Gun Safety Classes for Beginners
So you are interested in buying a handgun or other firearm? That’s awesome! You are like many Americans taking the next step in protecting your home, yourself, and your family. Before owning a gun, it is important to understand which gun is right for you and your needs.
What Gun Should I Buy?
For most, a handgun is the best option, but you need to determine what you will be using it for and if you intend to also shoot recreationally with it. A shotgun is a great home defense weapon, but it is not very fun to bring to a range and shoot targets. A handgun is also easier to clean and store safely.
The most popular handgun caliber is 9mm. which provides the shooter with an effective weapon for self-defense as well as an easier to shoot solution. Larger calibers like .45 ACP have much more recoil when fired and can be uncomfortable for many shooters.
So what gun is best for beginners?
For most beginner shooters, a 9mm handgun is going to be the best option.
What To Do After the Purchase of a Firearm
Now that you have purchased your first firearm, it is important to learn a few basics. How to handle, transport, and store your firearm are crucial. You should speak with the gun store staff where you purchase the firearm about these actions.
Sign Up for a Gun Safety Course
It is also highly recommended that you sign yourself up for a gun safety course or firearms training course. These courses can cost anywhere from $100-800, but usually are around $250 for an 8-hour class.
Our Gun Safety and Firearms Training Courses
Active Shooter Defense School hosts several firearms training courses every month that cover handguns, rifles, shotguns, and more. Our courses are $225 and last 8-hours. View our Course Schedule to see next month’s upcoming classes. If you have any questions about our course offerings or upcoming courses, please call us at (610) 490-3168.
Gun Safety and Training
At Active Shooter Defense School, we do not have a classroom-type gun safety course. All of our firearms training courses start with a safety briefing that covers the 4 basic rules of firearms safety (See Below), as well as our protocols for safety out on the range. We answer any questions that students may have before going out on the range for live-fire training.
The safety of our students is ALWAYS our number one priority.
4 Rules of Firearm Safety
- Always treat all guns as if they are loaded.
- Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
- Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to engage your target.
- Always be sure of your target and what is behind it.
Gun Safety on the Range
If our students are participating in one of our beginner firearms training courses, they will be taught all the proper fundamentals of handling a firearm safely. These classes begin in the classroom and once out on the range we will cover grip, stance, sight alignment, sight picture, and trigger press while UNLOADED. These fundamentals will be drilled in dry-fire training until all students are comfortable and ready for live-fire drills.
Once we begin live-fire drills, students will only move on to more challenging drills once they have shown they have met our standards for the drill and can safely participate in the next one. After a full 8-hour training course, our students will feel much more comfortable handling their firearm, but the training should not end there.
Ongoing Firearms Training
We encourage all of our students to continue to seek professional training with their firearms. It is imperative that these skills be practiced often because they will deteriorate over time.
People often think they will be able to do superhuman things when faced with danger. It is commonly said when talking about a violent event, “you will not RISE to the occasion, you will SINK to your highest level of training.”
Therefore it is crucial that you continue to train and become more proficient with your firearms, or multiple firearms.
Gun Safety at Home
Gun safety does not just apply while at the range or when preparing to go shooting. It is crucial that gun safety is practiced at all times, especially at home where children may be present. Taking care of your guns is very important because when you need to use them you want to be sure they will work properly. You also need to keep them safely stored so they will not be damaged, stolen, or put in the wrong hands.
Taking Care of Your Firearms
Taking good care of your firearms is one of the most important aspects of gun ownership. If you don’t take good care of your guns, they may not work properly when you need them to and this could put your life in danger, or your loved ones.
BEFORE CLEANING OR CARING FOR YOUR GUNS, ALWAYS ENSURE THEY ARE UNLOADED.
Always check, and re-check, your guns before you begin cleaning them. It is best to make sure there are no magazines or ammo ANYWHERE in the room while you are going to be working on or cleaning them.
Proper Gun Storage
We suggest purchasing a proper locking system or gun safe for your firearms. Handguns can be locked away in smaller safes that can cost anywhere from $60-400 depending on the size. Trigger locks are a way of securing them from being fired but do not protect them from being taken by someone.
Find a safe or gun lock that works best for you and your family, and be diligent about keeping your guns locked up. It is your responsibility to keep them locked in a safe place where unauthorized people cannot access them.
If you have any questions about gun safes or locks, please contact us and we’d be happy to point you in the right direction.
Contact Us Today
If you have any other questions about gun safety courses or if you would like to sign up for one of our firearms training courses, please contact us on our website or call us at (619) 490-3168.