A course on firearm safety is a must. If there isn't a course available, find someone that has been a shooter and have them teach you the fundamentals. Then, and only because you can always use one, buy yourself a .22lr. It is cheap (or was) to shoot and it can be used for many things from rabbit hunting to PD killing. Start off with learning how the gun works. Learn the technical aspects of shooting. Practice shooting targets at 25 to 50 yards. When you reach a point where everything becomes second nature take a hunter safety course. That way you don't go in there not knowing anything.

Get a license and start small.

I was a late bloomer when it came to firearms. If it wasn't for a friend and his dad, I would probably be ......... well, I don't want to think about what I would be doing. This "sport"/"hobby" has become a great enjoyment to my life. Can't think of anything that I would trade it for.