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| - Well, where do I start...
On December 22nd, 2015, me and my 13 year old son Alex decided to go shooting together. Ben Avery was closed on that Tuesday, so we drove all the way down from North Phoenix to use the Main Range at RSSC. We used to live in Mesa, and I was a member of the RSSC in 2014, and shot multiple High Power Rifle (w/ Mike Toliver) and Tuesday Night Steel matches. I could say I was very familiar with the club, and overall (with the exception of grumpy Range Officers from time to time) my experience was decent.
We packed our guns, and happy go lucky we went to the range. We arrived approximately around 2:30PM, and we proceeded to the main window to sign in. Range Officer at the window reminded us to sign waivers, and so we did, and we paid $15 for both of us to go in.
Afterwards, we proceeded to the main range to get a bench, and the guy in the counter called me back into the office.
He started questioning me about my son, and basically started interrogating me, asking for proof that he was my son. I was like " What?, You can't be serious?" "What proof do you need, he is my son, lives at home with me and his mom, I pay his health insurance, and his room and board". "Well, sir, I can see you have different last names (I am Ramirez, he is Smith) and you have to prove legal guardianship before you shoot". For a moment, I thought I was in Superior Court in front of a Judge, instead of being at the gun club.
To give a little bit of background, me and my son do not have the same last name; me and his mom have been married for 10 years, and she was a single mom when we met, so she gave him her last name. I raised the boy since he was 3. Needless to say, I AM his legal guardian, providing health insurance, food, shelter and the works. I have never had to "prove" I am his guardian at any gun range or any other establishment for that matter. Is no one's business regardless, seems intrusive and pointless.
I got real irritated, and told the guys at the office that what kind of establishment asks for proof? "What is this, Nazy Germany?" (Die Papieren, Bitte!). Me and the boy have gone to Ben Avery, Caswell's, and the very same RSSC BEFORE, and never had any issues having to "prove" his my son. The gave me the "no ticket, no laundry" treatment, and unless I could bust out some paper saying I am his legal guardian, they would not let us use the range.
After the incident, I asked for my money back, and went and talked to the club Manager "Bill" and explained my disgust. He basically told me his range officers had done nothing wrong, and that asking for proof was a newer policy they had in the club. I explained the same I did to the range officers, and he said if I didn't have a paper from the court saying I was his legal guardian, I could not shoot there. He even told me "What would you do if you get stopped by police with the boy in the car?" I was "Are you joking me?" "What are police officers going to do, call his mom whose AT HOME?". He then proceeded to give me a bunch of waivers, and told me to have them "pre-signed" by mom (my wife) so he could shoot there then.
Needless to say, we left. I have never been more insulted in my life. My boy didn't have a chance to shoot, which was an early Christmas present. We went to Ben Avery the next day, and it went smooth as butter, no bull waivers, no interrogation, only dealt with professional and pleasant Range Officers.
RSSC has lost my business forever!
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