I have a scar on my elbow from my own bullet. At the time, I was seated in a car, firing a handgun through the windshield. The bullet went through the glass, struck a hard steel target, then came back through the glass and struck me in the elbow. It hit me hard enough I actually dropped the gun into my lap. The range had improperly set up the steel targets given the angle at which we were shooting.

This caused an avoidable injury and educated everyone involved in the importance of safety. It could have been worse. I will not include any pictures of this subject, but there are a multitude of ricochet injuries on the internet. When modern outdoor shooting ranges make safety and sound reduction a priority, they set themselves up for commercial success and have the opportunity to be a positive influence on the community. With only 9,000 shooting ranges in the nation, we as shooters need more options to practice our hobby, and are almost universally enthusiastic about new ranges.

We do, however, insist new commercial ranges strictly adhere to the best practices created by the NRA and NSSF in order to comply with all EPA regulations, and to foster a positive relationship with local residents and neighbors. The industry is plagued by a slanted media, a hostile federal government, and an aging consumer base. The last thing the we need is to alienate the same people we depend on in order to grow into the future.