What Would You Want Newbs to Know?

[zminer]

Inspired by a recent thread about starting up a class for people who are new to firearms, I am soliciting ideas about what YOU would want people who are new to firearms to know about. There's got to be tons of things we can come up with that would be great additions to a class about firearms. Keep in mind that this could be a series of classes, building one on the other.

Here are some basic categories I had thought about, but there are probably many others that could be added, as well as fleshing out what's below. What would you like to see "newbies" learning about firearms?

***

Introduction
Quick Hollywood/pop culture myths and misunderstandings (hopefully, with video clips)
Intro of course material


Safety
Seriousness of safety rules
The Four Rules
Ear and eye protection - always!
How to make a gun "safe" (not by using the "safety"!)
How to safely handle a firearm that's new to you
Range safety applied - dropped guns, muzzle control, trigger control


History of Firearms
Highlight revolutionary changes in firearms technology
Highlight famous historical firearms
Patterns of use and ownership over time
Current trends in firearms use and ownership


Mechanics of Firearms
How firearms/ammunition actually work
Semi-auto / bolt-action / pump action / etc.
Difference between Class 3 firearms and "normal" firearms ("semi-auto" is not a "machine gun")
How accurate can a gun/shooter be? / How accurate is the typical gun/shooter?
Is a bullet-proof vest really bullet-proof?
What all those numbers mean (.22 / 9mm / 30.06 / etc.)
Proper firearm/ammunition storage
Brief info on ballistics, bullet weight, powder loads, target penetration, etc.
Common firearm malfunctions (e.g. - user error vs. mechanical failure; misfires/hang fires/squib loads)



Legality of Firearms (with IANAL caveat)
Legal History - Colonial laws; 1934 National Firearms Act; Gun Control Act of 1968; 1994 AWB; Recent Court Cases (Heller; etc.)
Local laws
National laws


Firearms Culture
Firearms etiquette
Range etiquette / manners
Stereotypes vs. reality
How to get more information about firearms (Annotated bibliography of books which expand on topics covered in the class; sheet of contact information of (as applicable) local/state/national: clubs; ranges; competitions; stores; organizations; websites)

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Why we don't need an AWB

 

[Aw4g63]

How about a full explanation of NFA rules and "class 3" licenses? That's something a lot of people could use educated on.

 

[eitrheim31]

the class 3 stuff... i was pheasant hunting last year with my grand dad and he still thought the clinton gun ban pertained to full autos. this is a man who has been an avid hunter for about 60 years

 

[BADSBSNF81]

Every time you buy a gun, buy a book on some aspect firearms.

 

[VirgilCaine]

the class 3 stuff... i was pheasant hunting last year with my grand dad and he still thought the clinton gun ban pertained to full autos. this is a man who has been an avid hunter for about 60 years

As usual, how does this mean he knows anything about any other aspect of firearms besides hunting guns?

Edit: Fr'ex, I had a friend of mine who was in the Nat'l Guard, and another who will soon be taking the local exams to be a city cop here in NC, who both didn't know at all that the AWB had expired. The Nat'l Guard guy was really hoping the beat-up 30-round M-16 mags he had were worth something. I had to enlighten them, IIRC in 2007 that the ban had been over for a while...

 

[wyocarp]

I would want them to know not to point a gun at me. I'll provide a picture and a name if needed.

Are you asking about in the first class? In a series of classes? Before they buy a weapon? Before they have a key to the range?

 

[rogerjames]

I would want them to know not to point a gun at me.

LMAO! So I guess we would both vote for "safety". Everything else is secondary. Still LMAO!

 

[bannockburn]

BADSBSNF81

Great suggestion. My thoughts exactly-every time you buy a gun, buy a book. It can pertain to the type of gun you're buying, or it can be about anything that interests you about firearms in general. Just last week at a gun show, a friend of mine had an itch to pick up an AR. But he really didn't know the first thing about them or what particular configuration he wanted. Now next to a Ruger 10/22, there have to be nearly an infinite number of ways to set up an AR; all the way from the muzzle to the buttplate. So instead of trying to explain everything to him while walking around looking at all the tables with ARs on them, we suggested he get a book about them. That way at the next show, he can make an informed choice and get what he really wants.

 

[kingpin008]

Don't try to catch a dropped gun.

I was teaching a friend of mine about a year ago and one of my pistols got knocked off of the bench. My buddy instinctively tried to grab it, but luckily he wasn't able to.

He felt horrible, but I would much rather the gun have a few little dings in the finish than someone on the line receiving a bullet wound because a finger accidentally got caught in the trigger guard on the way down.

 

[JohnKSa]

Obviously safety rules.

After that I'd recommend that they spend as much as they possibly can afford on good hearing protection. Get the best quality electronic muffs you can afford and deck them out with the gel comfort ear pads (YES, I KNOW those are expensive) and any other comfort related accessories you can buy for them.

There's no point in having hearing protection if it's such a pain that you don't wear it. And the electronic muffs are great because you never get caught with your ears off listening to someone talk when another shooter touches off a cannon behind you. AND, you can wear them hunting because the good ones don't affect your hearing and can actually amplify enough to HELP your hearing.

Not to discount eye protection, but even cheap safety glasses are plenty good as long as they have polycarbonate lenses.

 

[Kind of Blued]

Most of the topics listed here seem unneccesary to me. My top three would be safety, safety, and safety.

What to do about a dropped gun
How to identify a squib load
Knowing how a gun works
Using the proper ammunition
Ears & eyes
The truth on hearing damage
Muzzle control philosophy
Trigger control philosophy
Ricochets
Proper firearm storage
Ammunition storage
Etc.

I really like you "stereotypes vs. reality" note.

 

[wyocarp]

Quote:
I would want them to know not to point a gun at me.

LMAO! So I guess we would both vote for "safety". Everything else is secondary. Still LMAO!

rogerjames, you are half right. Safety is wonderful, but for #1, the #1 rule is don't point a gun at ME. They might want to know that others feel the same as well. It's highly unlikely that someone will shoot what the gun isn't pointed at.

 

[Rockwell1]

That just owning a gun isn't enough. You need to become informed & involved in the political process. And you need to join a 2A advocacy group

 

[Trebor]

Just curious, what about your proposed class would be different then the NRA classes currently offered? The NRA does a pretty good job on teaching basic safety and shooting skills.

Even if you wanted to do a "non-NRA" class for some reason, I'd still model most of the curriculum of the NRA classes. They don't leave much out.

 

[bcaill4]

i think its important to instill a respect for the lethality and seriousness of owning guns. its also important to remember that you cant call a bullet back and not meaning to do something doesnt make it anyless lethal. also teach the importance of a good backstop and the fact that a bullet is still lethal and can travel a long distance after it passes through whatever target your shooting at.

 

[Daveboone]

Most time spent on the basics. When the basics are forgotten or ignored, someone gets shot.
Allways treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
Allways keep it pointed in a safe direction.
Never put a finger on a trigger until and unless you are planning on shooting something.
Never handle a firearm you are not shown how to unload (and is unloaded) and safety check.
Emphasize even a "puny".22 will kill.
Emphasize becoming a gun owner does not make a gun expert, and you do not show off expertise.
Emphasize frequent safe handling, shooting, firearm care promotes safe handling.
Drill the basics into them until thier head rings, and have plenty of gun handling (even if not shooting) of various action styles so they understand how to check the chamber and clear the arm.

 

[SCKimberFan]

Don't be stupid.

 

[zminer]

Thanks very much for the suggestions so far. I'm going to go back and edit the first post with some of the suggestions made. As for a couple of questions people have asked:

Just curious, what about your proposed class would be different then the NRA classes currently offered?

Honestly, I have never heard of an NRA basic safety course being offered in my area. I will keep checking the NRA's site, but I don't recall ever hearing of one, except for the one which is required for getting the pistol license, which is obviously not a class that the general public stops by to take.

I think the intent of your question is similar to wyocarp's:

Are you asking about in the first class? In a series of classes? Before they buy a weapon? Before they have a key to the range?

My intent with this course was to have an informational course which would be accessible to members of the general public who may have never owned a firearm before, but are interested in the topic. To speak plainly - I truly think that the antidote to ignorance is information. It is my opinion that if people knew a little bit more about guns than they do now, there would be less angry debate over them. So, my intention was to create a non-partisan introduction to, "What is a firearm? How are firearms different from one another? How can they be used safely? What are our local laws?" Etc.

In the first class, I think it would make sense to start off with a brief history of firearms, and then move on to general mechanics - What is a semi-auto? How is it different from a fully automatic weapon? What is a shotgun? Etc. Once those terms are defined, and people have a basic understanding of how guns work, then it makes sense to move on to laws, what is/is not restricted, what is required to get a license (if applicable), etc. I think the terminology is important to get down first, though, so people have some idea what you're talking about.

On a related note, one way in which I was hoping to differentiate this from NRA courses is that I was hoping to offer them to/through local organizations like libraries and community centers, rather than at gun clubs. I think a lot of non-gun-owners have a mental block that they wouldn't think of going to a gun club for a class, but if it's at the library, then they'd consider it.

To be clear - I have no expectations that any course I offer would be better than an NRA course. In fact, I'd be interested in taking their courses myself, and perhaps even becoming certified as a trainer. I just feel like there's a lot of people out there with misinformation about firearms, and a class might help them to see things a bit more clearly.

 

[offroaddiver]

if first time around guns, "this is the trigger, hammer, breech, grip and barrel, this is the business end don't point it at anything you don't wish to destroy."

 

[Corporal K]

Not to start talking like Doc Holliday 6 months after getting their first piece.

 

[Mike OTDP]

Basic range manners.

Go have a chat with your buddies elsewhere - some of us are trying to get in some practice.

I don't care how interesting my gun looks, keep your hands off. And your face out of my loading stand. (show up with a muzzle-loading pistol and you'll see what I mean)

No, you do not need to tell everybody you're "Gwin Hot" before each shot.

Yes, the gun has a light trigger. No, it doesn't go off by itself. Don't blame the gun for your lack of control.

 

[notbubba]

1) A squip load, how to recognize one & how to fix it.
- With people buying reloads it's dang important.

2) How to clear jams.
- With extra emphasis on not truning around with the gun saying "It's stuck"

 

[rainbowbob]

If you ALWAYS keep your finger outside the trigger guard and away from the trigger until you have the barrel end aimed only at something you want to shoot - you will NEVER shoot something you didn't mean to.

 

[Igloodude]

First off zminer, thumbs-up for your efforts.

I don't think I'd worry about firearm history so much - that's the sort of thing that an afternoon of internet browsing can feed them. I think that their time would be much more valuable spent dispelling myths and Hollywoodisms. Start with the Four Safety Rules. Challenge them to see how many "finger on the trigger" violations (or other safety rule violations) they can spot next time they watch their favorite crime show. Review the options for safe storage in a home. Next, operation of guns - the mechanisms, and what happens when the trigger is pulled. How much recoil various guns have. How full-auto is different than burst-mode or semi-auto. Next, what happens to the target after the trigger is pulled - first covering accuracy, what can be hit by the average private or police shooter with an average gun, and what the best shooters can or can't do. How full-auto is different than burst or semi-auto, and how cars don't blow up from being shot, and how different rounds (caliber, velocity, and bullet type) penetrate various materials (including bullet-resistant vests). Then penetration of human targets - what various rounds do, what types of trauma, etc. Then, an overview of gun laws that apply to that place - federal, state, and county; possession and CCW/open carry. Review the 2A, Miller, Morton Grove, Emerson, and Heller, and show what the CCW laws are for the 49 other states. For their final exam, show them the "DEA agent in a classroom" video and have them dissect it.

Stay away from "propaganda" like your life depends on it - let every single thing you deliver in your class be completely unassailable fact; it'll make the thoughtful ones think and they'll come to the same conclusion all of us have, and it'll prevent the emotionally anti-gun ones from having anything to get worked up about.