THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 23, 1995 TAG: 9507230085
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARA STANLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Long : 119 lines
Carl Fisher, 31 years a Marine with two tours in Vietnam, held the a weapon.
``If you decide to shoot someone,'' he said, ``that's between you and your God.''
Fisher, 55, a certified firearms instructor and retired lieutenant colonel, had just started a three-hour class that would qualify 13 people to carry guns under Virginia's liberalized concealed-weapons law.
The law, which went into effect July 1, allows concealed-handgun permits to be issued to virtually any law-abiding citizen.
At least one student had never before touched a gun.
``Carrying a firearm is not something you should take lightly,'' Fisher boomed. ``If something goes wrong, you are responsible for where those bullets end up.''
For $29.95 - a $3 gun rental and ammunition charge not included - Fisher's students at Bob's Gun and Tackle are given a quick course that can satisfy judges who take the option of requiring training before they issue a permit.
First came lectures on gun safety and maintenance.
Fisher warned that guns should always be carried in holsters; never just in your waistband.
``And please, ladies, don't carry a gun in your purse,'' Fisher said. ``It can get tangled in your keys and you could shoot your car.''
The final exam is given at the third-floor indoor range: about 25 rounds at 21 feet. The target is a classic bull's-eye, not a picture of a snarling bad guy.
It was in keeping with Fisher's personal philosophy:
``In no shape or form are we advocating using a firearm against another human being.''
The students were issued protective glasses, sound-muffling ear protectors and legal forms that release Fisher and the gun shop from any liability - just in case.
Three were shooting .38 specials. Others aimed a .45-caliber semiautomatic, a 9 mm semiautomatic and a .357-caliber Magnum.
``Keep your back straight,'' Fisher said to one as he gently put pressure on the student's back. ``Don't jerk the trigger. Just pull it back in a smooth motion.''
``You shouldn't let that bang upset you,'' he told another student, who had flinched. ``Did you see where that one hit? Good!''
Other tips: face the target squarely, straighten your back, keep hips and shoulders square, place feet shoulder-width apart and lock elbows and wrists while aiming the gun with both hands.
``You've got to be comfortable when you hold a gun,'' he said.
A shooter, like a golfer or a baseball player at the plate, must coordinate all parts of the body. A fraction of an inch counts.
``One one-thousandth of an inch will throw the strike of the bullet 3 inches off for every 25 yards,'' Fisher said.
More advice from the firing line:
Gripping the gun - ``Make sure your thumbs aren't in the way.''
Putting a finger on the trigger - ``Only the finger should move.''
Aligning the sight - ``Look through the notch at the top of the gun's barrel. The edges of the target should be blurry.''
Aiming - ``Keep both eyes open.''
Firing - ``You should see a small plume of smoke if you did it right.''
Even breathing is important.
``Don't hold your breath except for when you are pulling the trigger,'' Fisher said.
When the class ended, everyone received a diploma, which could be accepted by Circuit Court judges in Hampton Roads.
Fisher grants diplomas on the basis of students' ability on the firing range.
One thing is certain, he said, ``You can't learn everything you need to know in one class.''
After the class ended, some of the students - diplomas in hand - explained why they wanted to carry a gun.
``If you are traveling on the road and you don't have a gun, you are foolish,'' said Karen Nance, 34, of Newport News. ``I like being in control of a situation.''
Frank Oldaker, 34, a Norfolk firefighter, also said he wanted to carry a handgun for protection.
``What I see on the streets at night is a lot more than what the average citizen sees,'' he said.
Like Nance and Oldaker, many of Fisher's students will take their diplomas to local Circuit Courts, where there has been an initial rush for permits.
Fisher teaches night classes one after another. But he has one lingering doubt: Is his most important message getting across?
``I'm just afraid that some people don't understand the terrible moral and legal responsibilities of carrying a gun.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
JOSEPH JOHN KOTLOWSKI
Instructor Carl Fisher lectures a class of Virginia residents who
want to apply for permits to carry concealed handguns.
Karen Nance of Newport News, who has been shooting for 15 years,
gets advice from Carl Fisher at target practice with her
.38-caliber.
Fanny-pack holsters are good for concealing guns, but Carl Fisher
warns against tucking them in waistbands or purses.
Carl Fisher lectures about handguns to participants in a firearms
class at Bob's Gun and Tackle in Norfolk. The training helps
applicants qualify for permits to carry concealed guns under
Virginia's liberalized concealed-weapons law.
Graphic
FIRING ADVICE
[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]
KEYWORDS: HANDGUNS GUN CONTROL LAWS VIRGINIA CONCEALED
WEAPONS by CNB