A Straight Shooter

It's a Different Era in D.C. If You've Got Questions About the Armed Life, Dr. Guns Has All the Answers.

Advice for the gunlorn.

Dear Dr. Guns:

The big day at last! I can own a handgun in D.C. But am I ready? Where does my mind have to be to acquire such a thing? Why do I feel somewhat queasy about the whole process? What do I need to know about the mind-set of the responsible gun owner?

Anxious in Adams Morgan

Like any new relationship, the issue is commitment. This is not the sort of thing one does casually, nor hesitatingly, nor for what-the-hell-because-I-can reasons. I know a lot about pistols and I can tell you that if you acquire a pistol for self-defense, you must embrace it. Love it. Treat it with respect.

But be aware that it sits at the center of a system. It's not, in and of itself, the single answer to your fears about your personal security. Think of it as an A-bomb; yes, devastating, but in practical terms demanding a whole culture to sustain it, a monitoring system, training, facilities, the dedication of its operators and deliverymen, eternal vigilance. Without those, either bomb or gun is meaningless.

It should be part of something larger: locks, lights, cellphones, safety rooms, whatever. It's not the only resort, it's only the last resort. But because that awful day can come, for God's sake, shoot it! Understand its textures, its traits, its problems, its issues. Teach it to your hands so that, in the dark with a boatload of adrenaline in your blood, it will feel like an old piece of soap and not a prickly, sharp-edged conundrum wrapped inside a riddle. You don't want to be thinking: What do I do next? You want the gun to be second nature, its mechanics a confidence-building given. If you're worried about the gun, you will not dominate the upcoming transaction.

You must master sound marksmanship fundamentals. Sight, picture, hold, press. Maximize recoil control, follow through (as in any sport) and most important, from your practice, believe in yourself and your entitlement to life and property. Know how to manipulate, change hands, reload, deal with jams. Learn the gun.

Dear Dr. Guns:

I've got a gun. I thought I'd feel better but . . . I'm scared. Suppose it goes off by itself? Suppose a burglar finds it? Suppose I can't remember if it's loaded or unloaded and I can't remember how to check? Suppose I forget where I hid it? Can't we just talk about this?

Tormented on Capitol Hill

Get rid of it. It's not for you. No shame in that. You have certain deep-seated reservations and cannot really accept the mental stress associated with the gun's presence, and almost certainly would not be able to handle the physical stress of a confrontation. Nor have you made friends with the ultimate meaning of the gun, which is that it expresses the belief that in certain circumstances, you are justified in killing. (That's probably your biggest problem.) It's just not your bag, baby. Get it out of the house. You are, in fact, the most dangerous man alive; the gun has become a demon in your imagination and you fear it more than you fear what's outside in the dark. You should not have it, at least not without a lot more work on your part. If you've doubts about the gun, go to the rental ranges. Shoot a lot. Get used to it. Try to commit to the idea that it is a tool, not the Devil's Right Hand. Enjoy the boredom of the last box of ammo. You'll be surprised how quickly you pick it up, that is, if you go slowly, a step at a time. You may even learn to like it. But don't force it. Nothing good can come of it.