Blue Ridge Arsenal
Firearms have played an important role in America’s history. Starting with the first settlers to the New World, firearms were used for protection and to hunt for food. Without firearms in the hands of citizens, the armed revolution to free America from British rule may have never happened.
Yet the use of firearms continues to have a very negative impact on our society. Even staunch gun rights supporters must admit the firearm is a double-edged sword, in the hands of the wrong person or criminal.
And at the top of the gun debate is the Second Amendment of the Constitution, which allows gun ownership.
It sates, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
The Amendment is continually reinterpreted, under attack or vocally supported by all types of pro and anti-gun organizations.
In March of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments regarding a Washington, DC law which bans handgun ownership in the District and whether the Second Amendment forbids DC from making or enforcing such law. The outcome may dramatically impact handgun laws in cities across the nation.
Regardless of the court’s decision, the first step in gun safety is to either never touch one or to take a course in gun use and safety, and then learn to shoot with proper oversight.
With a knowledgeable staff, classroom instructions, guns for rent and twenty, 75-foot shooting lanes, Blue Ridge Arsenal in Chantilly, Virginia it’s an ideal place for the novice to not only learn to shoot, but learn proper gun safety.
Their 4-hour Introduction to Shooting Course ($125) covers firearm safety, ammunition overview, safe operation, loading, unloading and storage of both semi-automatic pistols and revolvers, along with the fundamentals of pistol marksmanship. The class, limited to ten students, includes everything, including materials, range time, firearm use and limited ammunition.
Blue Ridge also rents handguns to shooters over 21 years of age for use at the range. Renters must be or be accompanied by someone who is familiar with the rented firearm or similar weapon. Rental fees for most firearms is $12.00 plus ammunition, which must be purchased at the range.
Before visiting the range, please be sure to review basic gun safety rules and more advance safety rules. If your planning on bringing an older (and hopefully VERY responsible) child to shoot or learn with you, here’s some great info for parents and a list of basic safety rules for bring children to a gun range.
Blue Ridge Arsenal
14725-K Flint Lee Road,
Chantilly, Virginia 20151 (map it)
703-818-0230
Dates and Times - Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Saturday 10-8, Sunday 10-6.
Fees ands Course Information - Range time costs $20.00 per person/per lane/per hour. Each additional person sharing the same lane costs $10.00 per person/per hour/per lane. Children 12 and younger are no charge.
Additional equipment rental costs:
- Eye protection rental - $2.00 each
- Ear protection rental - $2.00 each
- Gun rental is $12.00 per firearm (ammo and targets not included)
For course schedules, e-mail [email protected].
Closed-toed shoes are mandatory (so leave the flip-flops at home) and wear comfortable clothes, preferably with long sleeves.
Nearest Metro Subway Station - Vienna/Fairfax-GMU - Orange line, then a 20 minute cab ride.
Parking - Free parking is available.
Images - Flickr - man on range, woman on range, target, range, S&W,
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