://www.facebook.com/riversidegc.org The action of turning around violates all rules of muzzle discipline. Those muzzles are pointed in unsafe directions while turning around, once while unloaded and once while reloaded. During these movements the muzzles are pointed at the parking lot, other shooters on all ranges and often at the shooters themselves. Firing Line ReLocation Clarification of relocating the firing line on the 25 and yard ranges – It is quite common, with agreement by all shooters, that the firing line on the 25 or 60 yard range is moved forward to a location nearer the targets, such as 8 yards or 10 yards or something else. This is in accordance with the range rules. Once the firing line is relocated, all shooters, who are on the range or arriving at the range, have added responsibility to ensure safety on the range. Should the firing line become staggered; one or more shooters moving even slightly forward of or behind the relocated firing line, a cease fire MUST be called. Even a slight change in the alignment of shooters will put one or more shooters in front of another live shooter so a cease fire is mandatory. No shooter may move away from the firing line unless his/her gun is unloaded and holstered. Meaning that a shooter who does not have a holster and carries his/her gun to/from the benches in his/her hand cannot move from the firing line until all shooters are done shooting and everyone returns to the benches to reload. http://riversidegc.org/ 4 R I V E R S I D E G U N C L U B Range Safety, et al (continued) Please enter this phone number into your cell phone: (978) 5627122. It is the direct phone Note that no gun may be hand number for the Hudson Police carried unless it is unloaded Department which should be with the action open. Again used in case of an emergency. Yes if the gun is unloaded and you can call 911, however from holstered, the shooter my leave a cell phone, 911 is answered the firing line and return to the by the state police who must bench area. contact the Hudson police of When anyone is forward fire, potentially resulting in of the benches for any reason, a delay in the dispatching of handling of firearms is strictly emergency services. prohibited. Any firearms which Should an accidental gun shot are resting on the benches wound happen, a cease fire must MUST be unloaded and made be called on all ranges and all safe; completely unloaded and firearms, have to be unloaded, magazines (even if empty) made safe and, except for those removed and actions open laid involved in the accident, put down with the chamber port away in their cases. Emergency facing up so as to visible by responders should not have everyone in the area. Revolvers to be concerned about loaded must have all cylinders empty firearms being nearby while and laid down so as to keep the they are doing their jobs. cylinder in the open position. If someone accidentally suffers If members arrive at the a gun shot wounded, call (978) benches while the firing line 562-7122 for the Hudson Police is moved forward, or if any department and explain that person is downrange for any there has been an accidental purpose the new arrivals are gun shot wound and medical prohibited from handling or assistance is required. Do not touching a firearm for any say “There has been a shooting purpose, even to remove said at the Riverside Gun Club” as firearm from its case. that statement will result in If the firing line is moved or SWAT being dispatched and if anyone is downrange for any EMS services waiting until purpose, people at the benches SWAT gives the all clear before may reload magazines which entering the property resulting are separate from the firearms in delays in medical treatment. so long as it does not require If emergency services are handling a firearm. summoned, someone needs Riverside Gun Club to go to the club entrance at Wilkins Street to direct the first responders to the injury site. It is advisable to have multiple people positioned at several locations along the route to the injury site to further direct the first responders. http://www.facebook.com/riversidegc.org Additional thoughts Eye and ear protection are mandatory on the ranges. A brimmed hat, like a baseball cap is highly recommended as well. The Smith & Wesson range, when it was open to the public, required baseball caps or equivalents on their range. The brim on the cap provides additional protection against spend brass from getting behind your shooting glasses. Remember that, when driving to and from the range, handguns and large capacity firearms, as defined by Massachusetts law, must be in locked cases. The exception being for those who have unrestricted LTCs, the pistol can be loaded and uncased if it is in your direct control. This does not mean in the glove compartment. When driving with rifles and shotguns, the firearms must be enclosed in a case. Yes, the trunk of your car is considered a case for this purpose, however if you get a flat tire, and your guns are not in cases in your trunk, you are in violation of the law as soon as you open your trunk so it is wise to put the guns in cases then into the trunk. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it is a good idea for us, gun owners, to be a bit paranoid and make sure we plan for all contingencies. http://riversidegc.org/ 5 R I V E R S I D E G U N C L U B RGC Skeet & Trap News Winter What a winter for outside shooting sports. Way too much snow and constant cold. It seemed like we did more shoveling than shooting out there this winter. I would like to thank all who helped shovel off our fields and plowed the parking areas. We have continued to shoot skeet and 5-stand throughout the winter. Who knew 32 degrees could feel so good! Fortunately, we have scheduled 5 outings so far this year. Some of them are getting to be repeat customers. These outings are for corporate, birthday or bachelor parties where most shooters are new to the sport. We supply everything and have NRA Certified instructors run the outings. Competition The Maynard Club contacted us recently to plan a fun shoot of Skeet, Trap and 5-Stand at their club. After the shoot, they are planning a nice pig roast. Later in the year we plan to have them over for a fun shoot at our club. We had the Berlin Boyscouts here recently and as usual this winter it snowed the whole time they shot Now that it is warming up a bit we trap. They did very well and had Chairman can plan for our spring clean up and fun. It is always nice to see them get ready for a trailer load of clay hit there first targets. We have two targets coming next month. more scout troops scheduled for this spring. Riverside Gun Club http://www.facebook.com/riversidegc.org Frank Harrington http://riversidegc.org/ 6