FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) -- For fledgling gun owners aiming to try out their latest firearms and learn more about them, multiple gun stores and shooting ranges in Fort Wayne are offering various discounts in the new year to encourage safety and teach new skills. Freedom Firearms and Midwest Shooting Center are each offering their own specials, which are both geared toward helping people learn more about guns. At Freedom Firearms, customers who buy a gun will receive a free range pass and a discounted rate for a "New Gun Orientation Class" at $20 when purchasing a pistol. Freedom Firearms "New Gun Orientation Class" Rundown Tiffanie Schroeder, co-owner of Freedom Firearms, said she has seen an increase in new people buying guns in recent years, which coincides with a Gallup poll that shows 48 percent of people have a gun in their home, which is the highest rate tracked by Gallup since the early 1990s. Another Gallup poll shows nearly 90 percent of gun owners who participated in the poll said they own a gun for "protection against crime." While some of those gun owners may never use one outside of that scenario, Schroeder said it is still important to be comfortable handling guns. "You cannot buy it and forget about it. You can't buy it and use it one time. You have to buy it and practice with it," Schroeder said. "Otherwise, when something happens, you're not going to know what to do ... we highly recommend that you practice with it bare minimum once a month." Schroeder said gun owners can even practice at home using a method called "dry firing," which involves going through the steps of shooting a gun without any ammunition. Midwest Shooting Center is providing a free "New Year, New Skills" assessment where people can undergo a one-on-one assessment with a training manager. During the clinic, guests will "get a clear understanding of your current skill set, try a drill suited to your experience and receive personalized feedback," according to the company's website. Caleb Keener, general manager at the company's Fort Wayne location, said around 60 people have already signed up for the assessment. Midwest Shooting Center is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. both Friday and Saturday. Those interested in taking on the assessment should sign up beforehand online. The assessment will last roughly one hour.