MENTORING SHOOTERS

An introductory guide to informally mentoring fellow gun owners, with an emphasis on safety protocols.

Former naval officer and certified law enforcement firearms instructor Salomon (Building Shooters, 2016) notes that the culture of gun safety has atrophied, and in this book, he contends that the restoration of that culture requires more than just competent professional instructors—it needs committed mentors who can flexibly guide a student’s habits and overall approach to firearm use. To that end, he expertly furnishes a wealth of lessons—not only about the nature of gun safety, but also about how to properly instill its value in others. Despite the brevity of this book, it seems exhaustive, as it covers everything from how to properly grip a firearm to how to dismantle one. Salomon also generally discusses the basic science of learning and the manner in which short-term memories may be transformed into long-term habits. He concludes with a sample curriculum for mentoring a novice student—12 lessons in all. The author’s knowledge of his subject is beyond reproach, and the prose is unerringly clear. His focus is on the mission of the mentor—specifically, the proper approach to customizing instruction for each student: “Mentoring (and teaching) is not about what you know; it’s about what other people know or (usually) don’t know. Mentoring is about giving other people information they need in a way that works for them—not you.” Salomon also includes lots of illustrative, black-and-white photographs that clarify his points. The book is admittedly written for a very specific audience, but parts of it may be of interest even to readers who are opposed to gun ownership, as it often discusses its societal merits without a hint of ideological intemperance.

A sensible, comprehensive, and lucid instruction manual.