Range Safety Officer Certification

[CaptainMal]

I have been an NRA RSO for years. At Manatee the entire operation af each individual range depends on the availability of certified RSO's.

Without a certified RSO, the range does not open.

 

[Oso]

Trying to get the BOD to focus on any item, including Safety, will not happen unless either one of the special interest groups champion this cause or in panicked response to a major safety incident/accident that can't be ignored. The common complaint from RSO's that even if you prevent/stop an incident and send in the report, the BOD most likely does nothing. Without the BOD enforcing the rules there is no way to materially improve Safety. Developing a Safety Culture/Mindset must start from the top and flow down through the membership. Rules must have teeth and members must know that they will be enforced. Also, RSO's and Members must know that their efforts are appreciated and respected.... no attention/enforcement by the BOD undermines the entire effort causing people to stop being actively engaged.

It is unfortunate that the Squeaky Wheel is the only way that the General Membership's best interest will be heard over the special interest groups (competition shooting divisions), which only represent a relatively small number of member (my club it is less than 10%). If you doubt me then do a head count of your BOD members and you will quickly realize that the BOD consists primarily of leaders/division heads of the shooting disciplines, and very few if any unaffiliated BOD members (general membership). Start attending your club's BOD meetings (usually held once a month) and start listening, taking notes and voicing an opinion.

 

[m1jeff]

Are any of your clubs covering liability and accident insurance for you while you are performing RSO duties?

 

[chkunz]

I belong to two different clubs and neither have any sort of safety officer. Wish they did. It might have saved me from some of the heated arguements I have had with other members in the past.

Do they have liability insurance, if so is the lack of certified RSOs effect the cost of the insurance?

 

[chkunz]

I have tried to get my club to do it and finally gave up... Spend money on everything else to keep a tiny minority of the members happy and yet nothing that matters...

Does the club have liability insurance?

 

[chkunz]

We have about 40 rso's at my range. We had to take a class by a certified instructor, we are all volenteers.

Is this the NRA Certification?

 

[chkunz]

The range we hold our matches at is a county facility. They require all match directors and assistants running matches to be RSOs and have their certifications on file with them.

Is this the NRA certification?

 

[chkunz]

We do not at my range. It works out fine.

Do you have liability insurance?

 

[chkunz]

Just because someone has passed an NRA RSO certification, doesn't mean that individual has the will or ability to keep things in order on the firing line.

The misuse of a good thing is no argument against it.

 

[300_whisper]

Do you have liability insurance?

I don’t. Our range has some kind of insurance that our membership fees cover. I’m just a member not the owner.

 

[OLeveraction]

The Club offer NA training a couple times a year,
Club Rules state the First Person on the Range is the Rangmaster/RSO And it pass on the the next if they leave.
Many try not to be that guy. the responsibility takes away from what you are there to do.

If you are the RSO for a match and your are the only RSO, you can not shoot the match.

 

[chkunz]

I don’t. Our range has some kind of insurance that our membership fees cover. I’m just a member not the owner.

Understand, thanks for the reply.

 

[KMart]

The misuse of a good thing is no argument against it.

My statement was not an argument for or against anything. It was just a statement.

 

[chkunz]

My statement was not an argument for or against anything. It was just a statement.

Understand, thanks for the reply.

 

[dthomas]

Is this the NRA Certification?

yes

 

[Monte F]

Is this the NRA certification?

Yes.

 

[PigButtons]

RSO cert doesn't mean squat if club management doesn't back them up 100%. Been there, done that. Now I shoot at my home range.

 

[chkunz]

I was asked to become an RSO, and I actually began the process. I showed up on a Thursday, signed in, grabbed my cup-a-joe, and listened to the instructor begin his introductions. The sign-in sheet was passed around - and that is where the process stopped....

-NRA member number-

"Sorry, not in the NRA".
- "It's really easy to join! Just call this number and have your card ready."
"Is WLP still at the helm?"
- "Yes"
"Thanks for offering the course and being here today. Laters"

Does anyone know if NRA membership is required to take the course and get the certification? I want to see WLP gone along with his enablers but there are still NRA things that we depend on.

 

[300_whisper]

Does anyone know if NRA membership is required to take the course and get the certification? I want to see WLP gone along with his enablers but there are still NRA things that we depend on.

USCCA and CMP does RSO courses. I got RSO certified from the Army. I’m sure there’s some retired military dudes out there who could do an RSO course for your club. Just some options if you don’t want to do the NRA course.

 

[chkunz]

USCCA and CMP does RSO courses. I got RSO certified from the Army. I’m sure there’s some retired military dudes out there who could do an RSO course for your club. Just some options if you don’t want to do the NRA course.

As near as I can tell from the CMP web site, the CMP offers a Range Officer Certification (how to conduct competition) but not a Range Safety Officer certification.