As I just noticed, my question has not been answered.
Probably, as SkeetGunner just dreads thinking that curbing numbers of prospective new shooters is a good idea.
So do I.
But...
We have facility that can accommodate certain number of members, and once that has been reached, what then?
So I pose question again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For many reasons that other people already mentioned, and some that they did not, Range Burlington has grown to be largest handgun/ rifle indoor range.
Or perhaps even biggest gun club in Southern Ontario with over 1700 active members.
Physically, it is not very large facility and as far as I know has no plans of expanding, there will come time where there is just too many members and range time gets to be too crowded, if that has not arrived already?
Are you guys preparing for necessary measures to control the numbers down to feasible and workable amount of members, how soon do you think that will happen, and which way are you going- membership caps or membership fees increases?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And... I would like to avoid this becoming BASH SKEETGUNNER AND BRRC thread.
Let's try to be constructive and discuss ideas how things can get better.
So... instead of just asking questions and #####ing about what is wrong, lets just start differently and offer solutions and see what SG thinks about.
As I previously written here, one of the main reasons that BRRC has as many members as they do is that they are half way between two large cities, and have large pool of prospective candidates to draw from.
Safety courses and regular intake is well organized, and new members are readily admitted.
Everyone also likes the fact that club has 24-7 access, especially shift workers, and other people with irregular schedules.
But... most desirable hours, afternoons and evenings EVERY day, are reserved for leagues.
Meaning- if you want to come and plink away, you have to come very late at night, or in the morning.
People expect to be able to use facility at normal and convenient hours, and we start having unhappy members that do not belong to one of the leagues.
Someone will say, join the leagues and bang away.
Agreed, it might work for many, and I hope it will for me.
However, for some of the leagues like IPSC or PPC, you need additional training, and if you do not have it- you are out of luck.
At least for a long while.
What can we do to make things better?
Can we do anything, or should we just run the things the way we do, and whoever does not like it can hit the door?
Well, I happen to think that with significant member base and fees that come with that Range Burlington has options.
Yes, we are landlocked, and purchasing another property in Burlington would cost many millions etc.
But, we have no choice, either manage existing member numbers, or grow ourselves out of existence.
Nothing stays still in life, you either progress or you are going down.
So, Range Burlington in order to keep growing needs expanded facility.
Since we are landlocked, we can do it by building another floor.
BRRC can build second floor 25 or 50 yard shooting gallery with self retracting targets and keep relevant and growing.
Either on top of existing building, if if can sustain it, which probably can not.
Or, level the building besides it and build it there.
Of course, if it was private enterprise, it would be much easier to achieve.
As it is, it will take initiative of influential people within a club and great amount of efforts to make this happen.
BRRC could continue growing and become a true beacon for shooting sports in Ontario and Canada.
Or, we can just putter around and do things as we have been always doing...
Shooting sports can either become truly recognized and respected sport, or can continue to be well kept secret 'scary' activity of the 'weird' few... waiting for inevitable handgun ban in Canada.
