Urgent Safety Reminder & Club Policy changes, effective immediately
SUBJECT: URGENT SAFETY ISSUE AND POLICY UPDATES
Members,
For those of you who might have missed the May 2025 Newsletter, below are some important safety reminders and some changes in the Family, Youth Guest, and Alcohol policies you need to be aware of. Please read these over carefully and contact the club secretary at BGCNCSecretary@gmail.com or Steve Dunwoody, Chairman of the Safety & Training Committee if you have any questions.
RIFLE RANGE SAFETY BULLETIN
When the rifle range consisting of Sheds 1-4 in front of the clubhouse were reconfigured this past fall, the small rifle shed on the far-right hand side of the rifle bays (Shed 4, by itself next to the metal target storage shed) was changed into a RIMFIRE ONLY shooting area. It has new shooting benches and multiple RIMFIRE-ONLY target arrays from 25-100 yards. We have also placed 2 portable target stands at this station for those who want to shoot paper at varying distances. (Please give a big thank you to Bryan Shelton when you see him for all the work he has put in making these improvements!)
A SAFETY REMINDER ABOUT THESE CONTIGUOUS SHED PAVILIONS-This small rimfire rifle range is only separated by a dirt path (the road taken to go out and change targets at 200-400 yards). It is segregated for rimfire use, but that doesn’t mean we have two separate ranges! AS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE, THERE IS NO SIDE SAFETY BERM BETWEEN THIS RIMFIRE SHED 4 AREA AND ANY OF THE OTHER 3 SHEDS THAT MAKE UP THE SUM TOTAL OF THE RIFLE RANGE. Therefore, you CANNOT go down range to change targets, etc. on the rimfire range, or any of the 3 other range sheds, while there is an active shooter on ANY area of the rifle range!
PLEASE REMEMBER, THE HORN AND LIGHTS MUST BE USED ON THE RIFLE RANGE WHENEVER ANYONE IS GOING FORWARD OF THE FIRING LINE, ANYWHERE ALONG SHOOTING POSITIONS AT SHEDS 1-4, including the new Rimfire Range! It is a fundamental rule of firearm safety to NEVER allow anyone forward of a gun muzzle, and without dividing side berms between sheds 1-4, that is exactly what you are doing if you move forward of the firing line along ANY of the 4 sheds of the rifle ranges without blowing the whole rifle range cold (one long blast on the buzzer).
The continuous-warning CLAXTON BUZZER AND STROBE LIGHT SYSTEM switch is located at the end post of Shed 3, adjacent to the road, and MUST BE USED ANY TIME ANYONE GOES OUT ON FOOT OR CAR BEYOND THE 100 YARD YARD TARGETS. Anyone blowing the range cold must be certain to look ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LINE from Shed 1 on the far left to Shed 4 across the dirt road on the right to make sure all shooters have safely benched their firearms (unloaded, action open, muzzle downrange) and moved to the cold range position behind the red line, or at least 3 feet behind their benches before proceeding down range, and also make sure everyone is safely back from downrange before blowing the range hot again (two short blasts on the buzzer).
NO ONE MAY MOVE, SET-UP, OR HANDLE ANY FIREARM, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER LOADED OR UNLOADED, IN ANY WAY WHEN THE RANGE IS COLD.
NEW FAMILY GUEST & YOUTH POLICY
There have been some minor changes in the Family and Youth guest policy, as outlined in the new Corporate Resolutions listed below. In order to help ensure safe supervision of multiple shooters, family groups are now limited to a total size of 6 (5 family members, plus the member), with no more than 3 shooters on the firing line at any one time. (See relevant policy below).
9.1 Guests Definitions:
9.1.1 Member’s family is defined as the member, spouse, and their dependents and other children, plus siblings, in-laws, parents, grandparents, and grandchildren.
9.1.2 A General guest is defined as all other relationships to the member not specifically defined in sub-section 9.1.1. (For example, cousins, uncle, etc.)
9.1.3 Youth guests as Minor Children shall be defined as under the age of eighteen (18) years old. Youth guests are defined from the category 9.1.2 description if they are not part of a member’s family.
If a member is bringing a combination of guests and family members, the total group size is still limited to 6, so 2 adult guests and 3 family members, or any combination of friends and family so as not to exceed 5 guests plus the member.
9.3 BGC Member’s Family use of facilities:
9.3.1 Persons of a BGC Member’s Family are not limited to the number of visits per year and are not subject to the 2 adult guests per visit limitation; however, the total number of persons in the member’s group shall not exceed 6, including the member.
9.3.2 ALL family members must sign in immediately upon arrival (whether shooting or not), personally complete a Hold Harmless agreement, and wear a name tag at all times for each visit to Buccaneer Gun Club, Inc.’s property. Grandparents may not sign for minors unless they are the legal guardian.
9.3.3 No more than 3 persons of the group shall be actively firing at a line/station at the same time and all in the group must remain in immediate proximity to the member on the same range/bay.
9.3.4 The family members’ rounds and/or fees must be recorded on the member’s account or be paid by the member.
9.4 Youth Guest use of facilities:
9.4.1 In order to help foster youth shooting and the future of this Corporation, each member may bring the two (2) adult guests per visit described above, as well as up to three (3) additional Minor Children, for a total of six (6) individuals in the group (member, plus 5 guests).
9.4.2 A Minor’s Consent Form must be filled out and signed by the parent or legal guardian of each child under the age of 18 (these are available for download ahead of time on the website or on arrival in the clubhouse). Grandparents may not sign for minors unless they are the legal guardian. If a child is participating in a youth league, copies of these forms should be completed by the parent or guardian on the first day of the event season, and copies are to be kept with coaches until season ends.
9.4.3 No more than 3 persons in the group shall be actively firing at a line/station at the same time and all in the group must remain in immediate proximity to the member on the same range/bay.
ALCOHOL IS NO LONGER ALLOWED ON CLUB PROPERTY
Due to rising insurance costs and serious liability issues related to allowing unsupervised alcohol consumption on gun club premises, the Board has decided it is in the best interest of the Club to prohibit all alcohol on club property. Please see updated Corporate Resolution below:
CR 3.10.1 Alcohol. Alcohol is not permitted on club property, and persons under the influence of alcohol are prohibited from visiting Club property.
