The poster is either a new komifornia transplant, or a internet liberal shill, emboldened by the stolen election; trying to stir and divide...
ETA [rant on]
I think we may see more of that type of thing in the coming months... it got cold outside so some of the protestors are taking their activities online where its warm and cozy...
However on the subject of new gun owners and training...
The concept is a hard one to evaluate....
On one hand you have individual rights that others can't dictate and on the other are the rights to safety by uninvolved parties...
Many of us grew up with guns, they were pretty common in many/most households and it was typical to learn gun handling and safety from parents or peers.
Times have changed and many more/most people grow up seeing guns only in the movies or video games - and it is always a shoot-em-up event- so where do they learn to handle a gun? where is their common sense - (another commodity missing from today's urban breather).
A situation comes along where all of a sudden they think they need a gun- so now gun sales soar-welcome to the gun community- lots of new risk put on the street. So... they play with it in front of the TV, pop the cat a couple of times and just itch to shoot it - so where do they go?
Well... where is there to go? To a public range or out in the hinterland where nobody will see and call the cops.... maybe take a couple friends, some brewski and make an event out of it...
Do you want to be "in range" when this idiot shows up? This is one reason I have avoided public ranges for the past 15+ years (besides the Nazi RO's and rules of use and of course now we have check-in and surveillance)
Govt. oversight is still unacceptable... in any form. A training certificate or any other form of 'required approval' is registration by another name and the answer is NO... hell NO!
But, it would be nice if all these new gun owners had a certain level of competence... Training would require a suitable place, time and instructor... these all cost $$ so leaving it to the individual would leave many not doing it, unless its free.
About the only solution I can come up with is if some industry org (SAF, GOA, NSSF, JPFO,AZCDL or NRA) put a voucher or coupon in the box with every gun sold (only dealers of course) for a free basic safety and training course. The instructors and facilities could then get paid for their time and a larger number of people would get the knowledge we need to feel better being around them. This would likely also generate additional paid training by those wanting more.
Just an idea... if we, as an interest group don't do something, some politician will... and you know how that goes. [rant off]
. go drill you Soup Sammiches . I know , I know your knees hurt , my heart condition blah blah . Go drill Grandpas