I'm going to suggest the old standard ruger 10-22.

Simple enough for a beginner to maintain well, but solid enough to enjoy for a lifetime. It's also customizable, with plenty of options out there.

As far as training, nothing beats in person, and it's one of those things where it's important enough to get the training from someone that may not be political ally if need be. You just can't get the kind of correction needed as you're learning without an experienced shooter helping. It isn't something you can read your way through entirely. In person is the default, with books and videos augmenting, not the other way around.

If your goal is short range shooting only at a range, you might as well go ahead and get friendly with whatever range you'll be going to, and you can't really guarantee you'll even like anyone there. That's tangential to what you're asking, but it is important to keep in mind that you'll be running across a lot of people at most ranges that are much farther right than you might prefer. So go into it with that awareness, and it won't be a problem. Don't let the political divide prevent you from good shooting guidance.