Wearing a gun while being an RO

[ST911]

Perhaps I'm underthinking it, but... If the RO is going to carry the gun, the carry method should be of sufficient ability to retain the gun through common physical tasks associated with the job. If it's not, the RO and gear are excluded until such time as it is. In the event of mishap, sanction proportionately for the level of oversight or incompetence demonstrated.

With the above, let the RO carry as they see fit.

[Slavex]

if you look at both USPSA and IPSC matches of smaller size, you'll see tons of videos showing guys ROing while wearing their guns. It's the nature of the beast. Small self ROing squads travel through the stages. Bagging and unbagging guns as the RO is needed can add time. I'm not a fan of it, but it happens all the time, and without issue.

[Odin Bravo One]

if you look at both USPSA and IPSC matches of smaller size, you'll see tons of videos showing guys ROing while wearing their guns. It's the nature of the beast. Small self ROing squads travel through the stages. Bagging and unbagging guns as the RO is needed can add time. I'm not a fan of it, but it happens all the time, and without issue.

Another shining example of why I don't care for "Competition".

People who are more concerned with saving time than safe handling of firearms are not who I want to be around.

So my question then becomes, if it is done "All the time, and without issue", what was the purpose of starting this thread? I'm not trying to be a dick, but there is obviously an issue.

[Tamara]

What do you gun crazed 'Mericans think of this?

Personally? If your holster won't retain a gun while jogging around on a square range, then it's not really anything I'd call a "holster".

Any behavior that would be a DQ for the shooter should be a DQ for the dude chugging around behind him. Anybody without the mental horsepower to remember to activate the lock on their holster is not somebody I want running around near me with a hot gat in their sweaty little paw either.

[Slavex]

There was a single incident recently that has led to this discussion elsewhere, and likely the creation of a rule set to prevent people from doing it again. Hence the post here. I wouldn't say they aren't doing bagging guns strictly to save time, but to also reduce unnecessary handling of the gun. Figure a squad of 6 people, you're going to need two RO minimum out of that group. That's two people need to find somewhere to bag and unbag their guns, safety areas if available, on the range itself if not. While safety trumps time, time considerations are part of the design of a match, which is why typically you see the self ROing squads. Once you have enough people split into morning and afternoon groups you can have dedicated ROs and range staff. Which of course brings up the question of the guys doing scoring, pasting and resetting steel. Should they not have guns on either? I don't know for certain, but I would expect that there have been instances of guns falling out of holsters during that stuff too. But obviously not enough to warrant discussion.
Tamara, any person who is not the shooter attempting the COF who drops a gun only faces a DQ in IPSC if they try to pick it up. They, by the rules, haven't done anything wrong. The area downrange of the muzzle is cleared, an RO picks it up and clears the gun, and gives it back to the shooter to holster. This happens occasionally, far more so than the incident above, when people catch guns on stuff back in the spectator area. I've seen jackets pull guns from holsters, people knock into each other and cause guns to fall, my own gun came out of my admittedly loose holster at the Nationals in 2012 when I jumped off a set of stairs onto the ground during my walkthrough. In all these instances so long as the shooter doesn't attempt to pick the gun up, nothing will happen. Same goes for the RO running the guy through the COF who dumps his own gun on the ground.
Now while some say this points to the ridiculousness of gun games, I don't see it that way at all. I've seen far more guns dropped on the ground at various LE training venues. When you consider I attend a lot more matches than I do LE training (as I am civilian) it really points to the great safety priority gun games do have. The incident that occurred had a lot go wrong, the instant the gun came out of the holster the RO should have stopped the shooter and then followed normal procedure. Had that been done, I doubt we would have even heard about it.

[Odin Bravo One]

I am obviously missing the logic here.

I also miss the logic of many of the rules, conditions, etc. when it comes to safety and equipment in IPSC or IDPA.

[Chris Rhines]

But given the number of such incidents that have occurred in IPSC (this was an IPSC event) and I'm told that this isn't the first time,...

Exactly how many incidents are we talking about? I've been shooting USPSA for a while, and can count on the fingers of one hand the number of dropped guns I've seen.

Namely, Whilst acting as an RO and running a competitor the RO shall not have a gun on. What do you gun crazed 'Mericans think of this?

This is silly.

Can you come up with a better solution or do you think current rules in both USPSA and IPSC cover the incident well enough.

I'm not as familiar with IPSC rules as I should be, but I think that the existing USPSA rules cover this contingency more than adequately. I'm just not convinced that this is a problem that I need to be concerned about.

[Mr_White]

There are some things about USPSA that are alien to my mind and I dislike, but I tolerate them because I think the benefits of participation are worth it: cold range, holsters that don't retain guns, guns that are sketchy to have fall on the ground, pulling the trigger to 'verify' the gun is unloaded, etc.

[cclaxton]

If the SO/RO is shooting the stage, then let the SO/RO shoot first, clear his gun, then set it on the Safe Table/Area while he is running the stage? Or, keep a small handgun bag closeby and reholster for the next stage?

Sometimes an SO is moving fast to keep up with the shooter....and is subject to more jostling.

If the SO is not shooting the stage, then be best to keep it stowed.

CC

[ToddG]

This is getting way overcomplicated.

If your holster is not secure enough for the present activity then bag your gun, get a more secure holster, or adjust your activity. If you can't do that and ditch a gun, it's on you.

IPSC sometimes gives me the impression that Sarah Brady is on their Board of Directors: EVERYONE needs to do x-y-z because SOMEONE was irresponsible once! Punish wrongdoers, don't regulate every aspect of everyone else's life.