MERIDEN — When I pulled into the parking lot of 35 Pleasant Street, it looked like any other suburban office building — the kind of place where podiatrists look at feet and optometrists look at eyes. What removed it from the ordinary was a laminated sign in the lobby directing me to my destination. It depicted the white silhouette of handgun on a red background. Underneath was written “ctpistolclass.com,” with an arrow pointed to the elevator. On the third floor, Michael Pear, an NRA certified pistol, rifle and shotgun instructor, was preparing to teach the NRA basic pistol safety course...