Well, I've owned a handgun since the tender age of 21, been shooting them since I was ten... and I found it kinda silly that to add to my collection after moving to hawaii that I would need to take a special (expensive) class. It turned out I could register my (bought new off the line in 98' ) out of state handgun without any of the permiting mumbo jumbo, but since I wanted to hunt here anyway, I took hunters ed and killed two birds with one rock, just in case I wanted to buy another handgun.
The pistol class just wasnt going to teach me anything I didnt already know about how to safely own, operate, and store a handgun, and at the time... 250 dollars could buy a lot of ammo.
In reality, everything I really needed to know about guns was taught to me by my dad, he also taught me such other valuable practical lessons like, how to clean a fish, change a tire, light a campfire without matches, and aways wear a rubber... when I was a kid - the way it should be
Pretty sad that even some of the shooting community is brainwashed to the point that they agree that in order to exercise the right to bear arms, that a citizen be made to take an expensive class. Everything a person needs to know about a gun can be found in it's manual, everything they need to know about how to be proficient with it can be learned for free at a good range, if you strike up a conversation with a friendly old salt shooter. My dad taught me how to shoot, some rangemaster at jackson arms in cali taught me a better grip, and trigger pull and helped me shoot better,
Heck, when my mini 30 arrived, the ffl that did the transfer showed me that a sharp blow to the butt of the rifle when the bolt is locked back can release it and chamber a round if you have a hot mag in it...(thats in the manual by the way) Ive passed this kind knowledge on to other shooters... the way it should be.