Last weekend, I had the pleasure to train a family of seven how to safely operate a handgun. Normally I only allow a maximum of four students to ensure everyone gets plenty of time to shoot, but I do make exceptions for groups.  

This family had almost no experience with guns but decided it was time to learn.  First, they purchased several brand-new M&P Shield 9mms as presents for Christmas and then they scheduled a course with me.  By the time the course was over, they all learned to load, unload and shoot their new guns safely.  I always enjoy teaching new gun owners and helping them build a good foundation of safety and marksmanship.   

Contact me if you are interested in starting your own journey to gun ownership.

We've all heard the old saying "what goes up, must come down."  If you've never thought about this in relation to firearms, the same is true for bullets.  If you shoot a bullet up in the air, it will come down somewhere and often with enough force to kill.  

On New Years Eve 2016, a Texas legislator was hit in the head by a "stray" bullet.  Thankfully he wasn't killed.  In this instance, it is likely the gun owner was shooting his rifle into the air to celebrate the New Year.  This happens far too often.  Many Richmonders will remember 2013 when a seven year old boy was killed with a stray bullet while walking with his father on the 4th of July.    

Neither of these incidents should have ever happened.  The first rule of safe gun handling is to ALWAYS keep your gun pointed in a safe direction.  "Up" is never a safe direction because you cannot guarantee where your bullet will land.