In recent years, handguns have become quite a controversial subject. Are they bad? Should they be banned? The short answer is no. Of the many the people I’ve come in contact with who say that guns should be banned; none of them have ever even held a gun or know how they work. These days, many people are afraid of what they don’t know or understand. They base their opinions and lifestyle off of what social media, news outlets, or other people tell them they should be doing without ever actually trying things for themselves. In this article, I will outline the basic steps one might take to gain some basic background info on firearms.

Initial Step
The idea of handling a firearm to someone who’s never done so can be quite overwhelming. Not to worry, there are many educated and trained individuals who are excited to share their knowledge and passion with you. If you know someone who often handles and shoots firearms, begin by asking questions; start getting your brain familiar with the terminology and the concept of shooting a gun. If there is no immediate person in your circle; simply go online and find a local gun range or firearm training class to gather more information.

Gun Safety
Before getting your hands on a gun, it’s a good idea to get familiar with gun safety and how to protect not only yourself, but those around you while using a firearm. Never point the muzzle of the gun at anyone unless there is an immediate threat. Always treat any gun as if it was loaded. When at the range, always keep the gun pointed down range and ensure you have a clear backstop. When finished with a magazine, check to ensure there is not another round in the chamber, ensuring the firearm is clear. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire.  The front of the slide and muzzle will get hot after shooting so be careful where you touch the gun.

Hands On!
Now that you’ve got some background knowledge on basic gun safety, the next step would be to get your hands on an unloaded gun! Become familiar with the chamber and realizing that without a bullet in the chamber, THE GUN HAS ZERO POWER. Yes, it may be intimidating at first but understand that with no bullets, the gun poses no threat. Get comfortable holding the gun; identify the weight of it in your hand and how it rests your palm. If the gun has a safety switch, understand how to use it. Find the button that releases the magazine so you know what to do when you run out of ammunition.

Adding the Firepower
Once you’ve established a connection between yourself and a firearm through asking questions and hands on learning; it’s time to get to the range and start shooting! Start from close range, 6-12 feet, to help build some confidence in hitting your target while adjusting to the recoil of the gun. It’s common for beginners to anticipate the recoil and over correct, causing you to miss low. If that is a problem you experience, try slowly pulling the trigger and letting the bang surprise you.

On Your Way to Freedom!
Now that you’ve been equipped with some basic background knowledge on how to get started with firearms, you’re on your way to exercising the 2nd Amendment! Shooting offers a whole new world to explore; whether it’s gun mechanics, distance or accuracy shooting, or even getting into sport such as hunting or trap!

Final Thoughts
As someone who enjoys a good day at the range; I want to spread my knowledge and experiences to all to who will listen so that people can understand guns, how they work, and become more capable of protecting themselves and their families.

While it’s true that guns possess a power that is to be respected by any person who comes in contact with one; with a little initiative to self-educate and some training, one will quickly understand that the true power of a gun lies within the person holding it.

For more information related to basic handgun courses, Minnesota Carry Permits or private coaching, visit www.castleguardtraining.com and find an upcoming training opportunities.  You can also check back as new content is added on a regular basis along with upcoming training courses.