Media Firearms Training Day

Ken Allsup of Osky News is seen firing an AR-15 at a Media Firearms Awareness Course in Elkhart, Iowa

Central Iowa media spent the morning learning about weapons and how to safely use them.

The Izaak Walton League in Elkhart, Iowa was the location where some of our local TV anchors, writers, and other reporters got an opportunity to fire some weapons. The hours spent in class and on the range prepared those who report the news, to give a more accurate and proper description to the public of what they see when it comes to firearms.

The morning started with almost an hour of basic instruction by Chief Instructor John McLaughlin on the general safety of most weapons, with McLaughlin then moving the instruction into handguns and the proper way to use them safely and fire them effectively.

From there the class of 10 media personnel moved to the range for some hands on training. There they learned how to control the weapon when firing at a target, with each receiving individualized instruction on how to maintain safety on the range. Volunteer instructors came in to help make sure that, first of all, we were all being safe, but also to make sure that we were learning the proper way to handle and use the firearms we were quickly becoming familiar with.

After the handgun portion on the range, we returned to the classroom for familiarization on rifles, how to use them safely, and how to use the sights associated with the rifles we would be shooting.

The AR-15 is the civilian version of the military’s M-16 or M-4. The AR-15 is quickly becoming a favorite weapon of the firearm collector and has been a favorite in the shooting world for some time. With our knowledge learned in the classroom, we once again teamed up with our instructors for some one on one time on the range. We were under the instruction of the range master with his plan for helping us become more familiar with rifles and effective at shooting them.

I would like to take a moment to thank Aaron McLaughlin, the instructor that looked over my shoulder all day. He was very helpful in answering my questions.

I may have started the day with a fair amount of knowledge in firearms, with having shot weapons nearly all my life, but as with everything in life I find I learn even more from those around me. Yesterday was no exception.

Properly reporting and understanding what you see makes you a better reporter, and that information translates to the reader.

Everyone that reports and writes the news likes to get things accurate. For example: Reporting that a semi-truck crashed into something, and it really was only a moped, would make the traffic reporter unreliable and untrustworthy in the eyes of the public. The same is said for the public that understands firearms.

Michael Ware of Controlled Chaos Arms used the demonstration of his grandfathers .22 cal semi-auto rifle. It was an older weapon, of course. It had some tape applied to it and did not have the appearance of the newer weapon next to it, which had a box magazine, scope, and looked similar to the weapon I am seen firing in the picture attached to this story. But even though both weapons had similar capabilities, like shooting the same caliber of ammo, the newer weapon would most likely be described as an ‘assault weapon’ in the story, making it sound more menacing.

The day ended, and the members of this class went back to their respective news agencies. But, the lessons learned will serve the people of central Iowa for some time.

Editors Note: I also wanted to add that local instructor Steve Hensyel of Hawkeye Firearms Instruction was one of those gracious enough yesterday to take time out of his schedule to help us in the media understand firearms. He said that the course use in the media took yesterday is different than those he teaches in order to gain your carry permit in Iowa. Those take more time and go further in depth.

As a whole, he saw improvement in the journalist one hand, but marksmanship comes with practice. You can go to Hensyel’s site Hawkeye Firearms Instruction to find a class near you.