Is It Ever Too Late to Start Training with a Gun?BY TIM SCHMIDT - USCCA FOUNDER |
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I had one of those proud father moments recently. Let me explain: I went out to the gun range with my son, Tim Jr., and my buddy, Mike. Since we don’t get to see each other often, I had no idea how practiced Mike would be with a handgun. Well, to get straight to the point, Mike couldn’t even hit the target from 21 feet out. In fact, he was a downright bad shot. (He’s probably going to harass me when he finds out I’m telling you this, but hey�there’s a lesson here). Then there’s my son. Mike and I watched as he consistently nailed the bullseye from 30 feet and beyond. I could tell that Mike was embarrassed. To be honest, I was a little embarrassed for him. But here’s where things got really good. Tim Jr. gave Mike a few basic pointers. I watched proudly as my son explained to one of my long-time buddies the most important things about shooting. Trigger control. Sight alignment. Things I’ve been doing for so long that I sometimes take for granted how important they are to really shooting well. “Focus on your front sight, Mike, not the target,” Tim Jr. pointed out. “That sight should really be in focus. Everything else will look a little fuzzy, and that’s ok.” Mike stepped back up to the line and placed a solid shot on target. I watched proudly as one of my long-time buddies looked over at my son and said, “Woah! It really worked!” Tim Jr. broke out into a huge grin, and it was a really special moment for me. My point here is that there is no “perfect” time to start training to use a firearm. For all the people you and I know who are too scared or too embarrassed or too young or too old to try, remember that good instruction and a little patience go a long way. Most people take time and a lot of practice to develop consistent shooting skills. But if my buddy Mike could hit the target after just a few pointers, imagine what a little training can do for you and all the people you love. Take Care and Stay Safe,
Tim Schmidt |
