THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 8, 1995 TAG: 9507080425
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
The rush on concealed weapons permits in Virginia is giving a shot in the arm to businesses and government agencies that teach owners to use their guns.
``We went from filling up a class in a week's time to filling up a month's worth of classes in one day,'' said Doug Grier, manager of Richmond Firearms Training Academy, which offers a six-hour class.
A state law that went into effect July 1 makes it easier for citizens to get concealed weapon permits. It also gives courts the right to require that applicants show certification that they know how to use a handgun.
An owner of Colonial Heights Shooting Gallery said business is booming there, too, and he isn't hearing any grousing about the requirement.
``I'd say 90 percent of the people who've signed up for classes think it's a good idea,'' Tim Fenderson said. The Shooting Gallery offers a four-hour National Rifle Association basic handgun course for $50.
``We've had quite a run on classes,'' Fenderson said. ``In the last two days we've registered 150 people. We'll be running three or four classes a week; before, we were having one or two classes a month.''
Some of the courses answer questions like when to reveal a gun, when to use one and what can happen to you after you have used your gun.
``There are a number of things that can go wrong,'' said Tom Crawford of Critical Concept's Personal Protection Institute, which offers courses for individuals as well as couples.
``The gun is not the answer to all of your personal protection problems,'' he said. ``But when you need a gun, you really need a gun.''
The Richmond Police Department, which offers an introduction-to-firearms course for $10, and the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries say they have been deluged with requests for education and training.
Lynchburg police Chief Charles W. Bennett Jr. said he's encouraged by the interest.
``Some people mistakenly think, `All I need is a gun and a box of bullets, and now I'm safer,' '' Bennett said. He said it takes intense training even for police officers to learn to properly use a firearm.
Bill Tanner, a 23-year-old Henrico County accountant, said he has been shooting regularly for years. Still, he was happy to shell out $60 for a refresher course at the Richmond Firearms Training Academy. by CNB