Today was supposed to be an enjoyable first experience at the shooting range for us. It was my…read morefriend's birthday, and we were all looking forward to having a good time. Up until we reached the Gun Range counter, every staff member we interacted with had been welcoming, respectful, and genuinely pleasant. Unfortunately, that changed the moment we spoke with the employee at the Gun Range counter -- the one with ginger-colored hair.
When he asked whether it was our first time shooting, I answered honestly that it was my first time. My husband also mentioned that our friends would be arriving shortly and that one of them, who teaches Senior MilitaryTactical Fire Arm Instructor for 19 years would be helping us. Instead of responding professionally, the employee made an unnecessary and disrespectful comment. He said, first, that it was "freaking awesome," but then immediately followed it with, "people in the military are the worst shooters we've ever encountered." Our friends haven't even arrived yet.
That statement alone was aggravating, unprofessional, and completely out of line. He didn't even see or talk to our friend before making that judgment. It was insulting not only to our friend's service but to anyone who has served. His tone and attitude were dismissive and condescending from that point forward.
It is completely unacceptable for a man who has risked his life in service to this country to be spoken about or to be belittled in such a manner.
He then turned to me and said he was "honestly concerned" that this was my first time shooting -- speaking to me as if I were a child rather than an adult customer. I already struggle with confidence, and his approach was unnecessary, rude, and completely inappropriate for someone working in a customer-facing environment. Instead of making me feel safe, informed, or supported, he made me feel judged and talked down to.
When I entered the gun range, the same employee who had already made unnecessary comments about it being my first time shooting continued to behave unprofessionally. He stood there staring at me and making a face that was clearly judgmental and unwelcome. His demeanor made me extremely uncomfortable. I ended up firing only one round before deciding to leave because the environment he created did not feel respectful, supportive, or appropriate for a first‑time shooter.
What makes this even more disappointing is that my husband was planning to take classes there and buy his guns. After this interaction, it's clear that this employee needs to be addressed. His attitude, his comments, and the way he speaks to customers are unacceptable. He needs to be reminded of what professionalism looks like and how to treat people with basic respect.
I would also like to note our interaction with the second gentleman who approached the counter. He was very polite and spoke to us in a respectful, reassuring manner. When I mentioned that the previous employee's behavior had made me feel nervous, he responded by saying, "Oh yeah, he's a ginger -- he's just like that. He's not as bad as he seems." Although he was kind in his approach, his attempt to excuse the earlier unprofessional behavior was inappropriate and did not address the underlying concern.
Since I am aware that your facility has a history of reviewing camera footage to justify an employee's behavior, I want to clarify what was occurring at that moment. After the employee's inappropriate comment, my husband was simply trying to talk to me and lighten the mood because he could see that I was uncomfortable and upset. His intention was to reassure me, not to escalate the situation. He was simply trying to calm me down and reminded me not to let an employee's overinflated ego interfere with my ability to enjoy the experience.
I would find any response that deflects accountability for your employees actions is unacceptable and disrespectful to our Men and Women of our Military.
