The rising concerns about crime, police funding issues, and the uncertainties following natural disasters or pandemics have led many people to take a greater interest in gun ownership and related training. “With everything going on, especially in big cities, people feel confused and want to avoid being victims,” shared a participant in a week-long handgun training course at Gunsite Academy, located near Prescott, Arizona.
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Over 40% of households in the U.S. have firearms, with Americans purchasing more guns annually than new cars. However, possessing a gun doesn’t equate to knowing how to use it effectively. “Buying a piano doesn’t make you a musician, just as buying a gun doesn’t make you a sharpshooter. You have to practice,” noted one participant.
Bill Morgan, a trauma surgeon from Texas, reflected, “The most important lesson I’ve learned from this is that buying a gun doesn’t mean you’re trained. You really should spend time at shooting ranges to understand what you’re doing.”
Over 40% of US households have guns, and Americans buy more guns each year than new cars. (Fox News)
During the training, Morgan spent about ten minutes in a realistic simulation environment known as The Playhouse, where participants face various cardboard targets representing different scenarios. Some of these targets are armed, while others might be holding things like wallets or drinks. Students are taught to take careful aim at the ‘bad guys’ while avoiding innocent bystanders. Miami investor Ali Paul mentioned that it’s more intense than it appears.
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“In Florida, where I live, about a third of households have firearms,” he said. “So, it’s definitely important to have this skill. But I truly believe no one should own a gun unless they prepare seriously and have proper training. Without that, you’re likely to cause more harm than good.”
Training involves shooting a human silhouette rotating in a wooden frame. Students are given seconds to shoot in their heads and hearts from 3, 5, 10, 15 yards. (Fox News)
The training includes engaging with a rotating human silhouette target, where students must shoot accurately at designated parts of the target. Plus, they’re also challenged to hit around 12 concealed steel targets quickly, ideally with their first two shots.
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As Arizona chef Eric Stever put it, “This part of the training was enjoyable. But it’s vital to remember that real-life situations don’t involve just targets. There’s a person behind the target, and carrying that responsibility is significant.”
“Arizona chef Eric Stever said, “This part was fun. But everything you have to think about the real situation is not a steel target. It will be the person behind it. And it’s a lot of responsibility to take with you.” (Fox News)
It’s worth noting that Gunsite’s offerings have expanded beyond handguns to include training on AR-15s and bolt-action rifles, plus combat tactics. Interestingly, over 10% of the students attending are women. Cindy Hartin, a retiree, observed, “I think there’s definitely a growing interest among women in shooting and self-protection.”
She added, “I’m a bit hesitant when I bring it up with friends and family, but a lot of them seem genuinely curious and eager to ask questions.”
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This shift in perspective around gun ownership is stark compared to a decade or two ago, when there was more social stigma associated with it. Today, Buz Mills, the owner of Gunsite, acknowledges, “People are definitely more comfortable with firearms than they were before. Firearms have become more normalized.”
