You Can Shoot Antique Muskets at Colonial Williamsburg Now

For decades, visitors to the world's largest living history museum have seen Revolutionary War weapons being made at its gunsmith shop, but soon they'll also be able to experience using them.

Colonial Williamsburg will open its musket range to the public on March 19. There, certified (and of course, costumed) instructors will school guests on the history, mechanics and safety of using flintlock firearms. Those who are willing to shell out $119 for the experience can get behind the barrel of either a Brown Bess, a musket used by the British, or a fowling piece, a shotgun used by farmers in colonial Virginia. Kids 14 and older be allowed on the range, with a parent or guardian. 

The organization hopes the attraction will offer patrons a chance to "understand more about what our ancestors went through to establish this nation," range safety officer Clay Smith told Fox 43. 

Naturally, not everyone is thrilled about the range. While some patrons see it as the jumping off point for a discussion around why the Second Amendment exists, others are wary. "Hopefully the wrong people won't learn [to use a musket]," wrote one Facebook user, commenting on an article about the attraction's debut. Another expressed concern that the range doesn't have a stricter age limit. (Federal law says no one under 18 may own a handgun, but there is no minimum age requirement for owning a rifle or shotgun.)

Several members of the media have shared clips of their "sneak peek" experiences at the range. Press play and let us know what you think in the comments: Does firing a circa-1776 long gun look like an educational experience  — or a potentially dangerous one? 

Colonial Williamsburg now approved to build authentic musket range. Today they gave me a demo @WTKR3 pic.twitter.com/6Wis1Rjagm

— Marissa Hundley WECT (@MHundleyWECT) 14 августа 2015 г.