"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. The Second Amendment..."

Members & Membership

Any member is encouraged to use the facilities during normal hours of operations. Since we do support local law enforcement and military, some ranges are unavailable during those times in which these organizations are engaged in regularly scheduled training exercises.

Joining the club is easy. 

The current annual fee is $112.00+tax (plus a one-time initiation fee of $112.00+tax). This entitles you use the facilities and to participate in each of the club's activities as well as be eligible to hold office.

Bylaws of Gateway Rifle & Pistol Club (GRPC) on Membership Qualifications

(a)  Any citizen or legal resident of the United States eighteen (18) years of age or older, may become a member of this organization upon favorable application after first subscribing to the following pledge and after  paying the initiation fee and dues hereafter prescribed membership pledge.    

I hereby swear or certify that I am a citizen or legal resident  of the United States of America and that I am not a member of any organization or group which has as any part of its program the attempt to overthrow the government of the United States or any of its political subdivisions by force or violence.  I have never been convicted of a crime of violence or felony and there are no legal reasons to prevent my lawful possession of firearms.  If admitted to membership, I will faithfully endeavor to fulfill the obligations of good sportsmanship and good citizenship 

                             (This pledge is on the reverse side of the membership application card.).

(b)  No person shall receive membership until he/she has watched the club safety video and passed the test.

(c)  All new memberships are probationary for sixty days pending approval by background screening as directed and approved by the Board of Directors.  The Florida Department of Law Enforcement may be one of the screening agencies as an example.  If a probationary member is rejected by the Board of Directors as not meeting the criteria in the pledge, the initiation fee and membership fee will be returned less $20.00 for the background screening.  The rejected probationary member will be notified in writing as to the cause of rejection and may appeal his/her case to the Board of Directors.

Visitors

If you are a visitor, we welcome you along the same vane. We charge $14.00+tax on weekdays and $18.00+tax on weekends and holidays for the facilities usage. Children of the visitor are charged the same fees, they are NOT free. This entitles you to use the pistol and 100 yard rifle range only.

Club's Location

We are located in an isolated section of West Jacksonville Florida south of Herlong Airport, north of 103rd Street, and west of Old Middleburg Road.

Rules & Regulations

Membership

Membership in GRPC is open to all law-abiding citizens. The club has two types of memberships; life and annual. The annual membership duration is each and every calendar year (January 1 to December 31) and should be renewed prior to the new year. The cost of membership for the new member will be the initiation fee plus one year's dues (plus tax).

Each succeeding year, the cost will be only the yearly dues (plus tax). If your membership lapses one year or more, you must pay the initiation fee again. The initiation fee is equal to the yearly dues. That is, if the dues are $112.00 plus state sales tax, then the first year's cost will be $224 plus tax ($112.00 plus $112.00 dues = 224.00 + tax). The yearly dues are pro rated quarterly, but the initiation fee will remain the same as in the year full year's dues, regardless of when the new member joins.

Life Membership

Hours of operation

The Ranges are open seven days a week, 362 days a year for your shooting pleasure. The Ranges are closed Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The range is near an area where several houses are located within a short distance from the firing line. Therefore, as a courtesy to our neighbors, we have defined the times you will be allowed to fire. You may begin firing no sooner than 8:00 a.m. and must cease firing before the time posted in the range office, which will be no later than 8:00 p.m..

At no time should you fire at tin cans, bottles, fence posts, target frames, plates, plastic covers, etc. or any other non club approved target. Paper targets only are approved at GRPC, with the exception of clay targets on the shotgun range, and approved steel targets on the proper range for that purpose. On the pistol ranges you should place the target with only one bull's eye or aiming area in the center of the frame to preclude destroying the wooden frame. Some ranges or possibly the entire range may be closed occasionally for special matches. Members must be given ample notice via this site or the Muzzleblast when a match of this nature is planned.

Range commands

"The line is clear and cold". When this command is given all shooting will have stopped, all firearms will be unloaded and all actions will be opened. On all ranges all chambers will have an open bolt indicator inserted. Muzzle loaders will have the open bolt indicator inserted in the muzzle. When the line is clear, no one will handle a firearm for any reason (adjust sites, clean, remove from line if finished, bring to line if just arriving, or touch for any reason).

"The line is hot". This command is given when all shooters have completed their activity forward of the firing line and are ready to begin firing. If you observe any unsafe condition announce loudly "The line is “Not hot". Only during a "hot line" may a shooter who has completed firing remove a firearm from the line or bring firearms on to the line.

"Ceasefire" If an unsafe condition is observed by anyone on the range shout “ceasefire” immediately. Upon hearing ceasefire, remove your finger from the trigger, clear the firearm, put it down on the bench and step back from the line until the unsafe condition can be corrected.

Transporting firearms

Transporting firearms to and from the range should be done in a safe and secure manner. No firearm should be brought to or removed from the range while loaded. All firearms will be removed from your vehicle unloaded and in the case or similar container. If you do not use this type of container, then the firearm must be carried from the vehicle unloaded and the action opened with an OBI inserted properly.

Alcohol

Alcoholic beverages are not allowed on GRPC property with the following exception: only during a board of directors approved function, after all Ranges are closed, alcohol may be allowed.

Types of firearms

Any firearm in good working order may be used at GRPC with the following exceptions:

1. A fully automatic or select fire firearm may not be used.
2. A semi-automatic firearm with external attachment allowing manipulation of the trigger to simulate automatic firing may not be used.
3. Firearms of the.50 BMG caliber ( and cartridges derived from it) and larger ammunition, except muzzle loading may not be used.
4. Pistols that are made from AK-47, M-16 or similar type assault rifle configurations may not be used. These do not have a butt stock, have a short pistol length barrel and detachable magazines. These are essentially a rifle with no stock and a short barrel. Our ranges are not designed for this type firearm and they cannot be fired safely on them.
5. We have limited shotgun facilities. Shotguns with no stocks may be fired only on one specific range and firing point. Shotguns with rifled barrels and hunting sights are allowed on only one of our two 100 yard ranges. We have trap throwers for use with birdshot. Further details are available from the club Range Safety Officers.

Ammunition should be safe and the proper size for the firearm you're using. When shooting various calibers of firearms, retire one firearm and ammunition before bringing a different firearm and ammunition to the firing line to preclude placing the wrong cartridge in the firearm you're now going to use. An example of what happens when the wrong ammunition is used is on display at the office.

When using black powder, keep the container covered at all times and never pour directly from the container to barrel; use a powder measure. Never approach a muzzleloader with a lighted cigarette, pipe or cigar. Never cap or prime your firearm until it is pointed down range and you are ready to fire.

Range fees

Muzzleblast

The club publishes a quarterly newsletter for your benefit as well as informing you of what is happening within the club. The editor is always in need of articles to publish, so please forward (or e-mail) your articles, concerns or suggestions about these topics or issues to the editor. The club is only as good as its active members and you get out of the club only what you put into it. We need active members and encourage you and your family to become active. Read your Muzzleblast online, or pick up a printed copy in the club store, and keep up with the club's activities. Remember it’s your club.

Safety Equipment

Although not mandatory, one should wear eye protection of some type and hearing protection when on the firing line.

On each of our ranges, there is a compulsory open bolt indicator flag that must be inserted into the empty chamber or barrel. Muzzle loaders insert the OBI into the muzzle. This safety feature ensures that the range officer and all participants know that the line is in fact "cold". If you do not have such a device, it is available for a just a nominal cost in the club store.