The right to bear arms

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Christopher Bowyer-Meeder
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  "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." These are the words of the second amendment to the United States Constitution. Members of Team Tyndall can exercise that right safely with the Tyndall Private Gun Club.

TPGC is made up of active duty military, retirees, dependants and anyone else with authorized access to Tyndall. The range is open on weekends, and promotes the safe handling of firearms.

"They've made the range available to us Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.," said Brick Miller, TPGC lead range safety officer. "Due to a lack of qualified RSO's, we had to limit it to a four-hour block on Saturdays."

Miller explained the four hour block is on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. He hopes to have more RSO's as the club grows, so they can utilize the full amount of allotted time.

The club provides an opportunity for Team Tyndall to come out to the gun range and reinforce safety with firearms. Every time the range is open, a RSO gives a safety briefing to participants. During this briefing, shooters are asked if they are handling a firearm for the first time, or if they are firing a new firearm. By asking these two questions, RSO's are able to provide safe handling advice to anyone who needs it.

The range is available to shooters of all skill levels. According to Miller, it is a great way for advanced shooters to maintain muscle memory with and for new shooters to establish muscle memory.

According to the TPGC Facebook page, the range is 25-meters long, and is capable of handling black powder up to a .45 caliber or 10mm, shotguns up to a 12 gauge or 00 buckshot (no slugs), rifles up to a .308 or 7.62x51, revolvers up to a .44 magnum or 10mm and pistols up to a .45 caliber or 10mm.

"Anyone that is authorized to be on base, civilian, active duty, retirees, can join the Tyndall Private Gun Club," said Miller. "It's 40 dollars for adults 18 and older for a yearly membership. Dependents ages 13 to 17 are an additional 10 dollars."

Miller went on to say that if family or friends are in town visiting, they are welcome to use the range for a 10 dollar fee.

For more information on TPGC, head to www.facebook.com and search Tyndall Private Gun Club. There you can find club hours as they are updated, prices and printable forms to become a member.