Take a new shooter shooting thread.
 

Alright folks. Its a little late in the year but I came up with a new years resolution this week. I'm going to try to take as many people, who have never shot or shot very little, shooting this year. I'd like to invite everyone to participate in this as well. Obviously my goal in this endevor is to at the very minimum get people familiar enough with firearms to not have an irrational fear of them. Usually if you remove the mystery, you remove the fear.

So, today started out at my house with my wifes friends husband. He had, "shot a .22 and a shotgun" before but does not own a weapon and isn't familiar with guns or gun culture. We had a safe weapon handling course administered on my kitchen table along with a discussion on basic gun mechanics, differences between rimfire/centerfire, and nomenclature. Next, we drove down to the shooting range about 15 miles away. Guns in attendance were my buckmark .22, springfield 9mm xd, a S&W .38 revolver recently given to me by my boss, and my S&W M&P 15-22.

The range experience went well and we shot a good number of rounds and had a good time. Unfortunately, my 15-22 sucks at the range. The fluorescent lights above and slightly behind us put a terrible glare on the bottom part of the concave rear iron sight. It really made it unshootable. I was able to hit targets effectively but the eye strain made it unenjoyable to shoot there unfortunately.

On the drive home we discussed gun laws and scenarios involving justifiable shootings. Prior to the trip to the rage I had shown him the first 5 minutes of the video on youtube of that woman down in texas whos parents were shot in the diner and her gun was out in the car because of state law. This came up in discussion on our drive home when I was asked about places that don't allow ccw on their premises. My philosophy on that as I clearly stated to him is its a ccw license and I keep it concealed. I told him I carry and no one every knows and if for some reason they found out I'd gladly leave.

He seems to want to get a gun to carry concealed as we talked a good bit about the concealed carry license and issues in our state. He even said he was going to go and apply for his CPL next week. The range we went to rents guns and I suggested we go back and pay the 15-20 FRN's to rent all the guns they have, one at a time of course. This way he'll be able to shoot alot of different handguns and see what he likes.

After we got back to my house and he left my wife told me something funny. While I was in the bathroom he had said, "I'm suprised the averaged citizen can buy something like that", referring to my 15-22. I wonder what he thought when I showed him my dmps lr 308 ap4, my yugo underfolder, and my Bohica and a .50 bmg round! Thats definately a subject I'm going to have to follow up on.

All in all we had a good time and I think hes alot more comfortable around guns. The way I see it, even if people don't buy a gun at least they won't as afraid of them and they won't believe the gun gan extremists when they come up with they're next scary campaign. And if they do buy a gun just for home protection but don't become part of gun culture, at least they'll be one more gun owner. And if they do buy a gun and become a part of gun culture we'll have one more warrior on our side. I hope people will join me in my crusade this year. I know alot of you have been doing this already. I have, but in a more passive way. I encourage you post your experiences with new shooters to this thread and encourage those you know who shoot to take new people with them and teach the fundementals of safety. Next on my list is my brothers girlfriend. She actually aproached me about taking her shooting on Christmas and shes never held a firearm before. I'm excited.

Re: Take a new shooter shooting thread.
 

Thanks for the great post! II appreciate your story... I'm inspired and hope others are too.

I think a good way to introduce people to shooting is with a couple rifles.... Like a single shot or bolt action 22, and with a semi-auto 22.... maybe along the lines of a 10-22.

After shooting what seem like such fine, normal, and appropriate weapons for law abiding citizens to own, and they understand they were shooting a "semi-auto rifle" with a detachable 10 round "clip", the terms make more sense. Then the difference between a semi-auto "assault weapon" and a semi-auto "non-assault rifle" with a detachable magazine might start to dawn on them...... being not much. If it's established the gov has the power to ban one, it's basicly a legal precedent admitting the government has the power to ban them both.

I think alot of the terms that are thrown around by the gun grabbers are meant to instill fear in the ignorant. When people are actually turned onto guns and educated those same terms are seen for what they are.

Re: Take a new shooter shooting thread.
 

I dragged my brother out dove hunting on a few occasions. I couldn't tell if he was really into it or not, but I took him to the skeet range several times this year and he loves it. I recently took him to the pistol range and he's now hooked. I think he will end up getting a handgun based on recent conversations.

Re: Take a new shooter shooting thread.
 

I turn on new shooters all the time. I am constantly challenged and quizzed on gun law, gun history and gun rights. My latest victory was effectively killing the argument that banning guns and or suppressors makes a safer society. Several of the people I have influenced have recently become 1st time gun owners. I'll be taking some new shooters out for their first range experience in exactly 3 weeks.