Overview

We’ll begin with classroom training based on the NRA Basic Pistol Shooting curriculum.  I have seven sets of materials though the class is supposed to be open to only six.  There is a written test and those who pass will get a certificate.  It’s hard to fail this course if someone has a good safety attitude and understands and practices the three rules of safety.

Following the classroom training comes the practical training in the indoor range.

My #1 goal is to ingrain the NRA’s Three Rules of Safe Gun Handling

  1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
  2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
  3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

To the end, I’m going to have the students handle yellow plastic training guns so that they get the feel for muzzle discipline and keeping their finger off the trigger.  Hopefully I can do that enough throughout the classroom portion so that when they get to the range, they’ve developed some muscle memory for muzzle discipline and pointing their trigger finger straight ahead.

The course is listed as running from 9-5, though we may finish up early.  We’ll see.  I don’t imagine we’ll get to the indoor range until 1:00, so if you can’t make the morning, that’s okay, I need help the most when we’re actually shooting.

Safety

Here’s how I plan on keeping things safe.

  1. No live ammo in the classroom. (That’s an NRA rule which we should all abide by to set a good example.)
  2. Guns are to be placed on tables in the indoor range with action open and magazines removed or cylinder open and empty for revolvers.
  3. Ammo/magazines can be handled under the direct supervision of one of us.
  4. When the student is finished shooting, magazines are to be removed, action locked open, or cylinder open and empty for revolvers, and the handgun goes back on the table, muzzle downrange, of course.  So the gun should only move from being on the table, muzzle downrange, to picked up for shooting, muzzle downrange, to back down on the table, muzzle downrange.  That’s not a lot of movement, so it’ll be easy to oversee.
  5. If someone panics or just wants to stop shooting before they’re out of ammo, they will be told it’s okay to just place the gun on the table, muzzle downrange, and call a cease fire.
  6. Students will be told that when they hear cease fire, stop, or anything along those lines, they should just freeze (with muzzle pointing at the target and finger off trigger) and wait further instruction.

Lunch

The manager of Pioneer Pizza is one of the students, so let’s just head over there for lunch.

Test

The test will be open book.  I’ve found the NRA tests are more geared toward teaching students how to look things up rather than memorizing things.

Questions

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or if you think of something I’m missing here.  scott@hammock.net or 509-493-2296

And thank you for your help.  I really appreciate it.

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