Taking a New Shooter to the Range
Introducing a new shooter to our fun and challenging pastime/sport/hobby/passion is always rewarding. When that shooter is a tremendously popular political blogger, editor and friend, it is especially fun.
By
Ed Friedman (RSS)
July 28, 2011
Jim Geraghty is National Review‘s go-to reporter/blogger when it comes to gun rights (he writes primarily about political campaigns), yet until yesterday afternoon, he had never shot a firearm. Thanks to the folks at the NRA HQ Range and NRA News’ Cam Edwards, we were able to get Geraghty in and introduce him to the funderful (it should be a word) world of guns.
We started him on a .22 LR pistol, but he was shooting the SIG Sauer M400 AR-15 by the end of the day. The AR was a great way to show him why his support for gun rights is so important. Geraghty’s initial reaction upon seeing the M400 was to note that it looked like a gun he’d seen in the movies, in the news, etc. and that it looked dangerous. After shooting it, he realized viscerally what he’d known philosophically: those opposed to gun rights use fear of the unknown to misinform people about “scary looking” guns that are functionally identical to “non-scary looking guns” in an effort to curtail our freedoms, ban fun and otherwise dictate what we can and cannot do.
Here, Geraghty shows off his first target. For someone who never shot before, he did quite well. Like everyone I’ve ever taken shooting, he was grinning from ear to ear after putting rounds downrange with each gun.
I think he’ll be back…
Pingback: SayUncle » Newbie shooter
Glad to see this article. I’ve taken several gun-hating newbies to the range, and by the end of it they were all smiling and wondering when we’d come back. Fear of the unknown definitely plays a large role in their discomfort.
Any thoughts on posting some suggestions for how to introduce people to guns? Like you, I usually start on a .22 pistol, then work up to whatever they’re comfortable with. It’s always important to start with the basic gun safety rules to assure them that we’re all about safety and not just throwing lead downrange.
I suggest an NRA basic instructor course, if you can spare a week. It was an eye-opener to me when I took one: you know how much knowledge goes into shooting a rifle well? Even more goes into teaching how to shoot a rifle and still keeping it fun.
WTG! He is probably hooked now. I am so happy that a non-shooter had a chance to shoot and at least get a feel for why we love shooting and our guns!
Pingback: More on Jim Geraghty’s First Trip to the Range | Shooting Illustrated
Educate, educate, educate. It’s the only way. Well done, gentlemen!
Pingback: High-Speed Video of Jim Geraghty Shooting an Uzi | Shooting Illustrated
Pingback: New shooter introduced to pistols, rifles and Uzi | Where to Buy Airsoft Guns
Pingback: New shooter introduced to pistols, rifles and Uzi | Spring 1911 Airsoft Pistols
Pingback: New shooter introduced to pistols, rifles and Uzi | TMIN.net | Guns Club