Ask Arizona for your balls back NM

I arrived in Albuquerque late on Thursday, after the failed attempt to see Acoma. This was a scheduled stop for the weekend to get work done and visit my gym a few times for the first time since Tucson at the beginning of January. I had previously checked for all the locations of my gym and friendly Walmarts in hopes of finding a Walmart nearby a gym. As luck would have it, two such locations existed with my gym within 2 blocks of where I would be sleeping the nights. I made sure to visit the gym (workout and shower) Thursday afternoon before parking at the Walmart for the night.

Friday I went ahead and re-visited the gym first thing in the morning for another workout and shower then headed out for Shooting Range State Park just West of the Albuquerque area. Yes, it is actually considered a state park because the range is operated by the state. Upon arrival I was met with signage stating that I could not carry a holstered weapon at the range.

I’m sorry, what!? So, in New Mexico, where it is completely legal to buy a gun and carry it out of the store that very minute and continue to carry it openly anywhere in the state including banks, grocery stores, gas stations, etc… the one place I could NOT carry is at this gun range!? How idiotic is that? Now, I understand that they are concerned bout the safety of people, but if they are that gun-shy, then maybe they shouldn’t be operating a gun range to begin with!

And, how in the hell is a law abiding citizen like myself suppose to practice carrying and drawing from a holster in a responsible and safe manner if the shooting range prohibits it? It’s like showing up to a DMV but they refuse to let you take a driving test, but still issue you the license. Just completely fucking stupid! Ask Arizona for your balls back New Mexico… geez. I did stick around long enough to finish sighting in the two rifles, but I refused to waste my pistol ammo on this range. I need to practice the practical use of carrying a pistol; drawing from a holster and shooting. I will wait until I am range with some common sense.

Saturday and Sunday were just steady work-days but I made sure to hit the gym one more time Sunday afternoon before heading South out of the Albuquerque area and arrived just outside of Socorro in some BLM land called Box Canyon where I plan to hang out for the night before rolling West up Hwy 60 to see the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Very Large Array.