President Gerald Ford was so wild with his golf swings that Bob Hope observed, “It’s not hard to find Jerry Ford on a golf course – you just follow the wounded.” But things weren’t quite so funny at a Florida RV resort’s golf course earlier this month. A women’s golf league was playing a quiet round when bullets began blasting by them. Flying bullets at an RV park?
Authorities provide no aid for bullets at an RV park
“We started hearing them zing to the sides of us so we hit the ground, and several of the girls were in tears,” Janis Andres told media station Fox4News. “You know, that’s pretty traumatic.” The projectile panic broke out at The Glades RV Resort in Moore Haven, Florida.
Was it some off-kilter random shooter? Andres thinks the bullets came from a nearby privately held gun range. In an interview with the TV station, Andres declared, “You never know whether they’re going to be flying across the course, what weapons they’re shooting that day or who’s shooting that day that may or may not be controlling their weapon.”
The aggrieved golfers called the county sheriff to report their frightening experience. They got sympathy, but that was about the extent of it. The law enforcement officials advised the women to take the matter up with the county commission. They did. On December 10 they brought their concerns to the Glades County Commission meeting. Did they get help?
At least one county commissioner suggested that Second Amendment rights held the trump card. “We can’t stop them from shooting entirely because of their rights,” explained one of the commissioners. “But we can stop them from firing in your direction, hopefully.”
Questions meet with silence
When a TV station reporter reached out to the county commission and sheriff’s office, he never got a response. Planning on making a reservation at the RV park? With flying bullets at an RV park, consider adding flack jackets to your road gear.
##RVT1188b
What does the 2nd amendment have to do with shooting a gun ? It deals with possessing a gun.
Just because you can “possess” a firearm doesn’t mean you know how to “handle” a firearm.
In most states (NY, for sure), learning proper handling as well as showing competency, and a thorough understanding of safety is all part of the application process. This permitting process can take y-e-a-r-s here. Other states have their individual rules, but I’ll assume demonstrating competency and safety are part of the majority of states processes. I have no idea where people get the notion that you can simply walk into a gun shop and walk out 5 minutes later with a sidearm in hand.
Well, I live in NH and there is no waiting period between purchase and transfer. You only need to show proof of ID to ensure you meet the requirements. And of course, per federal law, there is a background check.
There is no requirement for demonstrating proficiency or familiarity with a weapon, nor for any training.
For those who say guns keep people safe, I say that if I see someone with a holstered handgun I feel *less* safe. And, NH allows concealed carry with no permit, so I never know who is carrying, be they a “good guy” or bad.
Amen!
So now instead of yelling ” Fore” for a bad shot,
you holler “Duck” !
Just don’t yell “Fire!” Have a good night, Bill. 😀 –Diane
LOL ! 😆
Sounds to me like a bad County Sherriff as we do have some good ones in my area. However, it does sound like a County Commission down here.
That could be another of many reasons that I will never visit Florida again.
Cool. Aren’t choices wonderful!?
Nothing like a passive aggressive response Grumpy! I’m sure Gary recognizes it. Let’s all try to be nice to each other.
Indeed. I have several reasons.
Something is off. LE would have investigated this and not just ho hummed it as suggested. Not sure how close or which direction those bullets came from but, if LE thought it was from a gun range, they would be on the range owners about better security and safety measures. In any case, LE would find the shooters.
Agree. Has this been reported before or first-time incident? Florida is a stand your ground state.
What does ‘stand your ground’ have to do with this. Does it mean the golfers could have shot back?
I agree that the women heard the gunshots and panicked. The way the world is now with all the shootings going on, people are afraid when they hear gunshots.
Either way, the LE should have investigated and the County Commission should have forced them to do so. If there was any question at all, the shooting range should have been out on notice.
Seems that 2nd amendment rights are held in much higher regard than one’s right to remain safe & live in peace while enjoying a day of golf (or shopping, or worshiping, or going to school, etc).
Having a gun range designed to contain projectiles is far less dangerous than being on the fairway. People get hit by golf balls far more than bullets….
And yes, rights should always be protected over simple amusements and privileges, including the 2nd Amendment.
Chr*** Alm*****!, can’t someone even ask for shots not to be fired in their general direction without someone spitting up their fetish with the 2nd amendment?
wow $Bill, your comment was about as pleasant as a dead skunk…
Go to any cemetery and see how many people are in there because they died defending the very same rights that you have dismissed as a “fetish”.
I’ll write it again – Rights should be protected, including the 2nd Amendment.
Merry Christmas and ease up on the blasphemy against another person who died for your lifestyle….
Dana, it seems you’re confused. The 2nd amendment has kept this nation free and safe from dictatorial oppression. Free to live in peace and safe to worship, shop and play golf. Yes there are accidents, negligence and intentional shootings, but consider the alternative. Your comment is quite shallow and myopic.
Location, location, location who was there first. Someone didn’t do their homework.
Simply hearing gunfire at a shooting range doesn’t necessarily equate to bullets flying through the campground. I’d like proof that this just wasn’t some nervous nellies frightened by nearby sounds.
Hearing gun fire does not equate to having incoming rounds. Of course, a shooting range next to a golf course might be a little PPP issue.
If you’ve ever heard a bullet “zing” past you that is exactly what it sounds like, especially near the end of its flight. Their story is credible as posted and should have been investigated by law enforcement. But hey, this is Florida!
A campground we tend to frequent in Iowa has a gun range nearby and you hear everything but have never experienced any stray bullets.
Same here we frequent a campground that is near a range and have done so for years. You can hear the shots, but have never felt threatened by any stray shots.
There has to be a LOT more to this story other than the sensationalism by the press. Was it folks shooting at clays? That could possibly cause shot coming down out of the sky. Then, that would be a proximity issue and that would have been going on for a long time – not just this once. Was it rifles or pistols? If so, the Sheriff would need to check into the backstop and safety officers at the range. Since the Sheriff and city council blew them off, then I call BS on this one as nothing more than a gun-hating reporter trying to sell advertising by making guns, and gun owners, out to be the bad guys, which unfortunately, is every day anymore.
No one talked to the owner or representative for the gun range? If someone was not controlling their weapon or shooting at other than a berm at my range, It would be loudly proclaimed in club communication and anyone found doing it would be excommunicated immediately. Did they find any bullet holes or actual bullets?
sounds a lot like incomplete reporting and incompetance
From the information provided. It don’t sound like the sheriff did his job and stopped the shooters from firing their guns in the direction of the golf course. As a gun owner you are responsible for the direction your bullets go and the safety of others. If this is a common event, it’s the owners of the golf course/ RV park to stop people from shooting toward their customers. They should proceed with legal action against the gun club and sheriffs dept if they ignore the problem. The issue has nothing to do with the 2nd amendment or stand your ground. But with responsible gun ownership.
Key phrase, “from the information provided.” That so-called reporter has done that on purpose to spread his opinion disguised as news. I trust reporters as far as I can throw them with a broken left arm. This whole story smells like a cow pasture.
Per Google maps, that range is roughly a mile away. The highest muzzle velocity of any shoulder fired firearm is 4000ft/sec which means the slug would never get there in the less than a sec it is airborne; remember the gravity thing? I also highly doubt they would hear it. Law enforcement pacified them because it was not a credible threat. This is irresistible report by Fox that doesn’t even cover basic “W”s of reporting.
I would tend to agree with your assessment. This is a nothing burger smothered in sensationalism sauce. If true, it is simply a few bad golfers shrieking at the sky after missing some short putts. Sounds more like it was the Duke Lacrosse team sending a few hard rubber balls sizzling past the green.
As a competitive shooter that’s traveled the country to many ranges, noise and the stigma of guns are a huge problem with neighbors.
Urban sprawl consumes the farm land these ranges are also being consumed. Unless they are grandfathered by state laws. Why would a person build a house next to a pig farm and then complain about the smell, right. People are idiots.
My range was temporarily closed when a neighbor claimed, she found a bullet on her porch. It turned out to be a shell case, but the city still went through a lawsuit, kept it closed for 2 years and thousands of dollars in lawyers fees. The NRA was a huge help in fighting this lawsuit. 20 years later we are still open.
In other words, the people who complain to their city government about gun ranges in their neighborhood, fabricating evidence and committing perjury in court should be prosecuted but I never have heard of such a thing.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m talking about gun ranges that are private and(or) state controlled, supervised by club’s or DNR officials. Not just a pit in state land.
The 2nd amendment reads in its entirety: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
It begins with key words: A WELL REGULATED MILITIA – well regulated being first and foremost. Where does the response of the police and commission figure into this. It also says to keep and bear arms – not shooting in random irresponsible directions that infringe on people’s right to safe freedom to play golf.
Thank you for the warning, Russ and Tina! Happy new year and safe travels! 🙂