The Homestead gate now requires a key!

[carbonrod]

Hello

Let me start by saying a few things.

* This is not my policy, I am only the messenger.
* This impacts everyone that is a member at Homestead, and only those who are a member at Homestead.
* This will have no impact to scheduled matches if we can help it.
* The person who maintains this policy is not a member of this site(whaaaaaa?). So please do not slight him via this forum. Lest you become known as the sort who will say things behind a man's back that you are not prepared to say to him.

So what happened? I attempt to curb theft, and vandalism, Homestead has moved from a combo system to a keyed gate system. The idea being that only members would now have access.

So, if anyone notices any of the above activity at homestead, please contact The President, your range coordinator, or failing that, me directly.

To get a key, please contact The President directly. Frank can be reached at: pres@albertarifle.com. He is out of town for a week or so, however. Keeping that in mind, if you have difficulty in getting a hold of him outside of the 7th-17(I think these are the right dates), please let me know.

The President is the only person that can distribute these keys.

carbonrod

 

[Kodiak99317]

The combo has always been an issue out there since one guy tells a friend and on and on and soon everyone in Calgary knows the combo. A keyed lock will become an issue too over time, you will have a$$holes removing the nuts the hold the gate on the pole soon or cutting the chains or the fence itself. I think the only solution is to has members show their membership card or an arm band or something at all times when on the range. I heard that there was some vandlism out there lately too but regardless of the type of lock used, combo or key, if the gate is left open, or they come in the dark, you are still hooped. The only way to solve this is to have a paid, full time, live on site, range safety officier/manager for the entire Homestead ranges, oh yes, the fees will go up too to pay for this. I know people get huffed when you ask them for a current valid membership but live with it or leave the club(s). Some of the bigger ranges in the US have a full time manager on-site 24/7 to curb these problems and police memberships, maybe it is time in Canada for this too, but you will need running water and power out there too for this to happen 24/7, BIG BIG expenses to get these out there. Regardless of how anything is secured, you can still get in if you want in bad enough, unless there is a body to stop it.

 

[carbonrod]

To my knowledge, there is nothing that has occurred that would come close to warranting full time staff, or RSOs.

While we need to maintain(and grow?) what we have, we need to be sure to scale our protection activities as needed.

 

[woodchopper]

won't take long for people to loan their key to someone and then get a spare cut, etc....

send a PM to Gatehouse, I know they have a swipe card type system, not as easy to copy as a key, and you can program / reprogram it

 

[themarauder]

They're installing a swipe card system down at Guelph right now, I'm assuming to stop the combo stealers.

Why the heck you'd be breaking into a gun club I have no idea anyhows, not like there's anything there to steal generally, unless you're looking for some paper targets or.. I dunno, skeets?

 

[carbonrod]

won't take long for people to loan their key to someone and then get a spare cut, etc....

send a PM to Gatehouse, I know they have a swipe card type system, not as easy to copy as a key, and you can program / reprogram it

copying a swipe key can be a bunch easier then copying a mechanical key, assuming that a decent mechanical key system is used.

 

[Savage]

The combo has always been an issue out there since one guy tells a friend and on and on and soon everyone in Calgary knows the combo. A keyed lock will become an issue too over time, you will have a$$holes removing the nuts the hold the gate on the pole soon or cutting the chains or the fence itself. I think the only solution is to has members show their membership card or an arm band or something at all times when on the range. I heard that there was some vandalism out there lately too but regardless of the type of lock used, combo or key, if the gate is left open, or they come in the dark, you are still hooped. The only way to solve this is to have a paid, full time, live on site, range safety officer/manager for the entire Homestead ranges, oh yes, the fees will go up too to pay for this. I know people get huffed when you ask them for a current valid membership but live with it or leave the club(s). Some of the bigger ranges in the US have a full time manager on-site 24/7 to curb these problems and police memberships, maybe it is time in Canada for this too, but you will need running water and power out there too for this to happen 24/7, BIG BIG expenses to get these out there. Regardless of how anything is secured, you can still get in if you want in bad enough, unless there is a body to stop it.

We have used the Combination lock for 5 yrs with out to many issues regarding vandalism and yes there have been thefts of tools and generators from the tool shed this has been most in part related to club members not properly locking up after themselves as for vandalism our club runs a program that educates new members on the range operation and there conduct while using the range as well we have a target shed on site that our members have access to use when they are at the range . Surprisingly the other club does not allow there members access to the target shed and I have seen a few of there members shooting at improvised targets.
The vandalism is mostly restricted I believe to non members gaining access to the range by simply driving thru an unlocked open gate or simply climbing over the gate or fence and shooting at what ever they please
Regarding having paid RSO's on the range it is not practical on so many issues we do not have the money to pursue this program and nor the member base to support this with out allowing the General public access to the Homestead 900 m range this would essentially curtail matches and practices for the clubs using the the 900m range .The clubs have there own RSO's that supervise the matches and if the other executives make it policy .They will have to allow the general public to use the range we currently do at the Steve Johnston Range in Calgary .

 

[Savage]

won't take long for people to loan their key to someone and then get a spare cut, etc....

send a PM to Gatehouse, I know they have a swipe card type system, not as easy to copy as a key, and you can program / reprogram it

The keys are high security Medcos each key costs $20.00 to cut and they are not easy to get duplicates

 

[Silverado]

The keys are high security Medcos each key costs $20.00 to cut and they are not easy to get duplicates

We have used Medeco keyed padlocks for range access for years.

Beginning next year, we will be totally replacing this with printed photo ID proximity access cards for our newly motorized gate. Essentially, you will not be able to be on the property without your photo ID, because you can't get past the gate without it! Also, no more stopping at the gate or clubhouse to sign into the paper book...

This will allow us to maintain better control of access to our facility, and reliably meet our insurance obligation to keep an access log of who is on the property at what times.

Additionally, we will be moving to an orientation session model for gaining membership each year. Up to now, you've been able to visit a local retailer to fill out your paperwork and get your key.

We feel the new orientation will take less than 30 minutes, and will likely run sessions twice a week.

In conjunction with this, we will be installing about 10 security cameras throughout the property. Hopefully these steps will finally put to bed vandalism issues.

The whole project is going to cost us over $25K, but it's been talked about on and off for years, and really is overdue.

I'll be making a full thread on these changes for our members in about a month.

 

[beltfed]

We have used Medeco keyed padlocks for range access for years.

Beginning next year, we will be totally replacing this with printed photo ID proximity access cards for our newly motorized gate. Essentially, you will not be able to be on the property without your photo ID, because you can't get past the gate without it! Also, no more stopping at the gate or clubhouse to sign into the paper book...

This will allow us to maintain better control of access to our facility, and reliably meet our insurance obligation to keep an access log of who is on the property at what times.

Additionally, we will be moving to an orientation session model for gaining membership each year. Up to now, you've been able to visit a local retailer to fill out your paperwork and get your key.

We feel the new orientation will take less than 30 minutes, and will likely run sessions twice a week.

In conjunction with this, we will be installing about 10 security cameras throughout the property. Hopefully these steps will finally put to bed vandalism issues.

The whole project is going to cost us over $25K, but it's been talked about on and off for years, and really is overdue.

I'll be making a full thread on these changes for our members in about a month.

I'm interested in gleening as much as I can from what you have installed. If you don't mind sharing that info, please contact me.

cheers!

 

[David K]

... "We" use a lock, and a new Key is "issued" every year to match the "New Lock". The cost for the "new key" is minimal, just barely covers the cost, and you turn in your old key. Seems to work very well, and nobody seems to object to the small additional fee. ...... All it takes is one Moron to Vandalize the facilities, and any complaints would stop immediately, when the cost was disclosed ! .... David K

 

[Silverado]

I'm interested in gleening as much as I can from what you have installed. If you don't mind sharing that info, please contact me.

cheers!

Hi beltfed,

Due to the usual difficult machinations of running a club by committee, we did not go ahead with this for 2010. We're still using the old lock & key system.

We are still having power installed at the gate though, initially for a large yard light, and hopefully to facilitate this major change in 2011.

I can still compile some of the specs for you though; give me a bit and I'll send you a PM.