Over the years, carrying firearms has been given a bad name, to the point that some want to do away with guns entirely. Some of this opinion is based on incidents caused by firearm owners who have no training with their weapon, causing misuse and accidents. Outlawing firearms is not the answer, though. As the root of the problem is lack of training, this is where the solution should come from as well. Firearm owners should have a thorough knowledge of their rights to self-defense, become completely familiar with their weapon, and safely train- whether using traditional methods or a more modern approach.
In 1791, the Second Amendment was commissioned as a part of the Bill of Rights. There have been many interpretations of what the founding fathers really meant by the amendment, but a general consensus has been made. The Second Amendment starts with “A well-regulated Militia…” According to a speech from George Mason, who actually wrote the first draft of the Second Amendment, the Militia referred to all United States citizens opposed to a specific group or army. “…being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed,” the Second Amendment goes on. The founders of the United States, who had just gained their freedom through the Revolutionary War, recognized that an unarmed population was vulnerable to attack.
Even though it is our right as United States citizens to bear and keep arms, the safe usage of them should be carefully observed. Before carrying or seriously using a firearm, a gun owner should know their weapon in and out, understanding that specific gun’s temperaments. This level of comfort can only be gained after extensive training, which takes a lot of time but is certainly worth it in the long run.
Firearm training, whether in a professional environment or private, enhances physical strength and accuracy. Just as important, it also enhances mental strength. These three skill sets are immensely important for firearm carriers to hold as they are essential in real-life situations. The strength to hold up the firearm, and hold onto the firearm if attacked, must be achieved or one runs the risk of losing their gun to the attacker. Accuracy must be built up or the weapon is useless. Finally, acknowledging that one may have to use the gun, and knowing when a situation is severe enough to do so, is crucial. Although training is the only way to learn these skills, many find firing live rounds intimidating, impractical, or too expensive. Luckily, there is another way.
Laser training with guns has been in use since the military adopted it in 1980’s. Now the most popular method of dry-fire practice, one can train for hours without shooting a single bullet. The setup of shooting simulator for home is simple and affordable. A small laser is inserted into the chamber of the firearm, where it is set off every time the trigger is pulled so that a red dot hits the target in the place of a bullet. Originally, this was where the technology ended, but now another feature has been added. Many training systems come in the form of apps which detect the laser, informing the shooter of where they hit the target. These tools can be amazing for new gun owners as it teaches gun safety without actually shooting ammunition. Such programs can even be used at home, taking the hassle of traveling to the range out of training sessions. There is no doubt that every gun owner should train with their gun to gain strength, accuracy, and knowledge. My family personally owns and uses a laser target practice system. It is our right as a United States citizen to own firearms, but it is also our responsibility to ensure we can use them safely. The training this takes can be time-consuming, but dry fire systems allow for flexibility and security.