First, congratulations and welcome to the family! Owning a gun is an incredible thing. It’s fun to use at the range, allows you to challenge yourself, and can also be used to save your life as well as the lives of your family and friends.
If you received a gun as a gift, you probably come from a gun family or have a significant other that wants to give you the ability to protect yourself. So where do you start?
The first thing you’ll want to do is learn how your gun works. Understanding what makes it go ‘bang’ is key to learning how to safely handle, use, and store it. There are countless internet videos that will help with this. Or, if you’d rather have more of a ‘hands on’ training session, our Intro to Handguns is a great session to take. We cover how handguns work, explain the world of cartridges (bullets), how to properly handle and use a gun, and the gear and gadgets you’ll need to safely carry and store your gun.
The second thing you’ll want to do is learn how to clean it. It’s messy and tedious, but cleaning your gun is incredibly important in ensuring that it lasts a long time and functions properly every time you use it. Think of it like changing the oil in your car; as long as you do it when required, it’ll last forever. For handguns, that’s about every 200 rounds or so (although many people will clean theirs after every visit to the range). The internet is a great resource for this as well! You’ll be able to find cleaning videos for every type of gun that exists.
The third thing you’ll want to do is take a concealed carry class – but not just any class. You’ll want to take a class like ours that talks about the physical, emotional, ethical, and financial aspects of concealed carry. We talk about not just what is legal and illegal but also things you can do to help your case, things to avoid that could hurt your case, what prosecutors and juries look for, and how to protect yourself and your family financially. We introduce you to the world of being a protector, not just the laws you need to know to get a license. There are things you can start doing right now today to help ensure you never need to use your weapon; we’ll tell you what those are.
The final thing you’ll want to do is find a good range and shoot! There’s no substitute for target shooting. It helps you understand how your gun works, gives you the experience you need to use it effectively and, most importantly, helps you build your confidence. Think about it – which tools or other things in your life do you feel confident using? Is driving a car seem more like second nature to you? It too is a deadly weapon. It too is a complicated tool. It too took required a class to learn how to use it properly. And, with time, you’ve hopefully improved your skills using it. It’s the same with a gun.
Regardless of your experience level, we’re here to help! Someone thinks the world of you – enough to give you a gun – and we’ll help you make the most out of it. Feel free to explore our available sessions or get in touch with any questions you may have. Welcome to the family of gun owners!