While the majority of people recently celebrated St. Patrick’s Day at a bar or feasting on corned beef and cabbage, 15 students spent eight hours of their holiday in class to be considered for their conceal and carry permit.
The newly passed conceal and carry law in Illinois requires all applicants to complete several steps before applying in hopes to avoid placing the permit in the wrong hands.
The Illinois State Police require all applicants to complete 16 hours of firearm safety training with a certified firearm instructor to ensure potential permit holders have received adequate training.
“There are 2,695 certified firearm instructors across the state,” said Illinois State Police spokesperson Monique Bond.
For Chicagoans wanting to enroll in a conceal carry class it is difficult.
The city is a desert when it comes to gun ranges but does have about 200 certified firearm instructors that can give the 16-hour training, according to the state police.
About an hour and a half away from the city, via CTA, is Midwest Guns of Lyons, Illinois. Midwest offers the 16-hour firearm training needed to apply for the conceal carry permit, offering hands-on training with highly certified instructors.
“We are one of the closest ranges to Chicago,” said Terry Bell, one of the two instructors at Midwest. “We see a lot of students that are from Chicago.”
One Chicago resident, Melinda Turner, was the only woman present at Monday’s class. Turner said living in Chicago is the reason she is taking the firearm class, to learn how to properly handle a firearm.
“I do feel there is a threat in Chicago,” Turner said, “and as a single woman, I want to be able to protect myself.”
Bell said Midwest’s class teaches the students to think of their firearm as their last resort after other self-defense alternatives.
“Unlike a lot of programs, we try to persuade our students not to carry,” Bell said.
Bell said he was asked to teach full-time after the Illinois law passed along with Luis Feliciano, a certified firearm instructor of 20 years, who started as a salesman at Midwest.
Both instructors said they have seen students between 21 and 85 years old who take the class.
“We have a wide variety of students and we look to help all of them,” Feliciano said.
At the start of class, the instructors check the students Firearms Owner’s Identification Card to ensure it is valid and not expired. Students also must bring their own firearm and 100 rounds of ammunition to the class for the range.
Both instructors are NRA certified and have received the highest level of training, which is the law enforcement level. This level of training requires 60 hours in a classroom per firearm and each instructor is certified in at least three firearms.
The first eight-hour class is taught at the Lyon’s recreational hall, 4142 Gage Ave., and explores the rules and laws of the firearm. The last eight-hours are at the range, learning hands on with an instructor and ending with a test.
Students must shoot against a target from three different distances and earn a 70 percent on a test that requires shooting on target or close to the bulls’ eye.
“Many firearm training programs are known for rushing through the classroom portion and focusing more on the handling of the gun itself,” Bell said.
But Bell said Midwest’s program is truly taught with public safety in mind.
“I can teach anyone how to shoot but I would rather show them how to think before they shoot,” Bell said.
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