I believe, other than early TV and the movies, the first person I saw shoot a real gun was me.
My Dad was the best shot I had (and still have) ever seen.
He could light a match off a fence post, and do any number of tricks with an old Gamble's single shot rifle.
But, before that, I had no idea he could shoot and I pestered him to take the old 22 out to my Grandparent's farm so I could shoot it. He did and loaded it, then handed it to me to shoot at a small can on a fence post about 20 yards away.
I hit it and was hooked. Shot and shot that gun for years before he finally let me have a bolt action repeater. I was never as good as he was, but I finally (many years later) understood why he insisted I use only the single shot.
He insisted rabbits and squirrels be head shot only (forgive me if I posted this before), so when I missed and hit the body, I left it in the woods for the scavengers rather than face his genuine wrath.
Both he and my uncle could "bark" squirrels off a tree (hit the bark and the bark of the tree would hit the squirrel and kill it, or the fall would do it. Not a mark on the squirrel! My uncle hunted squirrels (head shots only) with an old Colt Woodsman 22 auto.
I still recall my first shot and then my astonishment at watching my Dad shoot.
Later, about 1958-9, a Highway Patrolman came to our school and did a shooting exhibition in our gym. He was good, and I remember everyone but me thought he must be the best shot in the world.
Bob