Having fun shooting guns

Saturday morning, September 23, about ninety Engineers gathered at Brannan’s gun range to participate in the first of four open shoots being hosted by the Gun Club this year. About 12,000 rounds were fired during the shoot, which was ended early at 1:30 due to a coming storm.

Photo: Fred Webber Rose-Hulman students participate in the first of four open shoots sponsored by Gun Club.

The shoots aren’t unsupervised - they are closely monitored and run by range officers [RO], who are in turn supervised by the owner of the range, Don Brannan. Range officers instruct shooters at the beginning on gun safety and about shooting safely.

“We teach four main rules,” explained Ryan Clawson, a junior mechanical engineer. “Treat all guns as if they were loaded at all times, keep your finger off the trigger until the gun is on the target, be sure of the target, and keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.”

For those who have never shot before, Brannan or an officer provides instruction.

“We also watch over the line to make sure that there are no shooters behaving in an unsafe manner. After all, the point of the shoot is to have a good time; you shouldn’t have to wonder if the person next to you is doing something that could endanger himself or you,” Clawson said.

“By definition, anyone that wants to can come to our open shoots,” said Ethan Murnahan, Gun Club president and senior applied biology major. All of the open shoots are on the school calendar.

The gun club also runs small shoots for any group that asks. “If any RAs or Fraternities want to do a shoot just contact me,” said Murnahan. In addition to the club shoots and the four open shoots, the club generally runs one for both the Army and Air Force ROTC detachments, one for Pan-Hellenic, and two ladies’ shoots. SGA pays for the big shoots and the .22 shoots that occur in the on-campus range under the stadium seating. Smaller groups generally pay for some or all of the shoots.

The gun club has several different kinds of guns available for students to shoot. They own three .45s, three .40s, four 9mm, two 44 mag revolvers and three .22 pistols. If larger guns are more your thing, there are roughly seven shotguns, two AR-15s, one Mini-14, two bolt action rifles, and three .22 rifles.

The Gun Club has been a part of Rose-Hulman since 1914, with a lapse in the late 70’s until around 1989. Brannan has been associated with the club since its reactivation. “Right off the bat, Rose was good to the club. …The administration was very good to work with. Always have been,” remarked Brannan. In addition to the administration, Public Safety has been quite helpful. “Gary Flora has been a very good supporter. … He’s been a real asset to the club.” Brannan has been happy to be associated with the school, mentioning that he wanted his children to grow up around Rose-Hulman students. “You’re good role models.”