David Yamane

“The Range Experience Will Be One to Remember” (Fall 2023 Student Range Visit Reflection #7)

This is the seventh of several student gun range field trip reflection essays from my fall 2023 Sociology of Guns seminar (see Reflection #1, Reflection #2, Reflection #3, Reflection #4, Reflection #5, and Reflection #6). The assignment to which students are responding can be found here. I am grateful to these students for their willingness to have their thoughts shared publicly.

NOTE: Regarding the student’s comment that “Professor Yamane informed me that the AR was specifically designed for the purpose of killing other humans,” my point was that the ArmaLite AR-15 grew out of the military’s procurement process to replace the M1 Garand with a more lightweight, modular, smaller caliber but higher capacity rifle that could be used more easily by a range of soldiers under a variety of conditions (sources: Alexander Rose, American Rifle: A Biography, and C.J. Chivers, The Gun).

Sociology of Guns student shooting rifle during range field trip, Fall 2023. Photo by David Yamane

By Tamba Jagana

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at the gun range. It surpassed my initial expectations for fun and excitement.

This experience prompted me to contemplate the ease with which individuals with harmful intentions can acquire and use firearms, particularly the AR. To my surprise, the AR proved to be much lighter and more enjoyable to shoot than I had anticipated. My astonishment grew when Professor Yamane informed me that the AR was specifically designed for the purpose of killing other humans and was unsuitable for hunting deer and larger animals [DY: in the .223 caliber we shot]. This revelation led me to question why such weapons, designed for human harm, are so readily accessible across the United States.

A few days after our trip to the range, while driving with a few friends to Target, the topic of gun violence in America came up. Opinions ranged from staunch support for guns to complete opposition, with some holding intermediate views. The central issue we discussed was the accessibility of firearms—a topic I’m eager to explore further in my sociology of guns course. Debates revolved around which types of guns should be accessible and which should not. Armed with my newfound knowledge about the creation of ARs, I argued that it should not be acceptable for people to have easy access to ARs and other weapons designed for taking human lives. I successfully persuaded my friend Ben to share the same perspective.

Ultimately, my experience at the gun range left me feeling empowered. It made me realize that I have the capacity to influence people to use guns responsibly and for enjoyment, rather than causing harm to innocent lives. Guns can indeed be a source of fun and not solely instruments of violence. We can practice precision, aim at targets, and engage in hunting for the right reasons, without causing harm. We should treat guns as a chef treats their knives: tools for the enjoyment of cooking, not instruments of death. Weapons can serve as a means of bonding and enjoyment with others, rather than causing harm.

After my experience at the range, I shared my enthusiasm with two friends on campus, and we agreed to visit another range later this semester. This reminded me of my childhood in The Gambia when, at the age of 8, I learned to use a bow and arrow and a slingshot. My cousins and I practiced by hitting milk cartons and even went bird hunting together, all of which were incredibly enjoyable.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to appreciate the joy and significance of bonding through the safe and responsible use of weapons. I can also draw a parallel between my experiences in The Gambia and the United States, where weapons are used differently. In The Gambia, weapons are not typically used for harming one another, as most crimes are minor. In contrast, the United States faces numerous major crimes like murder, largely due to the inability of people to use guns safely and responsibly. 

The range experience will be one to remember.

11 comments

  1. Another interesting take from someone with a very different background! It would be interesting to watch Tamba’s progression through various topics like “the US city of Chicago has a the same population than the entire nation of Gambia, and is ethnically/racially/culturally diverse in these ways”, and how the US Consititution protects our citizens from disarmament by the government so the rules around conversations like “which types of guns should be accessible and which should not.” are very different. Where you start affects how you see the debates and Tamba and the others bring very different starting points. Should be some spirited and interesting discussions!

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  3. Mr. Jagana describes well the enjoyment, challenge, and bonding that are components of gun culture.

    I was a bit perplexed, however, when he spoke out against allowing access to “ARs and other weapons designed for taking human lives.” For all guns are designed with the capacity to take a human life. And sometimes, a human life needs to be taken — or at least accepted as a consequence of stopping a deadly threat. I’d encourage him to consider the keeping & bearing of firearms for the purpose of lawful self defense another key component of responsible gun ownership.

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  6. I just watched a youtube video the other day about the history of The Gambia. What an interesting nation and what a nice coincidence.

    I think there might have been a bit of a misunderstanding about the rifle and cartridge. While they were developed as part of military trials, like pretty much every other successful military rifle design it was very swiftly modified for civilian use for target shooting, hunting, and self-defense.

    Military arms tend to be durable due to being overbuilt, have acceptable accuracy, good portability, and use cartridges effective against “man-sized” and smaller animals. People who served in the military also will have a familiarity with their function and handling, making them obvious choices for civilian use.

    The .223 is on the light side for hunting, but the rifle pattern itself has proven quite capable of using cartridges in the same platform which are capable of humanely taking any animal on the continent simply by switching out the upper receiver and magazines.

    There’s no good reason to continue to judge a tool, or weapon, by its origin when it has evolved far beyond those beginnings.

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