Posted on 08/05/2008 8:20:52 PM PDT by neverdem
In most classes, the teacher doesn't point a gun.
But none of the almost 40 people in a bunker-like back room of the Jacksonville Expo Center at the Fairgrounds even raised an eyebrow when Charlie Berrane calmly aimed and sighted a revolver.
The firearms instructor worked his way methodically through safety tips as he explained the correct way to hold the pistol and squeeze the trigger.
"Do you know the story about the man who brought a knife to a gun fight?" Berrane said. "I want you to win your fights."
Almost 100 people turned out July 19 for two concealed-carry classes at the Jacksonville Gun Show. Hundreds more milled through rows of bullet-blasting goods in the main vendor's area.
Despite a nationwide economic decline, gun store and range workers say First Coast residents aren't cutting back on self-protection.
Jackie Miller, owner of Bullseye Gun and Pawn, said she has seen increased traffic from gun novices whose interests were piqued by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that interpreted the Second Amendment and legitimized private gun ownership.
Protection, not recreation
She said most people aren't looking for guns for recreational sport shooting - they want to safeguard themselves from crime. She has tracked a steady 20 percent increase in sales, and all of her concealed-carry classes are full well before registration ends.
Brenda Trickler, business manager at Gateway Rifle and Pistol Club, said her outdoor range is packed every weekend. She said the range has become popular with gun enthusiasts interested more in safety than target practice.
"It's a lot about what people see on the news," Trickler said. "Some people think you can't walk to your car by yourself anymore, and they want protection."
Statistics from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Licensing also show a...
(Excerpt) Read more at jacksonville.com ...
It’s starting to become more apparent that you are going to have to start looking out for you. No one else is going to do it. That’s why we have a Second Amendment. Use it!
Got my renewal in the mail today. Good for another five years.
Always keep your gun loaded
Since Adam and Eve.... ; )
Preparedness is protection!
And your beeber stuned.
We’ve noticed an increase in the number of women who take the permit course in the southern part of the state, although the overall numbers are down. I haven’t even got a poor guess why that is.
affirmative
It is "Dodge City 1871" down here in New Orleans, LA.
The Louisiana State Police had a record year last year for CC permit requests.
Locked and loaded night and day.
Never used in self defense, however it's appreciative owner is trained, lawfully licensed, and prepared if required.
(Personally speaking of course)
Thats not legal in Maryland...
I do have 2 twelve bullet clips ready to roll though.
If it aint loaded you may as well have a rock.
So what
It is important to remember that a gun can have three and sometimes four advantages in a gunfight, depending on how it is used.
The first is concealment. If you have a gun, and your armed opponent doesn’t know it, you have the advantage, even if he is pointing a gun at you. This is because in many cases, he is paying attention to a lot of things, and you are just one of them; but you are only interested in where his gun is pointing, where his attention is, where the nearest cover is, and how you can access and use your gun.
The second is noise. An Old West rule was that you would have an advantage if you could get a shot off quick, then take your time and aim your second shot. The other shooter would react to the noise, even if he wasn’t hit, and would usually do one of several things, none of which was helpful to him, but which would give you precious time to aim.
The third is the bullet and if it hits your opponent, where it hits him. In some people, even a flesh would will stop them cold. In others, especially those who have been drinking alcohol, they can be grievously wounded and not be more than passingly aware of it. It is a big advantage to be aware of these things.
The fourth advantage, and it’s a big one, is to realize what a gun can’t do. A lot of dummies think that a gun makes them omnipotent in a fight, and this delusion often gets them in trouble. When two such dummies fight, it is not unusual to find them both seriously wounded or dead, because they use guns like actors in the movies.
Conversely, on those rare occasions when expert gun users get into gun fights with other experts, often many rounds are fired without anyone getting a scratch, because neither side do stupid things, and both sides know what bullets can do. It is also common that at the first opportunity, both sides take off, realizing that it is often the case that shooting the other guy is less important than not getting shot yourself.
I have never fired a gun at a person, not even in Vietnam in the war-it wasn’t my job- but I have used a gun in defense. It just wasn’t necessary to pull the trigger.
I used a gun once like that also. Had to show it but that was it. That is something gun grabbers never mention and don’t want the average person to know. That is many cases, most really, you don’t have to actually use the gun, but you should not get complacent about that either. There is always the idiot that thinks you won’t shoot.
Ping
“Let your gun be your companion on all your walks.” — Thomas Jefferson
IIRC, the story has your tagline.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.