Benjamin Franklin once said, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
A U.S. Army Veteran credited his military training when he helped subdue a gunman.
Richard F. was at a nightclub in Colorado Springs, CO when a gunman started shooting.
Five people were killed and 17 were injured from gunshot wounds after the suspect began shooting as soon as he walked into the club.
Richard and another person confronted the shooter and fought with him.
According to Richard, he grabbed the suspect’s pistol and began hitting him.
Richard said, “I told him I was going to kill him. I tried to finish him.”
Police said that the gunman was so severely beaten that he required hospitalization, and they called Richard a hero.
Sadly, Richard said, “There are five people I could not help, one of which was family to me. I feel no joy. That guy is still alive… and my family is not.”
Richard served in the U.S. Army for 14 years, which included three deployments to Iraq.
He said that his military training kicked in when the shooting began.
“I got into a mode and I needed to save my family. It’s the reflex. Go to the fight. Stop the action. Stop the activity. Don’t let anyone get hurt.”
Now, it’s clear that Richard’s training played a significant role in his ability to save countless lives.
This is just another proof that there is no better way to prepare than training. As Ben Franklin said, “involve me and I learn.”
This is why training self-defense, especially going to the shooting range, consistently is so important.
Whether you’re a new gun owner, or a military veteran, going to the shooting range is important to build up and keep up on the skills you have already learned.
On top of the skills you already have, a quality shooting range can help you in many other ways, too.
In fact, here are a few of the reasons you should consider getting a membership to a gun range.
Advice from experienced shooters:
When you go to a shooting range there are employees and range officers to assist you.
These could be military veterans that have done more shooting than you could ever imagine.
And most gun ranges have trained professionals with some type of credentials to back up their skills.
There is nothing wrong with asking for advice or opinions about guns.
But remember, everyone has an opinion…
So, do like Reagan said: “Trust, but verify.”
Similar minds:
When you go to a shooting range, you’ll likely be surrounded by fellow 2nd Amendment supporters.
Typically, gun owners take personal safety and survival seriously.
This is a great place to meet new people who might be able to help you become a better shooter, or to be better prepared.
For instance, maybe the guy in the shooting lane next to you is shooting a gun you are thinking about buying.
Or maybe the lady next to you has a survival bag you were looking at online.
When it’s safe to do so, there is nothing wrong with asking someone if they like their gun or survival bag.
The more you go to a shooting range, the more likely you are to see the same people.
It’s a great way to build a network of likeminded people, share information, and learn about new guns and gear.
Gun rentals:
Most gun range memberships come with perks. It can be free range time and discounts on products and gear.
It often includes gun rentals at very reasonable rates.
One of the most important pieces of advice that I tell everyone who wants to buy a gun is that they should rent the gun first.
The last thing you want to do is spend $500 on a gun and then decide you hate it.
Most gun ranges offer different levels of memberships that come with different levels of perks.
You don’t have to break the bank with membership and can get the one that offers the best discounts for the items or range time that you use.
Bond with family:
If you enjoy shooting guns there is a good chance that your spouse or children would enjoy it as well.
Spending time at the gun range can be a fun activity with your family, while also building important skills.
Even if your family doesn’t like shooting guns you should ask them to go with you, even just once, so they are comfortable around guns.
If you were involved in a real-life shooting and were incapacitated, you want your family to know what to do.
Taking your family to the shooting range can be a bonding experience that will teach valuable life skills. It’s a fun hobby that the entire family can get involved in.
If you own firearms, you should make it a priority to go to the shooting range.
I think going at least once a month (at minimum) is a good way to keep up with your skills.
Plus, going to the shooting range is fun and stress-relieving… and it’s a hobby that could save your life one day.
But… if, like Richard, you find yourself in a situation where you don’t have a firearm, and are confronted by a lunatic on a deadly shooting spree…
You need to be able to defend yourself (if you can’t hightail it out of there)…
Richard drew on his military combatives experience to disarm and pistol whip the crazed gunman…
Bad news is, not everyone has that same pedigree…
But the good news is that you can have the hand-to-hand self-defense and survival skills to save your life, and the life of those around you.
Especially if you know one simple move.
It can be done by anyone, regardless of age, sex, or strength.
And it’s been battle tested in the real world, and it works with deadly efficiency…
Bottom line, it will stop an armed (or unarmed) attacker cold, and save lives.
