Okay, so, in the project I’m working on, there is a bad guy who shoots people. And, as you know, I know next to nothing about guns other than that you point them at things you want to shoot at, don’t point them at things you don’t want to shoot at, always treat them like they’re loaded, and keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. And… that’s it. The extent of my gun knowledge.
So, I have a two-fold problem.
1. I’d like to shoot some guns, just to get a feel for what my character would be doing. But I have zero idea how to go about this. Should I make friends with someone very well-armed and just stand in his back yard and fire his weaponry? Can I just show up empty handed to a gun range, pay my money, and try some shit out? Should I try to corral a friend who does shoot and have him take me? Do you call ahead and make an appointment? Just show up? How does that work?
2. Obviously, I’m interested in the logistics of shooting and killing people. But I already feel like a complete tourist about the whole gun thing (see above). Is it going to weird someone out or get the cops called on me if I ask questions about the logistics of shooting at a person? I can’t avoid being a tourist. I just don’t want to be the rude tourist.
Ideally, what I’d like is to explain my character a little bit, have someone with some knowledge say “Yeah, okay, a guy in that situation is probably going to shoot either this or this. He may also have this. Here are some things you should consider about each of these weapons.” and then I could try them out. Is that something that one can do?
Filed under: Random Things
I can acquaint you with another local writer. He’s an excellent firearms instructor and has (from another life in another country) considerable experience with shooting people and with being shot in return.
If you like, I can also take you to the range and provide basic familiarization course.
I’d love to help you out.
Aunt B.,
‘Guns and Leather’ in Hendersonville has an indoor range that you can pay to use. I am sure that if you told them what you were working on, they would give you a hand.
Regarding 2), “shooting and killing people” covers a wide range of situations and personality types. The character of the typical ‘gunfighter’ in the Old West was far closer to that of fighter pilots {they don’t call them ‘fighter jocks’ for nothing} or medieval knights. It takes a far different mindset to go one on one with someone who might kill you than to be part of a military unit where one has a sense of being part of a group fighting other anonymous members of a group. Also many ‘gunfighters’ were wont to backshoot people or otherwise not really give them a fair fight.
Two drunken morons in a bar who pull guns over Star Wars trivia or UT vs Vandy may be involved in a gunfight but that does not make them gunfighters, only felonious drunken morons.
Snipers are highly trained to shoot and kill from long distances. While they may have other combat experience, their best use is eliminating targets at distances of over 500 yards. This is in many ways more similar to the work of a Mafia hit man than a conventional soldier because the killing is technical and unemotional. It takes a very special mindset to kill people at such distances because the killing is still very personal yet remote.
I remember reading about one American sniper who ran up an impressive total in Vietnam, came home and became a police officer. One night a suspect tried to shoot it out with him {the textbook definition of ‘bad career move’} and the officer killed him. On seeing the body, the combat veteran sniper quit police work because he could not deal with that sort of killing.
My suggestion would be to ask Don Aaron, the MPD spokesman, if you could talk to someone on the SWAT team and a couple of officers who had been involved in shootouts. Also you may have friends who are close to combat veterans who would talk to you.
I bet my brother would be happy to take you to a range. He’s been offering to take me for years and I’ve never been.
I’m gonna go tell TNC that you’re stealing his headers….
“Talk to Me Like I’m Stupid”
Well, OK:
Thank you. Please, please, everybody have a seat. Well, good morning, everybody. It is good to be with so many friends united in prayer. And I begin by giving all praise and honor to God for bringing us together here today. I want to thank our co-chairs Mark and Jeff; to my dear friend, the guy who always has my back, Vice President Biden. (Applause.) All the members of Congress — Joe deserves a hand — all the members of Congress and my Cabinet who are here today; all the distinguished guests who’ve traveled a long way to be part of this. I’m not going to be as funny as Eric — (laughter) — but I’m grateful that he shared his message with us. Michelle and I feel truly blessed to be here.
No, I kid. glad to see you’re getting volunteers.
Uncle wins my little portion of the internet today.
I leave the internet for a couple of hours and find that I’ve, of course, stolen the title of my post from Ta-Nehisi Coates (oops, just call me ‘George Harrison’) and that Say Uncle has stolen the hearts of my readers with his hilarious libertarian jokes.
Anyway, Oleg Volk and wizardpc, I know Uncle sent you, and I really would appreciate the help. Should we meet for coffee or meet at your secret 2nd Amendment shrine (I assume you have one?) or something?
Phone, email or in person would all work.
[...] Some times, the jokes write themselves. [...]
Let’s see:
• Someone once told you the essential basics of safety on a topic (firearms) you know little about, and had no particular interest in – until now – and they stuck.
• Your first impulse when confronted with a lack of knowledge is to seek out input from experts.
• As a writer, writing about a subject you know little about, you want to be accurate instead of just making crap up.
If I were to talk to you like you were stupid, I think my Mom would come back and smack me silly.
I would have suggested a basic NRA safety course as a jumping off point, but Oleg will get you above and beyond that straight-away.
And those secret Second Amendment shrines? They’re in gun ranges and backyards all over the country. They’re not secret, and most anyone is welcome at anytime! That’s the kind of folks we are.
Best of luck with your project!
We’re a new shooters / BUG match in Bowling Green on 3/31.
Feel free to come on up.
http://bggrgc.com/index.html
I am in the Tampa, Fl area, but would be more than happy to provide as much information I can via email or phone. Oleg & Wiz are great resources (as in Uncle) for someone a little closer.
Regardless, our community can inundate you with help. I’ve never known it to work otherwise.
Aunt B.,
I don”t know where you live but if you get to Eastern TN, I’d be happy to help however I can. I am a firearms instructor and have been a cop a long time.
Holy cow! I just got home to an inbox full of really nice emails and a comment section full of people volunteering to help. My god, I feel like I’ve accidentally stumbled into the nicest group of people on the internet!
Sincerely, I’m completely taken aback at how lovely you guys are and how willing to help.
I hope it’s obvious that I use “gun nut” as a teasing term of endearment, because now I feel like a complete jackass, because y’all are being so very sweet to me.
I would be along too if we didn’t have a brand new baby to feed every three hours. :p
First, if you don’t have experts to call on locally, have a look at the NRA websites and do a search to find trainers in your area. Take as many classes as you can afford – both from the standpoint of technical items (sight picture, the four rules, etc.) and legalities in your area.
Second – find a local range that rents firearms. Anyone can tell you to get a Glock, or a 1911, or a [insert list of favorites here]. It doesn’t matter what they think. What matters is what you think – does the firearm fit your hand? Can you handle its weight? Can you handle its recoil? You will not know the answer to any of these questions or others until you’ve “test driven” more than a few firearms.
Third – practice, practice, practice…
Good luck!
The first time I ever shot a handgun I did not know what I was doing. I rented a semiautomatic Glock 19 at a pistol range because that model was in the news and I wanted to see what shooting was like.
Renting without any training or help was a mistake. I was clumsy and did poorly, and came away thinking bad things about the handgun I used. A few simple instructions and some teaching by example would have made my first use of a handgun considerably more pleasant.
I think if you get any help from Oleg Volk you will do well. You should also ask him to snap a few candid pictures of your first shooting experience. Even if he charges for them, they would be worth his fee.
I’m free in the evenings every day this week except Monday , assuming my wife doesn’t go into labor. We can talk over food about the legal, moral, and logistical issues, or we can go to an indoor range and you can familiarize yourself with some pistols. Or we can do both on separate days.
“Holy cow! I just got home to an inbox full of really nice emails and a comment section full of people volunteering to help. My god, I feel like I’ve accidentally stumbled into the nicest group of people on the internet!”
Yeah, you kind of did. I’ve met Oleg, WizardPC, and SayUncle and am honored to consider each of them friends. Oleg has fun things to play with too. He’d be an excellent resource for you. If you were in my area, I’d invite you out.
[...] of the Day February 12, 2012 8:23 pm Jennifer blog, firearms From the comments here: “Holy cow! I just got home to an inbox full of really nice emails and a comment section full of [...]
I can help. I came from Jennifer’s Blog. Up near Winston in NC, or down near Charlotte NC. I can get you shooting a Handgun. Certified NC DOJ instructor.
Also wandered in from Jennifer’s. I’m not local to you (upstate NY) but like many others, more than happy to be a sounding board via email. (Or phone, once I decide you’re not one of those crazy writers… :-D)
“The extent of my gun knowledge.”
That’s a great start!
“2. Obviously, I’m interested in the logistics of shooting and killing people.”
Gunnies can tell you all about shooting. If it’s killing you want to understand read “On Killing” by Dave Grossman. Fascinating book.
[...] B. wanted some shooting instruction and requested that on her blog. Then, I say this comment there: Holy cow! I just got home to an inbox full of really nice emails and a comment section full [...]
If you really want to read and understand about how-come killing people is so important, read “Das Kapital” by Karlito Marx, “Mein Kampf” by Adnoid Schickelgruber, or “The Little Red Book,” by Mao Tse-Dung.
All I know about is self-defense.
I’m sorry, that was rude of me to get political – my apologies!
As a writer that is actually seeking knowledge of a subject instead of just making stuff up, I salute you. After Oleg gives you an overview (and he has access to just about every gun there is), I would suggest you taking a concealed handgun course. Not for the shooting part, but for the legal part. Here in Texas, there are situations where you can use deadly force (shooting at someone is deadly force whether you hit them or not) to protect property. Of course you can use deadly force to protect yourself or others. Every state is different. As to shooting someone, unless you are a psychopath, you WILL have consequences. I used to teach the concealed handgun license course in Texas. I told everyone I taught they would need counseling in the event they shot someone. And the first question I asked in class was “can you knowingly pull the trigger and kill another person, because if you can’t, leave now and I’ll refund your money”. There is a misconception that non-cops will hesitate and have the gun taken away from them and the gun used on them. I can only find one instance of that. For what happens when you have to use the gun, look at this video.
I think the people on sayuncle or oleg can answer just about any gun, shooting or legal question you can ask.
Good luck.
Another here in the Nashville area that would be glad to help you out. As someone mentioned Guns and Leather is a great place. Both locations, Hendersonville and Greenbrier. We have several folks in our church in that area that shoot frequently. My 63 year old mom in Hendersonville is always looking for someone to shoot with!
You know there’s a gun range right up the hill on Whites Creek Pike, right? http://academyofselfprotection.com/ They offer the class you have to take to get a handgun carry permit and I expect they would probably let you rent or borrow a gun for the class (you have to actually shoot to pass the class). Even if you don’t want to do the class, the people there are very knowledgeable and I’m sure would be happy to answer your questions.
And now that I’ve actually looked at the website I see that, yes, they do rent guns. I’d suggest you decide what kind of gun your bad guy is going to have and use that one. No less than James Patterson ruined a whole series of novels for me by having the main character “thumb the safety catch” on a Glock. James freakin’ Patterson doesn’t know one of the most basic things about the gun his otherwise highly-developed character uses! Don’t be an amateur like him!
Oh, I guess I did know that was there. Hmm. I could stop at Dairy Queen after visiting them.
Hee, I like how all the pictures of the instructors are “Check out how awesome my shoulders are.”