NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Two suspects are still at large after authorities say they robbed two men outside of a gun range in Northeast Philadelphia, shooting one of them.
It happened around 8:30 Thursday night outside the Delaware Valley Sports Center on the 100 block of Geiger Road.
Police say a man and a woman armed, approached the two men, ages 67 and 68, while they were in the parking lot.
The couple robbed the men of seven guns and afterward police say the male suspect shot the 67-year-old victim.
“For some reason the male perpetrator fired a single shot striking the 67-year-old on the groin,” said Chief Inspector Small.
via Suspects at large after gun range robbery, shooting in Northeast Philadephia | 6abc.com.
Guns are not an amulet. They don’t ward you off evil people or bad things that might come your way. Unfortunately this thing of leaving a range without a care in the world is not uncommon. I know that many ranges will not allow you to have a loaded gun inside their property for “safety” reasons, but having your ass shot is not a reasonable choice. Keep a spare gun with you or very close on your way in and out of the range and be very aware of possible nasty subjects nearby.
And amazingly as it could be, I saw that same behavior in use by IDPA competitors who would come with their “Game Gun/Safe Queen” and have no back up or something so different from what they spent a morning shooting, it would boggle my mind: Going from a Glock 34 in a Blade-Tech OWB holster to a J-Frame in the pocket. Hell there was one guy who didn’t even carry!
Wee bit of brains people!
This crap is starting up again, remember last year the number of guns stolen at ranges? Geez people, CARRY…
“And amazingly as it could be, I saw that same behavior in use by IDPA competitors who would come with their “Game Gun/Safe Queen” and have no back up…”
I tell people I don’t shoot competitively because “I don’t like rules” or “Rules piss me off” but for the most part it’s a little more nuanced than that. The REAL problem I have is that the people with the above mindset are largely the ones running the shoots and making the rules.
Thus, the rules are designed around, and largely enforced by, people who do not have a defensive mindset.
I GET that they are, first, last, and foremost games, but that doesn’t mean that the mindset has to be so fundamentally opposed to actual defensive shooting. I have limited time, and limited budget to play games; If they can mesh with my personal training needs, then they have value, and if they can’t they don’t. From my point of view, in light of the fundamental mindset disconnect, most current shooting games aren’t useful to me (especially since several of my actual carry guns are not “legal” to shoot).
My range doesn’t allow CCW but what they don’t know won’t hurt me.