Member Safety Survey Results

Mill Creek Safety Status

Results of the 2025 Membership Safety Survey

A total of 281 Mill Creek members (14 percent of membership) responded to the request for opinions regarding the safety practices at the club posted on the website since April. Highlights of what you had to say about safety include the following:

“Other” responses in the table above were:

• Other member in group did approach them
• The individual handling his firearm while others were downrange realized his mistake and made a correction. I've seen several occasions where a quest has more than two guests occupying three or more positions on a range, but did not comment to avoid confrontation.

 

“Other” responses in the previous two charts included:

Most violated rules:

• Actions not open while people are down range, not waiting for our seasoned member not making it back before turning the warning lights off
• Not getting behind red line during cease fire. Not leaving slide open at cease fire.
• Lack of communication at a pistol range
• Non-use/improper use of flags, especially on high power range.
• At one time automatic fire was against rules on all property
• Not verifying that all shooters on the line are aware that range is going cold. I was shooting at 300 yard steel targets when someone on the furtherest side of the range wanted to go down range, I was still shooting when the alarm went off. When I looked up, to verify that it was our range going cold, I still had my rifle with a round in it and the person at the other end was already walking down range.
• Automatic fire; exploded firearm pieces with blood trail
• Person approached me while carrying his pistol, even though it was empty and locked open I did not know that.
• Unsafe handling of a handgun.
• Full auto at 25 yard range

Most noted safety concerns:

• Boyfriends with girlfriends on the range handling firearms with others downrange and unwilling to acknowledge they were not behaving in a safe manner. Patrons were 100% wrong but unwilling to accept input.
• either automatic or bump stock fire on the far west ranges (are cameras present there)
• An adult and a teenager arrived on 100 yard rifle range, said nothing to anybody, activated siren/lights while other shooters were in the middle of strings of fire, and immediately walked downrange to hang targets without giving anybody a chance to make their weapons safe. Once these individuals started shooting, they were less than cooperative with allowing anybody else to go downrange to change or remove targets.
• Guy tail gated me in and then flipped me off
• Someone actually began firing while I was downrange on the 25 north range. I had all warning signs and sounds in place.
• I had a guy try to proceed down range while we were shooting. No warning or communication.
• Using unapproved target frames
• Shooter practicing on 25 yd line at 10-15 yards and not willing to let others shoot at 25
• Not realizing someone was still down range
• Possible "switch" on a pistol auto fire on non LE Range

 Any further recommendations on how to improve safety at the club?

• Reinforce the range rules in email communications with the members
• Believe emphasis on casing/uncasing guns should be increased. People tend to protect themselves and their immediate group, but are a bit loose with muzzles when casing/uncasing guns.
• It is all members job to keep the club safe. We all forget rules or make mistakes sometimes. Just a few nice words can go a long way to make us all safer.
• We enjoy and are relaxred at the range. Some consideration for the physical condtion of our members would be appropriate. ie hearing speed of movement
• I generally avoid bays where there are other people that I don't know are already shooting (unless it's an organized event that I am participating in)
• Require members to sign a form printed in LARGE LETTERS acknowledging they will comply with the range rules and they acknowledge they can lose their membership for breaking them.
• That is like a trick question. I am ALWAYS concerned about my and my guests safety Everybody should answer yes to that question. I typicaly go on a week day so there isnt a "crowd". I dont think I have ever seen anyone out there that wasn't serious about firearms & safety. Even actions that are forbidden at other ranges are done in a reasonably safe manner and in appropriate areas of the range. i am happy with my membership and will continue to support the MRC. Thanks to all that keep it up and keep it safe.
• There seems to be to many guests at the club. Not sure they are well versed in safety.
• I've only had one weird instance occur after many years as a member. Other than that I've been very impressed by the safety shown at the club.
• I think that any organized activity at the club should begin with a safety briefing that includes: a reminder of the address of the club (I doubt many people know it. Dispatch might, but best not to assume when time matters), designation of someone to call 911, designation of someone to meet EMS/First responders at the gate and escort them in, identification of the location of an AED and any first aid supplies/tourniquets - and someone responsible for retrieving/using them, identification of anyone in the group who knows and can administer CPR, identification of anyone in the group who can and will administer first aid. If anyone in the group has a known health issue or allergy - write it on a sheet of paper and place it in front, right pants pocket for retrieval in case they go down with a health issue. Thank you for conducting this survey. I just stumbled across it.
• Annual safety refresher--online training and a short check on learning (more than signing the new year's rules attestation)
• Please put up more steel targets on the pistol ranges.
• There are those who I have seen address minor safety violations with other members in a very hostile manner. It's usually the LONG term members who behave this way. Approaching every safety situation in a hostile manner does not encourage safe gun handling or understanding of the rules. There's a time and place.
• I believe the club has done everything possible to ensure everyone's safety. I really like the freedom, within the rules, that we have at our facility. I would hope any issue would continue to be addressed on a case-by-case basis. 
• We need to be a little more common sense about this. There are plenty of individuals who are very safe, and some that aren't. We have some of our rules flipped upside down. For instance, I shouldn't have to worry about wearing plastic eyepro when I'm operating a bolt action rifle. The chance of something going wrong is pretty high, but people holstering/reholstering guns seldom have tourniquets on their person, and that shit does happen.
• Safety at organized matches is excellent, as you would expect. Otherwise, safety is "hit & miss."
• Since I have competed often for 10 years in organized matches, my safety awareness is high.
• Outside of orgainzed matches, safety is extremely variable with people who aren't involved in organized matches.
• I make a point to only be at MCRC in the early hours when it's less busy, for my own safety. I've seen live ammo left laying around that people will shoot, but the blood trail and exploded revolver pieces was the worst. People have left firearms behind, including silencers, but thankfully with contact info.
• Continued vigilance, more cameras, members reporting specific safety violations, begin the ambassador program.
• Maybe signage with direct contact info to report safety issues promptly.
• No. But better vetting of new applicants and review of video.
• I have witnessed several gun handling situations during pistol and three gun competitions
• Good job board on expelling these members (Recent disciplinary actions taken). Obviously not following rules or common sense.
• As far as the most recent expelled members- I'm also wondering about the child that was on the 15 yard pistol range unattended (as seen on the cameras provided in the email). Was the parent of this child also considered or questioned? I cannot imagine a time when a small child should be standing on a range without someone with them at every moment.
• If people bring guest they are required to take the Range officer class.
• Just seems people are annoyed with the loud siren before heading down range.
• I've always been impressed with Millcreek. I'm only able to come once or twice a year but I consistently renew because of the exclusivity and safe environment over public ranges.
• The board should record a short video for each range of the "do's and don'ts" of that specific range. As well as a video explaining guest etiquette. Post these to the website as a learning and refresher tool.
• I haven't witnessed, but have heard of members bringing guests and not following the rule regarding only one shooter at a time during. Meaning the member is actively shooting and so is the guest(s) at the same time.
• Better definition of; is a braced pistol, a pistol or a rifle on the range?
• I shoot week days most often. A safe mostly older members during those times crowd
• Our club is much safer than any open use public range I have ever seen. I think we have a few bad apples, but most folks who make safety mistakes just need a gentle reminder. They get caught up in the fun and forget.
• Emergency phone number to call if serious violation Witnessed.
• What about signs with images of what's allowed/not allowed on each specific range. As much as I try and follow the rules, I sometimes forget.
• Online steel application page with clear rules for type of steel and target stand requirements.
• Update policies to modern standards and pledge to support all shooting sports equally, otherwise fire the board and hold elections for a new board that will.
• I have had issues multiple times with shooters at the west end of bench rest failing to check with shooters on the other end before running targets. They can be in an unsafe position if they hurry to the target while someone turns on the lights and a shooter on the other end is still shooting
• My experience is safe / friendly fellow shooters.
• Would like to see a rifle bench on a 25 yrd range, if the expectation is initial sight-in at 25 then make a proper bench available for the task. Thanks
• Keep publishing info on discipline. Its a chance to reinforce the why with real-world examples
• Awareness! MCRC Board and members are the authorities. All actions on an active "shooting range" are to be held in strict accountablity. Written, Posted or NOT. Safety is the rule. My conduct and actions stem from my attitude and awareness. I share this with all my friends at MCRC! Great job Leadership!
• THANK U for being transparent re the BOD's recent actions.
• Background checks for new members.
• With the self-policing nature of our club, I think the biggest focus needs to be on staying present while on the range. Maybe a monthly safety nugget about different rules to help stay focused while on the range would help.
• How about a short online "quiz" on the range rules, as part of the membership renewal process. This might encourage members to at least review the rules annually. Also, require violators to audit a pre-membership class for habitual offenders. Quiz to follow.
• I appreciate the Safety Director and the Board taking safety seriously and keeping the club, members and guests safe. THANK YOU for doing the hard job!
• Require all members to complete the Club range safety course annually
• Continue to empower everyone to be a Range Officer and encourge them to speak up when observing questionable behavior. In my industry, we have annual required training to remind us of the rules.
• Every member should have to take a web-based safety and MCRC range rules training course annually to be able to qualify for renewal.
• Include safety stories in all future Mcrc newsletters to emphasize the importance of range safety. Also implies that actions have consequences.
• Individuals (non-members?) "shadowing" through the gate to gain entrance
• I'm glad safety is being taken seriously.
• Not at this time but always watching for anything that may be helpful.
• In my experience, Mill Creek is far safer than any public range I've visited.
• I think we should dedicate a short bay to sighting in rifles with a bench. This seems to be a common isse and many aren't able to find an easy alternative.
• We all have a responsiblity to each other to be safe!
• From what I observe, the vast majority of people are very safe and take things seriously. There are a small number of people who just need a reminder and they are back on track. There seem to be a few who treat this like a backyard range, don't adhere to safety rules, and don't clean up after themselves. I'd recommend we provide warnings for these people and if the board recommends, have them retake the safety course.
• Surveylance cameras on ranges?
• No. I support the Club being proactive about safety and from my observation it appears that most members/guests are very carefull about safety and following the safety rules.