Range mishap in Missoula

[shakes]

Anybody have any info on the mishap,(speculated suicide) that happened at the Hellsgate Civillian Shooters range where the IronMan is held. I heard from several people that the range is closed indefinatley . I've tried to do a search of local Missoula newspapers but nothing. If true thats a total shame to let such a beautiful range go to waste.

[BlauBear]

This sounds like every clubs' nightmare! Our club just spent considerable money making the smallbore range safer after an adjacent oil lease area was converted to public use. I'm also convinced that the comradeship has helped several (if not all) members through difficult times.

If true, this is a horrifically sad story for everyone.

[malinois]

Keep us posted on any details....That can help avert a similar disaster on any other range....The anti's are always looking for weekness and anything to shut us down...

[shakes]

from what I "understand" used very loosely, is that the range is state owned and they have a caretaker that lives at the range and the state is saying that the caretaker wasnt doing his "job" and its partially his fault that this individual decided to take his own life at the range. Did this individual have a sign aroung his neck that said "I'm depressed with suicidal thoughts please help me" NO! but its the caretaker/rangeofficers fault because he wasnt standing at his side the whole time hes there to prevent this. BS!!!! Your right Malinios this is fuel for the fire against public gun ranges or private ones for that matter. What if the idividual chose to take his life in his house, car, or WallMart for that matter, should we then decide that your house, car, and Walmart are "unsafe" and "protect" us from us. Its rediculous that a few lawmakers are going to determine that a person who was doing his job is going to be held liable for another individuals state of mind or lack there of.

[Seamus O'Grady]

There was a possible suicide at the Deep Creek range according to news reports over the summer. I just did some checking and from appearances on the range website they are still open. I thought I heard at one point they were closing or closed.

[Jim Beckley]

At the range where we shoot in Mesa, there was a piece of forest service land, about a mile from the range, that people who didn't want to shoot at a rifle range, went to plink. Typical set up, trash and used washers, bottles, ect. ect. anyway one guy shot himself, at the pit and managed to make his way to the range, and an ambulance was called for him, he died later on, and the papers of course wrote that he shot himself at the range. Management at the range got hold of the paper and requested that the story be set right, and a one line correction was written up on like page 30 of the paper!

[BlauBear]

At the range where we shoot in Mesa, there was a piece of forest service land, about a mile from the range, that people who didn't want to shoot at a rifle range, went to plink. Typical set up, trash and used washers, bottles, ect. ect. anyway one guy shot himself, at the pit and managed to make his way to the range, and an ambulance was called for him, he died later on, and the papers of course wrote that he shot himself at the range. Management at the range got hold of the paper and requested that the story be set right, and a one line correction was written up on like page 30 of the paper!

I wouldn't take it too hard - newspapers hate to admit they're wrong and unless lawyers are involved it usually does get buried.

[malinois]

There are warning signs and if this range master has no training in suicide prevention he is not liable...his job is safety but a person who is hell bent on taking his life will just do it....We have folks off them self at the jail all the time...but unless you are right there, there is nothing to stop the inmate and even then they sometimes complete because they hit the artery right and they bleed out before you can stop it. its the ones that dont say anything that usally are succesful.

[peellgary]

I have talked to the people who run the IRONMAN MATCH and have been assured that the match will be held the first week end in JUNE 2010.

[BlauBear]

There are warning signs and if this range master has no training in suicide prevention he is not liable...his job is safety but a person who is hell bent on taking his life will just do it....We have folks off them self at the jail all the time...but unless you are right there, there is nothing to stop the inmate and even then they sometimes complete because they hit the artery right and they bleed out before you can stop it. its the ones that dont say anything that usally are succesful.

We've had several incidents locally that even to me look like "suicide by cop". Sad, but given the current economy it is predictable. I really feel sorry for police involved, but they are trained in suicide prevention and still ended up involved. If the story about punishing the Range Master is accurate, it is an example of "punishing the innocent".