Shooting Sports programs changes coming 9/1/24 - including name change Range and Target Activities

[ccjj]

Question along the lines of these changes.......

Referring to this statement:  The use of personal firearms and personal ammunition is prohibited in all Scouting programs at nationally authorized camp properties

I am reading that as any Scout activity must use the event/camps firearms/ammunition.  If an outside group rents the range, are they still allowed to bring their own firearms/ammunition?  I read it as yes, a friend says no to all personal firearms and personal ammunition.  What does this group say?

[HashTagScouts]

1 hour ago, ccjj said:

Question along the lines of these changes.......

Referring to this statement:  The use of personal firearms and personal ammunition is prohibited in all Scouting programs at nationally authorized camp properties

I am reading that as any Scout activity must use the event/camps firearms/ammunition.  If an outside group rents the range, are they still allowed to bring their own firearms/ammunition?  I read it as yes, a friend says no to all personal firearms and personal ammunition.  What does this group say?

Outside group is not participating in "Scouting programs". so would see it as at discretion to that council.

[RememberSchiff]

Update 8/1/2024: Q and A: September 1st Range and Target Activities Program Updates, 2024 August edition by Bruce Hassy

Excerpt:

Q: Starting in September, besides a nationally authorized camp property’s range, Scouts can participate in firearms programs on a commercial range. How will the BSA define a commercial firearm range? 

A: A commercial firearm range is a supervised facility that offers a controlled environment for safe firearm practice. It will provide shooting lanes, targets, and may offer equipment rentals and training in safe firearm handling and marksmanship. Standard operating procedures are required for each firearm type used on-site.  Scouting’s range and target activities must follow all of Scouting’s range and target activities policies or range standard operating procedures that are equivalently stringent, including no variation from Scouting’s limitations on firearms used. These ranges may be operated by a licensed business, a government entity or non-profit.

More at source:

https://www.scouting.org/trail-to-adventure-blog/q-and-a-september-1st-range-and-target-activities-program-updates/

Edited August 11 by RememberSchiff

[skeptic]

Due to our county's muddled legal system, we can look forward to more of this type of thing unless someone finds the courage to "fix" things so lawsuits are not the go to thing to dismiss personal choice or responsibility, or the long lost ides of common sense.

[E V Augustine]

The Range and Target Activities Manual released 9/3/2024 defines commercial firearm range as:

A “commercial firearm range” is a supervised facility that offers a controlled environment for safe firearm practice. It will provide shooting lanes, targets, and may offer equipment rentals and training in safe firearm handling and marksmanship. Standard operating procedures are required for each firearm type used on-site. Scouting’s range and target activities must follow all of Scouting’s range and target activities policies or range standard operating procedures that are equivalently stringent, including no variation from Scouting’s limitations on firearms used. These ranges may be operated by a licensed business, a government entity or a nonprofit.

BSA's definition would not exclude a private club with appropriate facilities registered with the state as a Corporation for Non-Profit in good standing.  As far as the state (and for that matter the IRS) is concerned the entity is a commercial enterprise.  Registration with the state triggers applicability of state rules for shooting ranges addressing the panoply of operational and safety concerns.  Well organized private clubs typically have standard operating procedures and safety plans going beyond regulatory minimums.

I suspect BSA's reliance on the term "commercial firearm range" is intended to exclude a bunch of guys with access to a farm field or some woods up the hollow.

 

Edited September 4 by E V Augustine
grammar

[RememberSchiff]

On 8/10/2024 at 9:46 PM, RememberSchiff said:

...Standard operating procedures are required for each firearm type used on-site.  Scouting’s range and target activities must follow all of Scouting’s range and target activities policies or range standard operating procedures that are equivalently stringent, including no variation from Scouting’s limitations on firearms used.

IMHO, this is unlikely, as even if a club had a rimfire-only range, semi-auto's like this BSA prohibited Ruger 10-22 would be in use by club members.  Most outdoor rifle ranges around here are more inclusive:  22, 30-06,  5.56, 380, 270,... all on same firing line at the same time.

BTW, when you shoot at a non-BSA range, read and understand that range's rules and procedures and obey the RSO instructions. 

Reserving the whole range for Scouts might be a possibility. During hunting season less so. 

My $0.02

Edited September 4 by RememberSchiff

[mrjohns2]

8 minutes ago, RememberSchiff said:

Scouting’s range and target activities

I think this is key. Just because the “commercial range” allows other calibers, you still have to follow the RaTS rules.