Sigh. This is NOT how I introduce someone to the joys of pistol shooting. First, we go over the four rules. Then they dry-fire a Ruger SP101, using proper grip and stance, working on trigger pull. Then it’s live-fire with a .22. Ruger Mark III, a semi-automatic pistol with minimal recoil and sonic signature. (A nine-millimeter Beretta 92 is a heavy gun but it’s got way too much kick for a newbie.) Load one round at a time. The target, a blank sheet of paper, is no more than six feet away. Off you go. Trigger discipline after each shot. Gun pointed downrange. And that’s just the technical stuff. If we’re talking about anti-gun de-programming . . .
It’s critical to put the entire experience into a pro-gun context. I do this by asking questions during the instruction.
“Does this gun make you feel like you want to knock off a liquor store?”
“If the gun’s pointed in a safe direction, could you shoot anyone by mistake?” (Bringing up “know your target and what’s behind it.”)
“Do you feel like you could be a responsible gun owner?”
“Do you think most people could be responsible gun owners?”
“If you had this gun in your hand, do you think a criminal would be more or less likely to attack you with a knife?”
“If you knew someone was going to try to stab you or rape you, would you prefer to be holding a gun or a telephone?”
It’s not that difficult. As I’ve pointed out in previous posts, shooting a gun for the first time puts people into a naturally receptive (i.e. hypnotic) state, where their subconscious is open to suggestion from the authority figure providing safety and security. The fact that BuzzFeed couldn’t make the sale on-the-spot says more about the trainer than the antis.
Oh and a shotgun for box-fresh newbies? Only if they ask nicely. And we do it outdoors.
[h/t SS]