SHOOTING RANGE RULE BOOK

The Southwest Iowa Sportsmans Club's shooting range has been developed at the considerable expense and labor of the membership. Safety considerations were carefully included in range design and construction. The completed facilities provide a basic safe and, enjoyable place to participate in the shooting sports. The user is the most important safety feature of the range. All participants are required to exercise due caution, observe general safe gun handling procedures and solid common sense at all times. This manual contains some basic gun safety rules, as do a number of other publications on the subject. No attempt has been made to include rules for every situation, but adherence to the basics and common sense will ensure safe shooting. Rule boards are posted at each range and specific additional rules will be in affect for certain matches.

The safe operation of the range requires the complete cooperation of all members. The Board of Directors shall have the ultimate enforcement responsibility and will take action, as they deem appropriate, up to and including cancellation of membership and disbarment of any member. It is the responsibility of all members to take corrective action and make the facts of any violation known to the Board.

Every member and user of the range is required to be familiar with the contents of and compliance with this manual. A copy of this manual will be made available to every member family. Spare copies will be maintained at the range. Changes will be issued when required and will be published in the official club notice, the monthly newsletter.

GUN HANDLING SAFETY RULES

1. Treat every firearm as a loaded firearm.
2. Always keep the gun muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
3. Never point a firearm at anything you do not intend to shoot.
4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond.
5. Know how your gun functions. If it malfunctions, have it corrected before continuing to shoot.
6. Always be mindful of correct ammunition for the firearm in use.
7. Weapons should not be left unattended. When not in use they should be cased.
8. Eye and ear protection should be worn by all shooters.
9. No alcohol will be consumed before or during shooting.
10. Horseplay or playing tricks on other shooters is strictly prohibited.
11. Weapons will remain, "actions open" & "chambers empty" until on station and ready to shoot.

GUESTS

CATEGORIES OF SHOOTERS

There are also 12 Wednesday Night Team Captains. These individuals have the same responsibilities for the Range operation as do the Sunday Team Captains with the exception of having an assigned team to assist them. During Wednesday night operations the shooters present must assume responsibility for pulling / scoring and otherwise assisting the Team Captain in the smooth, safe, and efficient functioning of the Range.

Shooting members can become Qualified Members. The eligibility requirements for "Qualified Member" are:

1. Current member in good standing, at least twenty one years of age.
2. Be an active member of a Weekly range team.
3. Work two full shifts with a range team.
4. Willingness to accept the responsibility of enforcing the range and club operating rules.
5. Willingness to accept assignment to run the range.
6. Demonstrate familiarity with operation of the club.
7. Nominated to the Board of Directors by a Team Captain as being fully qualified.

The Board of Directors will select personnel from those candidates nominated by Team Captains, to establish and maintain the list of personnel designated as Qualified Members. As openings occur among Team Captains, new Captains will be selected and assigned by the Board from the Qualified Members list. Qualified Members status will not be bestowed on individuals merely to enable them to use the range during other than normal hours, but rather the designation denotes a special willingness by the member to be actively involved in running of the range and club.

RANGE OPERATION

The range can only be opened for shooting when a Qualified Member is in charge. The range will be open at the hours and on the occasions (league shoots and special matches) as published in the newsletter. During those published hours, all facilities will be available for membership use. At all other times the Qualified Member will have final say on all shooting activities. With the size and layout of the range and the number of activities going on simultaneously, one individual cannot do the job. Therefore a team of several individuals is required, the head of such a team a Team Captain. Specific tasks of the Team Captain are:

1. Insure sufficient personnel are available to adequately supervise all scheduled activities. In the event not enough personnel are available, decide which activities will/will not occur.
2. Insure team members understand their specific tasks, (i.e. scorekeeper, puller, trap loader)
3. Insure team members understand their responsibility for safe range operation and gun safety.
4. Account for and remit all monies from the sale of memberships, shells, and shooting fees for skeet trap, sporting clays, rifle and pistol.
5. Conduct an inspection of facilities / equipment for:
      A. Proper operation or required maintenance.
      B. Any vandalism, abuse or theft of club property.
      C. Sufficient supplies, i.e. clay targets, shells.
6. Report any condition that requires correction to the responsible individual.
7. Report any significant rule violation to the Board of Directors.

At times other than those published, but never before 9:00 AM nor after 10:00 PM, qualified members may elect to use the facilities under the conditions listed:

1. Only Qualified Members can open the range.
2. A single Qualified Member can shoot rifle or pistol.
3. At least three shooters are required to open the Trap, Skeet or Sporting Clays range.
   
4. All other rules apply.
5. The Qualified Member is responsible to collect and remit all standard shooting fees and appropriate paper work.
6. The range must be cleaned up and all equipment stowed at the completion of shooting.

OTHER

The Southwest Iowa Sportsmans Club is a volunteer organization. The construction, improvement and operation of the Club requires a great deal of manpower as do the various community service projects, fund raisers, and member's activities conducted throughout the year. The Weekly teams' efficient performance are crucial to the income generation capability of the Club. As the Club grows in membership and activities it is important to adhere to the underlying main reason for its existence, to provide a safe, attractive location to enjoy the shooting sports at a reasonable cost to the members. The volunteer labor is the main ingredient that makes our organization possible. Shoot safely and enjoy.

Approved: January 10,1995 Revised: April 9, 1996