Member Handbook and Range Rules

Sharon Gun Club

Member Handbook and Range Rules

2016 / 2017

SHARON GUN CLUB

18255 Kennedy Road,

Box 329, Sharon, Ontario L0G 1V0

Tel 905-473-2407

Fax 905-473-2089
www.sharongunclub.com

Welcome to the Sharon Gun Club – A Message from Your President 1

CLUB HOURS 3

MEMBERSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP TYPES 4

PROBATION – ALL NEW MEMBERS 5

HANDGUN SAFETY PROGRAM 6

PROBATIONARY MEMBERS SHOOTING DURING THE WEEK 6

Conducting a Safety examination 7

ENDING PROBATION 7

BADGES 8

ACCESS FOBS 9

GUESTS 10

GENERAL CLUB INFORMATION 11

VOTING 11

CSSA 11

SNACKS AND BEVERAGES 11

RENTAL OF RANGES 11

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS 12

WASHROOM FACILITIES 12

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES 12

LEAD POISONING 12

EMERGENCIES 12

KEEP THE CLUB CLEAN 12

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL 13

RANGE COMMANDS and FIREARM SAFETY 13

ACTS & PROVE SAFETY REFRESHER 15

MALFUNCTIONS 16

MUZZLE LOADERS AND BLACK POWDER 16

AUTHORIZED FIREARMS and AMMUNITION TYPES 17

FIREARMS 17

ARCHERY 17

AMMUNITION 17

SHOOTING DISCIPLINES, COURSES, & TRAINING AT SGC 17

HOLSTER TRAINING 17

SHOOTING DISCIPLINES AT SHARON 18

INTERNATIONAL PRACTICAL SHOOTING CONFEDERATION (IPSC) 18

INTERNATIONAL DEFENSIVE PISTOL ASSOCIATION (IDPA) 18

WESTERN 18

PRACTICAL RIFLE AND PRACTICAL SHOTGUN 18

LONG RANGE 200/300M RIFLE 19

SILHOUETTE 19

RANGES AND RANGE RULES 20

UNBOXING – GENERAL 21

TARGETS 21

RANGE 1 22

RANGE 2 23

RANGE 3 24

RANGE 4 25

RANGE 5 27

RANGE 6 28

RANGE 7 (Alcove) 30

RANGE 8 – TRAP 31

CLUB MAP 32

SHARON GUN CLUB – MEMBER QUIZ 33

2

Welcome to the Sharon Gun Club

A Message from Your President

The purpose of this document is to:

(a) Guide you through the NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION AND CERTIFICATION process

(b) Provide Club and Range rules to promote safety

(c) Make your Club membership and participation enjoyable.

The core Sharon Gun Club “SGC” values are:

·  Safety!!!

·  Enjoy SGC’s facilities with family, other members, and guests

·  Observe all government laws, SGC rules, and your own common sense, from the time you enter SGC until you leave the club property.

·  Conduct yourself inside and outside of SGC as a responsible firearms owner/user. Promote shooting sports and have a positive attitude when interacting with fellow members and guests.

·  Aim towards your own personal skill development, while acting with leadership on the ranges and sharing skills and safe practices with others.

This manual contains the Club SGC's rules, guidelines, and recommendations, designed to promote safe and enjoyable shooting sports. Questions are always welcome, and may be addressed as follows:

·  Speak with someone in the Club office on Saturdays between 9am and 2:30pm. A Director is usually present.

·  Send an email to a board member using one of the choices on the website.

·  Leave a voice mail message at 905-473-2407

CAMERAS

SGC uses a network of computer-driven video recording devices at various locations around the property. We use this system to monitor compliance with Club safety rules. Recordings are also used to help evolve our policies and procedures.

RANGE OFFICERS

Our Range Officers (“RO’S”) have the responsibility to ensure, and authority to enforce, the safe operation of activities on our ranges. If cited for a safety issue, or warned about conduct at the range, do not argue with the RO. In cases of disagreement, the Board of Directors may consider the matter. All members have the responsibility to report unsafe acts by other members and guests. Incident Report Forms are available in the Clubhouse. When arriving at the Range to shoot, another Club member may already be acting as the Range Officer (RO). All shooters on a range must know who has been appointed the RO and must follow their instructions.

If you think someone is doing something wrong, politely tell them what they are doing wrong. If it is something serious, or if they continue, note their name and contact a board member. Fill in an incident report (which can be found in the Clubhouse).

On behalf of your Board of Directors, we wish you a safe and enjoyable experience at SGC!

Rev. 01/16

17

MEMBER HANDBOOK & RANGE RULES:

The Club is a not-for-profit organization, primarily run by volunteers. Directors and officials are all volunteers. We all have families/jobs and try to run the Club to the best of our abilities. If you have any special qualifications for certain types of work or have time available to help at the club, please let us know. Every Club member is an owner and, as such, should act accordingly. Report inappropriate conduct and be sure to leave the Club facilities as clean, or cleaner, than you found them.

CLUB HOURS

The Club is open to fully accredited members seven days per week.

The discharge of firearms, however, is limited by type and day. These hours are defined by the Club to ensure the maintenance of excellent relations with our neighbours.

ABSOLUTELY NO DISCHARGING OF ANY FIREARMS AFTER DUSK AT SGC.

MEMBERSHIP

The Sharon Gun Club offers memberships in 5 categories. The membership year runs 12 months from July 1st to June 30th. Renewal forms can be found in the “members only” section of the Club website sharongunclub.com, and in the clubhouse. Renewal fees are due by the end of June.

MEMBERSHIP TYPES

·  Adult

·  Spouse / Common Law Married to / Lives with Adult Member

·  Child Under 18 as of July 1

·  Student 18 to 23 years of age

·  Senior 65 years of age or older as of July 1

Note:

·  Memberships not paid by June 30th of the renewal year will be considered overdue and a service charge will apply for late payment.

·  Adult, and Adult Senior members are required to own (or be loaned) a share in Sharon Recreation Properties Limited (“SRPL”). A spouse/common law or child member must be associated with an Adult or Senior Adult membership. Adult students (18 – 23 years of age) are covered by a parents' share. A share must be owned for the duration of the membership. The transfer and sale of shares is governed by the SRPL shareholder agreement.

·  All members are required to join the Canadian Shooting Sports Association (CSSA). Any member found without CSSA membership will have their membership suspended. We are aware other organizations offer insurance. We have reviewed many alternatives, and have determined that CSSA is the best choice for the Club and the Club's members.

MEMBER PROBATION AND SAFETY EXAMINATIONS

There are several steps to becoming a full member at SGC. The steps are:

(a)  Obtain a PAL

(b)  Obtain a share

(c)  Submit a membership application

(d)  Meet with a board member for an interview and reference check

(e)  Pay membership fee

(f)  Attend, and successfully complete, the CSSA approved introductory safety course

(g)  Receive the probationary Club ID Badge

(h)  Complete the probationary shoots: 5 rifle and/or shotgun and pistol

(i)  Submit completed probationary forms to the Board for approval

(j)  Receive membership badge (first year member white badge) and fob (the fob currently costs $20.00).

PROBATION – ALL NEW MEMBERS

All new members join the Club as probationary members. The purpose of probation is to allow the new member to learn the Club safety rules and guidelines, and to demonstrate to specific Range Safety Examiners proficiency in the safe handling of firearms.

The basic probation starts with a CSSA - mandated Sharon range safety/handgun safety course when you join the Club, followed by a minimum of five (5) observed probationary shoots with rifle, and/or shotgun, and handgun by a designated observer. Only one probationary shoot per day (per discipline) is permitted, and these shoots must be from a variety of examiners. There are lists posted on ranges 2 and 3, as well as in the clubhouse, of members who are willing to perform “sign-offs”. These members have been found acceptable by the Board to perform this task, and they are volunteers, so please be patient, as there may be other probationary members waiting for “check-offs” as well. If no one on the list is present, you may find a board member who will do the examination for you.

The Board of Directors reserves the right to require additional probationary shoots. Should this be the case, the extra shoots must be examined by a board member.

HANDGUN SAFETY PROGRAM

As of January 1, 2016 all probationary members must complete all 5 probationary shoots in both the handgun and long gun categories.

The program is simple and easy to follow. To complete the program, the member must do the following:

(a)  Be a current member of the Sharon Gun Club

(b)  Members do not require a RPAL at the time of the Safety Course and subsequent “sign-offs” as they will use the handguns of the instructors and examiners during this phase of probation. If a member wishes to shoot handguns on their own at SGC after they have completed probation, they must possess a valid firearms license that permits the ownership of restricted firearms. If a member became a full member prior to 2013 (the inception of the course at Sharon), but did not previously have a “Restricted” PAL, they must return to probation (regarding handguns only) and successfully complete the CSSA Handgun safety course.

(c)  Complete five supervised probationary shoots. Members wishing to shoot their own handguns for probationary shoots must keep the case locked until an examiner instructs them to open it at the bench.

(d)  IPSC qualified members must provide proof of membership in good standing.

(e)  Complete the accuracy proof target requirement

(f)  Apply to the Board of Directors for handgun approval by submitting the completed paperwork to the Club office for consideration at the next board meeting.

Typically, the classroom portion of the program is given on a designated Sunday morning starting at 9:00 am. No firearms or ammunition are required, or permitted, in the classroom.

The instructor will provide the training, the written exam, your proof targets, and your probationary sign-off sheet. After the classroom session, you will go to the range for the practical portion of the course.

The instructor will provide guidance on when and how best to complete your probationary shoots.

PROBATIONARY MEMBERS SHOOTING DURING THE WEEK

Probationary members may not shoot during the week unless they have made special arrangements with a member who is willing to bring them as a guest. If the member is on the list of approved probationary shoot examiners, they may complete a “sign-off” at that time.

The Probationary Member must follow the rules applicable to a guest, but they do not pay the guest fee. Probationary Members must not shoot without direct supervision.

From time to time, specific probationary shoot activities may be made available and scheduled.

If the Board believes additional examinations are in the best interest of the member (and the Club), the Board may request they be performed. This request may occur at any time in the course of membership.

Conducting a Safety examination

Volunteers are critical to the success of any club.

If you are willing to act as a Club designated Range Safety Examiner, please contact a board member and let us know. We will appreciate your offer.

To conduct a safety examination, you must ensure the probationary member is demonstrating proper safety and range etiquette procedures. This includes boxing and “unboxing”, loading and unloading, firearm muzzle control, and correct target placement.

Safety Examiners are to observe that you know what you are doing, and that you are observing all safety procedures. It is acceptable to mark the “Unsatisfactory” boxes on the probation sheet. Please indicate to the probationary member your reason(s) for doing so, and make a note to this in the “Comments” on their sign-off sheet.

ENDING PROBATION

In order for the Board to accept a probationary member's pass to full membership, the signatures will be examined for:

·  a variety of signatures from the posted list of acceptable examiners

·  the spouse of the probationary member does not complete more than one "sign off"

·  Upon completion of the basic probation, the member submits his or her probation form, with signatures, to the office. The application will be presented at the next board meeting for consideration and approval. All board members must agree the probationary member has the necessary skills to be a safe and knowledgeable shooter. If approved, the application will be filed with the office the following Saturday. The member should check in with the office to request that his or her badge be updated. The member should also check in with the office to request an electronic fob to permit access to the Club during the week ($20.00).