Opinion | Why learn about firearms?

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Every now and then someone stops me with a question that deserves more than a quick answer.

“John, I’ve never touched a gun in my life. Why would I want to learn about them? Why would I ever need a permit to carry?”

It’s fair. Honest. And it’s asked more often than most people realize.

The truth is, you don’t have to be a hunter, a collector or even a gun owner to benefit from a little firearms education. You just have to be curious enough to learn something for yourself instead of taking someone else’s word for it. Learning firsthand is what separates knowledge from noise.

A co-worker’s daughter said something recently that drove the point home. She told me about a friend who wondered what would happen if you suddenly found yourself in the middle of chaos — a fight, a robbery, a moment you didn’t start — and a gun slid across the floor to your feet. You didn’t ask for it. You didn’t bring it. But there it is. You don’t know which end is which or how to make it safe. What do you do?

A basic firearms class isn’t about turning anyone into a gun enthusiast. It’s about removing that fear and replacing it with respect. Once you understand how a firearm works — how safety mechanisms function, how ammunition behaves, how to handle one responsibly — the mystery disappears. Fear thrives in the dark. Knowledge turns the lights on.

In a carry class, the learning goes deeper. You discover that a permit isn’t a badge or a statement of identity. It’s simply legal proof that you’ve studied the rules and accepted the responsibility that comes with that right. You learn how the law views self-defense, what “reasonable” really means and how quickly good intentions can go sideways if you don’t understand the boundaries.

Over the years I’ve taught students from every walk of life: young adults who are curious about how things work, nurses and teachers who want to feel safer in unfamiliar situations, retirees who inherited an old pistol and just want to unload it safely. One told me afterward, “I might never own one, but I’m not afraid anymore.” That’s success in my book.

Education builds calm. Panic builds chaos. You can see it on the range when a new student’s hands stop shaking, or in a classroom when someone finally nods in understanding. Those moments remind me that teaching is less about firearms and more about people — how they think, react and grow once they know better.

Firearms education isn’t about promoting guns. It’s about promoting understanding. We teach CPR not because we expect heart attacks every day, but because knowing what to do saves lives when seconds count. Learning about firearms is no different.

Learn first. Then decide for yourself.