“You Might Be The Last Person I Would Ever Expect to Do That” (Fall 2022 Student Range Visit Reflection #1)

This is the first of several student gun range field trip reflection essays from my fall 2021 Sociology of Guns seminar. The assignment to which students are responding can be found here. I am grateful to these students for their willingness to have their thoughts shared publicly.

Sociology of Guns student shooting during range field trip, Fall 2022. Photo by Sandra Stroud Yamane

By Amelia Baker

Before going on this trip, I mentioned it to a few of my friends and family. Most of them either didn’t believe me or thought I was joking. When I told them it was true and I was really going to a shooting range, I got a nearly identical response across the board; “You might be the last person I would ever expect to do that.”

This sentiment was one that even I shared myself. I never pictured myself ever holding a gun, let alone setting foot on a shooting range. I would consider myself a strong advocate of gun control, and in general, a person who dislikes guns. However, I am also committed to becoming a more informed sociologist and human being. To better understand the crisis of gun violence and mass shootings, I know that a holistic and multifaceted perspective on gun usage and ownership is essential. Which led me to this course, and subsequently, to the Veteran’s Gun Range of Mocksville, NC.

I entered the range feeling nervous but determined to maintain an open mind. I appreciated that the environment felt supportive and calm. There were multiple things that surprised me throughout our experience; initially, I was surprised by how loud the sound of the guns firing was. I felt my heart rate increase each time a shot was fired. I was also surprised at how heavy the guns were. I had imagined them being able to be carried around and whipped out with ease. I was surprised by how much effort and precision it took to hit the targets. I have only ever seen guns used in movies, and my perception prior to the visit was that it was relatively easy for anybody to pick up a gun and shoot something in an instant. It took me a few tries to be able to properly line it up. Another surprise came with how quickly I got the hang of using the guns. After firing a few rounds, I started to feel less anxious, and more focused. I felt satisfied when I hit the target multiple times in a row, which I hadn’t expected.

Sociology of Guns student shooting during range field trip, Fall 2022. Photo by Sandra Stroud Yamane

A thought that continuously crossed my mind was how catastrophic it would have been if the guns were aimed at a human being. Watching the explosion go off in front of me and the speed with which the bullet reached the targets, I kept revisiting the thought that this is a mechanism that has been used millions of times to take a human life. While I’ve thought about the detrimental impacts of guns on countless occasions, especially after mass shootings and tragic instances of gun violence, it was even more salient when I was the one pulling the trigger. The destructive power that the machines hold was a fact I was acutely aware of throughout our time at the range.

Taking into consideration these surprises and unsettling realities, this experience both did and did not fit into my prior understanding of guns. Although I wouldn’t say my opinion on guns has taken a 180-degree turn, I would say that I have a further understanding of safe gun ownership and why some individuals might use guns for enjoyment or leisure.

It also provided insight into why some people who consider themselves safe gun owners feel deeply protective over their Second Amendment rights. My perspective on guns has always been that they are scary and threatening, and while this experience pushed me out of my comfort zone, it was neither of those things.

In this way, as well as taking into consideration the many aforementioned surprises, there were ways in which this trip did not fit with my prior understanding of guns. However, my general concerns about gun violence and gun usage were affirmed after personally utilizing the gun and experiencing the sensation of pulling the trigger.

Overall, I learned a lot throughout the trip, and I’m glad that I was able to have this unique experience.