How to overcome my fear of guns?

Question

I have played countless action videogames but Im scared of firing a real gun.

Additional Details

What if I mess around with it?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

I would offer this to anyone who had a real fear. I would say let's go to the range. I would take my MK2 Ruger 22 caliber pistol and my 10/22 with many pre loaded 30 rounders as I had and 2000 or so rounds of 22LR ammo. I would then give you a safety brief and set up lots of reactive targets. Water bottles, sporting clays, poppers, and other targets that offer visual reward for making impact. After shooting 250-500 rounds of 22 you will be forever changed and a gun nut for that day forward.

Answer 2

Take a familiarization or gun safety course. Guns are not toys or games. Find a mature individual who knows this stuff and takes it seriously, I'm sure he'd be glad to help.

Answer 3

Answer these questions> Why are you scared?.>> What are you scared of?>> How are you scared?>> When are you scared?>> What causes you to be scared?>> The fear you are experiencing is a self created fear you yourself have created within your mind.* It is an unnatural fear.* We are only born with to natural fears, #1 is falling & #2 is the fear of noise.* Every other fear is self created and unnaturally created by us.* FEAR= Future events appearing real = FEAR.*

Source(s):

You cannot teach what you have not experienced.*

Answer 4

Please seperate video games from the real world in you mind. Confusing the two will lead to problems.

Shooting a gun is in many ways similar to driving a car or riding a bike.

Before you know how to do these things, they can seem very intimidating, but after you learn the rules regarding safety and are confident with yourself doing these things, they can be a lot of fun.

To face this unreasonable fear, you will need a guide. I suggest you call a few gun shops in your area and ask aboout BASIC FIREARM courses. (Do not take a HUNTING course....just a firearm course) Look for a certified instructor.

Many community colleges offer basic firearm courses, look in your area to see if yours offers such courses.

Answer 5

While it's un-necessary to FEAR real guns...They never do a damn thing by themselves - It's wise to have a HEALTHY RESPECT for what a real gun CAN DO.
This means learning the rules of gun safety, and following them RELIGIOUSLY.
If you don't know anything about a gun you see/find DON'T MESS WITH IT.
Always treat it as if it is loaded and capible of KILLING YOU.
But don't FEAR it.
Unless you or someone else is fooling with it, it can't hurt a soul.
It's as in-animant as a brick.
Firing a gun is a pleasure - Not an experience to fear.
Ask the owner of the gun(s) that make you nervous to give you a basic lesson in gun safety and to take you to a range or other safe area to learn to shoot. Wear Ear plugs. Wear safety glasses. Do what you're told. You'll soon find recoil is nothing to worry about. It doesn't hurt - It's just part of the process. And the feeling of accomplishment of seeing your shots hit their mark on the target, soda cans, etc....just can't be equaled. Not to mention the satisfaction of overcoming a fear and turning it into a non-issue.

Source(s):

30 years firearms experience

Answer 6

Just go to a range with someone well knowledgeable and responsible with firearms or ask one of the employees to spend an hour or so understanding the basics. Once you shoot you will not want to stop. It is a lot of fun. If you do decide to try they will probably start with a .22 caliber pistol. Nothing to be afraid of.
Good luck and enjoy.

Answer 7

fire one

Answer 8

It's a good thing you are scared. That will prevent you from doing something stupid. When I shot my first bullet, I thought the backfire, would like, kill me or something. I still am scared, and thats a good thing to be. You can't be caught off-guard with a firearm. Just make sure that you get used to it with someone who is experienced.

Answer 9

never just "mess around" with a gun unless you know what you're doing. once of the greatest tragedies to sportsmanship are people who disrespect, often in innocent ignorance, the very real potential danger of handling a firearm. If you want to learn to shoot, find a place that will teach you firearms safety and handling professionally. don't just rely on your own knowledge. It seems to me that the act of practicing shooting a gun would help this fear to subside gradually.

Answer 10

Go to a shooting range that has people to teach you. Don't ever "mess" around with a gun.

Answer 11

Experience is the best teacher. The 4 rules of firearms safety can be taught in a few minutes and then some range time to fire guns is the best way to overcome such a fear.

Contact a local range or find a local gun forum/discussion group. There is always someone who is willing to help out a new or curious person with regard to guns. If you're local to me, I do it for free for anyone.

Source(s):

http://armedcanadian.blogspot.com

Answer 12

Get out and actually fire a few of them, have someone show you how to properly handle them. I find it kinda hypocritical how people play these shooter video games all day, and hate/are afraid of guns.

Answer 13

I agree, goto a firing range, rent a 22, a gun that dosent have any kick and fires like a cap gun, actually is a fun little gun to shoot at targets.....

Answer 14

take a hunter safety course it well help a lot it tells you how to handle one,to fire one and to not be afraid of one

Source(s):

i have taking a hunter safety course and i hunt

Answer 15

just get out there and shoot at PAPER targets and only at a shooting range Never target practice in the woods you may and probably will disturb hunters and never just mess around with it!

Answer 16

i agree with most of the people here, as a member of a target rifle club i have found that there are always people there to help u out in anyway they can

Answer 17

start of by going out with a freind and shoot a 22 there small not noise and dont really kick so just remember start off small

Source(s):

shooting since i was 4 now 16

Answer 18

I find that the best way of conquering my fears is to face them head on. Go to a shooting range and have a professional show you how to shoot. It is quite different from a video game. Also, be responsible. Why would you want to use a gun anyways? There is no need to fire a gun.