Riverside gun range cancels ladies' night over lawsuit

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- Last week, Shereen Gamboa tried to catch the Thursdays ladies night event at Riverside Magnum Gun Range. Now, she never will - it has been canceled.

"I am disappointed. It's definitely a night that we like to come in and get a discounted rate as this is male dominated thing," she said.

For the past several years, Riverside Magnum Gun Range held the weekly event waiving the $12 range fee for women. Firearms instructor John Galleta says the idea was to get women to learn how to properly handle a gun in a comfortable setting.

"They come in, they see other women, they don't feel as intimidated when they see other women in here practicing," Galleta said.

Ladies night was called off after owner Peter Lee received a letter from an Orange County man by the name of Gregory Rolando who claimed that waiving the fee for women is a form of discrimination and a violation of his civil rights.

In follow-up communication, Rolando thanked Lee for discontinuing the promotion, and then went to discuss a resolution.

"The letter basically in my opinion was extortion. This gentleman said he would call off his attorneys if the range owner would pay him a certain amount of money," Galleta said.

Riverside Magnum Gun Range was not the only company targeted by Rolando. ABC7 found several lawsuits alleging the same civil rights violation.

Super Corona Detailing Car Wash was sent a similar letter in May. In a lawsuit filed against the car wash, Rolando claimed they offered a ladies day promotion giving female customers $2 off their service.

The owner told ABC7 he settled the lawsuit for $1,500.

ABC7 also found lawsuits against multiple other businesses in San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties - all related to offers, incentives and promotions given to women. ABC7 reached out to Rolando, who did not return our calls for a comment.

As for Lee, he is firing back. He plans on fighting Rolando in court.