FT3; Field Time Shooting Range; FT3 Stanton, CA Closing

[Jedi54]

Holy great Wall of text OP.
Great range, hopefully they're not actually closing.

[pluke the 2]

Hi everyone! This is a moment for SoCal Shooters! More importantly, this is one of those moments where "What is Right, should be right; but isn't!" Cutting to the chase, I have been a faithful patron of Field Time Shooting Range since I found out that these guys actually supported the law abiding US citizens of Orange County who love to shoot everything, but are subjugated by the Pinko Commie Regime of the the PR of Kalifornia! The awesome guys at Field Time always brought a level of professionalism, courtesy, and respect to those of us in Kalifornia that know how hard it is to find SAFE and friendly gun ranges with a willingness to allow people a realistic experience of shooting guns of all shapes and calibers within the laws of the PRK. That being said. I was fortunate for one FINAL visit to this fine establishment before it "goes under" tomorrow - January 27, 2016.

This is information direct from the source (The fine day-to-day staff of FT3 aka Field Time Shooting Range) so I am going to say that this is no joking matter. Apparently, the entire staff of about 30 employees got their layoff papers today (effective immediately after the last shooter from Calguns Shoot night exited at closing). The Range Director, the current GM, and the Range Master today were all up front today, and everyone was buzzing about what the hell was going on with all the talk about the uncertainty of the the range being open tomorrow. For about 4 years this place has operated under a level of professionalism and safety that I have never experienced at any of the other ranges located in SoCal. Most of the time, the places are "exclusive" that require you to kiss someone's @$$ after you kiss the gold ring on their big toe before they let you shoot anything, and god forbid you shoot a caliber that may cause problems because it comes out of an M4 style rifle (thanks range guys in Fullerton, CA - you guys SUCK); or you get a toilet by the Ocean that charges an arm and your firstborn, where the level of attention by the staff makes you wonder why an negligent discharge hasn't killed someone (thanks Huntington Beach guys - you guys SUCK too!) Both of these "nameless" places still refuse to even attempt what Field Time did effortlessly - and what these OTHER places do is so subpar it is amazing that these guys are even in business at all. But the fact that FT3 is closing has nothing to do with failures from the day-to-day staff. They too are getting the shaft!
Now to be fair, no names will be dropped here, as there may be an active OC Sheriffs' Dept investigation as to the use of scare tactics by plain clothes officers that were conscripted by a formerly disgraced Sheriff/Police Chief (from the Inland Empire) under the direction of the majority share holder of Field Time. This is where the stupidity really starts. Apparently, the chaos behind the scenes at Field Time had been going on for sometime, but things really came to a head within the last couple of days and the previous week. The guy at the center of the chaos (who will remain nameless here) is the majority share holder of the Field Time initiated this crap because he wanted to fire the 30 plus employees who are the "day-to-day" staffers because in his words - "The employees are too nice to customers, and they are all over paid." Funny enough, the idiots who he thinks he will bring in for about $11.00/hour will be "trained, knowledge driven, safe, and professional" as the current staff that are employed until midnight tonight. The current GM literally gave out layoff papers today to try to ease this share holder lunatic from just out right firing 30 plus hard working people in one day. This majority share holder guy has used intimidation tactics and damn near used this former disgraced sheriff/police chief with his local cronies to try and come in to take over the place by force, under the auspices of "law enforcement". In an off the record quote, one of these "tools" that came out threatened a "blood bath" if there was a mishandling of a cell phone, that may have been misconstrued as a weapon being pulled. Who does that!?! This turd, his "legal consultant" and some off-duty wannabe mercs make a threat of violence against law abiding staff members who have done NOTHING in their 4 year history to make even the FEDs look sideways at them! (There was discussion that the current OC Sheriff is looking into whether or not any of her current officers were on the clock and present during these very illegal intimidation events) I guess copies of surveillance footage and witness statements were forwarded onto the Sheriff's administrative office. It will be funny if I.A. finds out that on-duty Deputies or Investigators were part of this crap - and at whose expense!

Suffice it to say, there is a lot of bad back story drama and anger brought on by greed and stupidity of one sole investor who decided that raping the public at large is more important than RULE #1 - TAKING CARE YOUR EMPLOYEES and YOUR DEVOTED CUSTOMERS! I keep mentioning the 30 plus staffers that will be former employees as of tomorrow. But these are the guys and gals that "open the gates in the morning, turn on the exhaust system that keeps the range clear of toxic fumes and heat, reload ammunition to competition spec, engage new customers that become repeat customers, and keep your repeat patrons safe" Who's going to do all that now "bonzo"?!? The new guy you hire tomorrow and pay $11.00/hour. Good luck with that decision, especially when things go missing because the $11.00 guy just doesn't care to be there other than to carry a gun like he thinks soldiers do in an AO overseas. Better luck when there is a negligent discharge because your $11.00/hour guy forgets to notice an idiot looking down the barrel because your rental guns jammed due to a lack of quality servicing. Let's not forget about missing guns that the FEDs may be looking at because the guy you hired today may have friends who "just needed a gun for a weekend at the river". Oh, and last but not least the "new guy" is younger and dumber than $#!t has no idea how to clear the track on your target lanes when the pulley system goes down, because he wasn't there to train on how the system works - because you forced a layoff of all the guys who were trained on that system from the day it was installed!

But enough of my b!tching about the man who screwed his 30 plus devoted day-to-day employees. You sir are the last Son of a B!tch that I would stop to help on the side of the road because of 1 thing and 1 thing alone - not even the 2nd Amendment trumps this one - you F@cked with family! Not just the family of FT3, but you put 30 people out of jobs and paychecks that go to feed their families! The business was doing great, the patronage had not faltered, losses would be negligible against who was coming in your doors and the loyal members you had.

With this I am calling on everyone to look good and hard at what has happened at FT3 or Field Time Shooting Range in Stanton, CA - and support the guys who just got their @$$3$ handed to them because: 1.) They were too nice to customers, and 2.)Based on the analysis of a sole investor- they were all overpaid. Despite the other investors and the GM saying that they ALL were paid fairly because of the level of service and professionalism they provided to the patrons. I am boycotting and turning my business to other places like Raahauges shooting range in Ontario. Until the guys like Carson, Locke, Mark, Doug, and the rest of the 27 staff members are brought back and promised job safety and security from this sole investor - I am done with FT3.

God Bless all the guys and gals of FT3 family (The real family and their families) you may have lost a home - but I will be damned if the @$$#0l# running it now gets any business or revenue from your loss!

2nd Amendment supporters, SoCal Shooters, and people who know the value of family - Boycott and spread the word on what has gone down at FT3 - and let everyone know the place is NO LONGER a safe place to shoot your guns! Do not give any business to the new management or the owners! Members get a refund on your memberships if you can! Ammo is no longer being reloaded safely under the standards by which things had been done on a previous basis (competition quality reloads), and if you bring in a gun that a "range cop" may find Kalifornia offensive (the dude just might be a moonlighting cop) that cop may call a buddy of his to take you out in the parking lot! Be careful and stay away!

sounds like you were employed. you seem to know a lot about their system... pay etc.

but, you come on here for your first time to rant???????????????

i don't believe everything i see on the internet, so hopefully someone else here and hopefully many more will be here to support ya claim.


please change title of thread because your quoted section above doesn't sound like they are closing forever?

[JackRydden224]

Holy great Wall of text OP.
Great range, hopefully they're not actually closing.

The group that has operated the range for the past 4 years are out. The business will have new owner, management and staff. They will reopen but we just do not know when and how they will operate once it re-opens.

[pluke the 2]

...The Range Director

= username?

derector

[I Swan]

I wonder if they will honor the range passes and still do the CGN shoots? OP's rants juat may be sour grapes. If new owners taking over I can't see any reason they would necessarily want to keep on a bloated staff of overpaid employees and may want to use their own people. They spent the money they can do whatever they please.

Yeah let's see how well this boycott will work. OP maybe you should picket them. It's just not fair! Maybe someone here will bring you a Capri Sun and a Mc Double before they go in to shoot.

[someoneeasy]

So.... what about my membership?

[I Swan]

So.... what about my membership?

You all that have memberships, if they honor them you should ask for an extension on them for as many days as they are closed.

[Half Cocked]

North OC Calgunners had a shoot there last night.

Here is the announcement and list of attendees.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?p=17578497#post17578497

Let's wait to hear what they say.

[king kong]

Renewed my membership 4 weeks ago almost to the day. Lucky me...

[Steponmytoes]

I don always shoot the handguns but when I do, I prefer Ft3...

[iMigraine]

FT3 is one of the nicest, cleanest, and modern indoor ranges I've ever been too. Their staff, especially Doug, has always been super friendly and cool. Really bums me out to hear they laid off all their staff.

Wish the OP would have re-read his post first to help clarify his thoughts.

[someoneeasy]

I just called them to see if there was any indication of this, but their automated message sounds as if business is normal.

Hopefully, if it's a management change, memberships won't be effected, I could see if it was a change of ownership, but this is just wishful thinking.

[I Swan]

Maybe I'll drive by later see what it says on the door and if they're open. The CGN shoot was mentioned in OP's rant. I don't know if the people getting canned would have mentioned it to those shooters.

[Chewy65]

Maybe the owners are learning from Trump how to use bankruptcy law to get an advantage over employee and other contracts.

[qle1228]

Hopefully someone from the monthly shoot chimes in on this, I hate to see new management/ownership not honoring memberships or gift cards purchased there. I was going to go there on Friday but sounds like I'm sol.