A Law School Shooting Club?

March 16, 2010

West Side Pistol & Rifle Range (again)

The range was a little more crowded and noisy than usual today, apart from the usual sound of muffled gunshots from the firing lanes which are located behind a soundproofed wall. The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Target Shooting Club was here today for a intra-club shooting competition, using the range's ubiquituous Ruger 10/22 rifles. The competition was over, and the prize-giving ceremony was already in process.

Ben Cabot, the president of the Target Shooting Club, was in the periphery of the crowd taking photos with a small camera. Cabot was originally from Maine, where he grew up around firearms, but he professes that some of the club's newcomers shoot better than him at times.

"You really have to do you part and focus. The key is concentration; most people don't think so, but if you let yourself get distracted your shots open up without you realizing," said Cabot.

Cabot told me the club also does trap shooting at other ranges that have the facilities. (Trap shooting involves shooting a flying clay "pigeon" with a shotgun)

I had a quick chat with Cabot, who agreed to an interview, but thus far a firm date has proven elusive.

Later on while I was loading ammunition into clips at the benches outside the firing lane room, one of the law school students got busy collecting range fees from the club members.

Harvey, a retired cop from New Jersey who frequents the West Side range as a member of the Chelsea Gun Club comes over. I've spoken to Harvey on several occasions, and we greet each other and proceeds to ask the student collecting the fees about their shooting club.

"Lawyers to be, eh? (laughs) I tell ya, cops and lawyers are the worst, cos they know the law inside out," said Harvey, who elicited a chuckle from the student.