Gun ranges tend to have very strict rules about gun safety. Some of them might be excessive and make training a bit more difficult, but they’re there for a reason.

In a lot of cases, those rules you despise the most exist because some idiot made it seem necessary.

Now, most gun owners are responsible people who know better than to screw around, especially at the range. However, it doesn’t seem to be as universal as we might all hope.

A case in point:

A Poland man is facing charges following a shooting at a local gun range.

Officers were called about 10:45 a.m. Nov. 27 to The Training Range on Mahoning Avenue in Austintown on reports of a customer hit by gunfire.

When police arrived, the victim was resting on the floor and was being treated by medics.

Witnesses said that they heard a gun go off and then the victim yelling at the suspect, later identified as 53-year-old Jan Mazur, about shooting him in the foot and “his poor gun safety,” according to the police report.

Mazur, in his defense, says he was trying to make his weapon safe and pulled back the slide. When he did so, he heard a loud yell. He claims he believes the other man was struck due to a “misfire or ricochet.”

Frankly, I’m skeptical, but maybe.

Police say that video of the incident wasn’t immediately available. Whether that means there was no video or just that they couldn’t get it right away remains to be seen.

Mazur has been charged with negligent assault.

Meanwhile, the range how has to deal with this mess. This is why they create rules that might seem more than a little annoying. It’s because some dipstick did something really stupid at some time or another and they don’t want to have to do it again.

Yet while we’re talking about stupid, I figured I’d share this one as another example of stupid.

You see, not only to gun range rules get annoying to some folks, but even the basic Four Rules are an issue for some. There are people who point guns at their junk. Yes, one actually shot himself there.

Which brings me to today’s Darwin Award winner. (Warning: This will be unpleasant for male viewers and could be traumatizing for just about anyone.)

Please stop this trend.

It's reported he blew away his testicle and the bullet came through his butt cheek.pic.twitter.com/XJaJWpGwwV

— Shooting Surplus (@ShootingSurplus) December 6, 2023

Yes, that’s a video of a guy shooting himself in the junk.

You see, the truth is that there’s no action out there so stupid that no one will try it. Absolutely no action at all. That includes pointing a loaded firearm at your most private of parts and pulling on the trigger.

If they’ll do something that stupid, you have to believe they’ll do all kinds of idiotic things.

So when you start getting bent out of shape about the rules at your range, take a minute and talk to the management. There might just be a reason those rules are in place and maybe, just maybe, you can help them find a middle ground.

If there isn’t a reason, well, it might be worth it to look for another range.