Just sharing here, because I think it's pretty cool...
So, to preface, my wife is Japanese, and her dad came over to watch some baseball games up in Detroit and visit with us here in Indiana. The second day he was here, I took him to a friend's house who has a shooting area (not really a range, but that's what we use it for) for his first-time shoot.
He had never shot a gun before, and was overly-excited for the opportunity (think Mel Gibson/Lethal Weapon horrors) so we headed out in the morning. He was a bit dismayed when I told him that he isn't a movie star and wasn't going to act like one or we'd go home. He was more dismayed when I told him that he had to memorize the Four Rules and tell them to me before he could even think about touching a gun (my M&P9) let alone shoot. I told him the rules, and he recited them back adding, "...not a movie star...". Heh.
He did really well with the four rules, albeit needing a bit of coaching along the way due to his enthusiasm, and he had an amazing time. He (and my wife, also -yay!) went through 200 rounds by the end of the day, and although he's a horrible shot, we all left safely with smiles on our faces.
Unfortunately, it doesn't do me much good to encourage him to practice, since he'll probably never get the opportunity to hold a firearm in Japan. It did make me feel great to be able to share something I enjoy and give him a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
I also sent him home with a box of his empty brass for bragging-rights, and it made it through customs!
So, to preface, my wife is Japanese, and her dad came over to watch some baseball games up in Detroit and visit with us here in Indiana. The second day he was here, I took him to a friend's house who has a shooting area (not really a range, but that's what we use it for) for his first-time shoot.
He had never shot a gun before, and was overly-excited for the opportunity (think Mel Gibson/Lethal Weapon horrors) so we headed out in the morning. He was a bit dismayed when I told him that he isn't a movie star and wasn't going to act like one or we'd go home. He was more dismayed when I told him that he had to memorize the Four Rules and tell them to me before he could even think about touching a gun (my M&P9) let alone shoot. I told him the rules, and he recited them back adding, "...not a movie star...". Heh.
He did really well with the four rules, albeit needing a bit of coaching along the way due to his enthusiasm, and he had an amazing time. He (and my wife, also -yay!) went through 200 rounds by the end of the day, and although he's a horrible shot, we all left safely with smiles on our faces.
Unfortunately, it doesn't do me much good to encourage him to practice, since he'll probably never get the opportunity to hold a firearm in Japan. It did make me feel great to be able to share something I enjoy and give him a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
I also sent him home with a box of his empty brass for bragging-rights, and it made it through customs!