Im with you on this being ex forces i was always trained to check and recheck my weapon every time i left the range or picked up the weapon. I have been on many a range day when the local pigeon club have been invited along as geusts of the regiment and were swiftly thrown off due to very poor safety drills
They just said at the shooting ground because you cant clearly see that a semi and a pump are unloaded it was considered too dangerous to have on a clay shoot