I have already discussed this topic in a community chat, but I would also like to hear the thoughts of people on the forums here - or maybe even a public Niantic statement.
In the rejection criteria for waypoints, shooting ranges are clearly pointed out as ineligible - but with a remark with them being adult-only locations.
Here in Germany, (specifically in the state Bavaria, my local area), it’s common for so called “Schützenvereine” to be a thing. They revolve around shooting as a sport and in many cases, the revolve more around a social purpose, than a sporting purpose. You can look up Schützenverein on the english Wikipedia for further explanation. In German sport shooting, there’s multiple competition classes, including ones for children aged 6 to 12 with laser-powered gums. There’s also competition classes for children aged above with air-powered gums. Proper gums like you know them are used by adults. Schützenvereine usually have their gum range in-doors.
I would personally like to know your thoughts on this, since to me this isn’t an adult-only location and wouldn’t fall under the rejection criteria. I won’t submit one unless I get a green light from Niantic but I’m just curious on if shooting ranges in general are the issue here - since the rejection criteria speaks about adult-only locations specifically.
Per the tool tip on the Niantic Wayfarer website, shooting ranges are explicitly ineligible:
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That’s what I read too, but is it adult oriented if there’s children and teens competing in the sports too?
In the UK shooting is also considered a sport, and we even had a teenager compete internationally - I heard her being interviewed on the radio, so it certainly isn’t an adult only sport.
So I am also interested as to why these are explicitly ineligible when many sports can be dangerous if not performed with care (particularly water sports and motor sports) but those are fine to submit.
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We’ve had children and teens win national (Germany) and international (Europe) competitions in our town, so the shooting sport is very important and significant for our community. Which is why I’m even more upset about this restriction.
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one pokemon go player being shot because they weren’t paying attention while spinning this stop is one too many. i would never submit or accept this location, but under safety issues.
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I think that might depend on where exactly the wayspot would be located. If it’s the club house it is safer than outside, but I also would be hesitant to accept such a proposal.
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It’s the club house and here locally we don’t have outdoor shooting ranges. They’re all indoors and never near the entrance even if you go inside the club house. They’re also never unattended.
(basically it’s perfectly safe to visit and look at from the outside)
It’s the same in the UK, shooting ranges are strictly for sport and often have under-18s present. I have seen them accepted in the past, but they are explicitly denied as locations. One one near me the wayspot is the sign at the entrance which is safe enough, but inside there might be shooting in any location inside (the range) or outside (clay pigeon). I would give it a miss personally.
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