"Joe,
I stumbled onto your blog about three months ago and absolutely love it. I check it out everyday to keep up with what's going on in the Salisbury area. What is concerning and worrying me the most is the crime in and around Salisbury. I have never owned or shot a gun in my life but am now very seriously considering and probably will buy a handgun, which brings me to my question for you. Where in this area can I take some kind of course on hangun safety, a good course? I have found that the police department offers a free safety course but it offers just enough information to legally obtain a handgun in Maryland, but since I have never shot a gun I want a good and thorough course. Thank You for your website for without it I wouldn't have had any idea how bad crime has gotten in Salisbury."
OK, who can answer their question?
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
22 comments:
Try Dick's sports center or maybe Gander Mtn.
Gander Mt on 13 is where I bought my guns and the safety class is held right there.
A shooting range just re-opened down nanticoke rd.
Call Delaware State Police and ask who they would suggest. I believe those living in Delaware can carry a concealed weapon after taking a handgun safey course. Driving from Laurel to Georgetown there is a place on the right that offers a course but Im not sure who they are.
You might want to try Shooters Supply on Rt. 346 in Whaleysville. It's located just west of the Oasis Bar and Grill. The owner, Frank Hastings, used to train and qualify the Wicomico County Sheriff's Deputies. He's very good. Also, Worcester Co. used to have a range that was open to the public on certain days of the week. I believe there was a range instructor present on those days. You can probably call Worc. Co. Sheriff's Office @ 410-632-1111 to find out if that's still avail.
Try The NRA:
http://www.nrahq.org/education/index.asp
They have programs that can even select the right firearm. Having been around firearms all of my life I can tell you if you start off with something you are not comfortable with you will never like firearms. If you start off with something you select and are comfortable with you just might find shoot sports (targets, clays, idpa) fun.
the place on the way to georgetown is called j.d. defense i think, i have heard a couple people say really nice things about this man...
Maryland has archaic carry laws-people in Va and DE can tote em!Hell in states out West like NM or TX men carry guns openly in holsters out in public-think any of them have ever been mugged or attacked?Doubt it.
I recently talked to someone who got back from gitmo. They spoke of information received from some of the "guests" who advised that one of the criteria used in deciding on areas which may be potential targets is, among other things, areas that don't allow civilians to carry firearms. The same liberals who complain about people willing to give up fourth and fourteenth amendment rights for safety are the ones who want everyone to give up 2nd amendment rights for safety. Oh....thats right. We can't mention that because it would further expose their socialist agenda.
As a good old boy from around here; my advice is just bring up the conversation with a neighbor. Many have private undeveloped farm land just for this type of thing ( I used to shoot at Daves (?) on Nant. Road; not sure of status there). By bringing up the topic with a neighbor before you buy; they will usually let you test drive their 9mm v .45 pistol; their sks v. mini-14; their Remington 870 v. Mossberg 500(make sure you are really ready at the end though when the guy with the slick smile looking like Dale Gribble asks if you want to shoot the Desert Eagle-Google "You Tube" footage of various young ladies, and puny girly men, trying this when not really confident). Treat it always like it is loaded; never point it at anything you don't want to kill; never ride dirty with it loaded in your car; and for heaven's sake don't let the kids have even a remote chance of getting hold of it. And after all of this research; if you feel you ultimately can't squeeze the trigger on someone coming in on you; don't buy anything because then the criminal will take your piece when he may have only had a knife or scewdriver to start with and we have another stolen gun on the streets. Good luck!!
True that Bluto
If you truly want a firearm for HOME defense, I would suggest a shotgun instead of a handgun as your first weapon.
If you need to use it, it is more forgiving in many ways. You don't need to be as acurate (more projectiles), the bb's won't travel as far and you won't need to shoot it as much to ensure proficiency.
The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services has a Gun Safety course free on the web site.
go to: http://dpscs.state.md.us/
select: Public Services,
Select Fire Arms Safety Training. The safety training course will come up. It takes about 30 minutes.
jph
Nothing beats a shotgun. The sound of jacking a round into the chamber is intimidating on its own. It's true, when you pull the trigger, you will hit something.
Always remember the first law of nature is self preservation.
LOL-you mentioned Daves and I had to add a cute story-
My husband and I got married at that scenic little country church right across the road from Daves in Quantico and on the particular Saturday we married Daves was hosting a shoot.Every 2-3 minutes,as we were doing the vows you could hear a shotgun boom outside.So we always refer to our special day as a true "shotgun wedding" LOL
Its a shame Daves closed-it was a great family owned and operated store.
Thank You all for your responses; I received alot of good information that I am going to look into.
Anon 12:26 I have quite a few "good old boys" living all around me that would probably let me try out their guns. I didn't think of that. Also, I am a single mother of two young children so trust me, if it comes to me pulling that trigger to protect my children then I will have no problem doing so. You don't mess with a mother who is scared and protecting her children! LOL.... And another thing I intend to purchase as well is a locked safe, again to protect my children.
Safety?
Actually, statistics say that you'd be safer if you left that gun on the rack. About 90% of all gunshot deaths are family and friends. The most likely person to die from a gun is its owner.
My advice? Let you neighbors buy the guns. There are better ways to improve your security without the added risk.
Anon. 4:23
Statistics? Sounds more like propaganda. What is the source of those statistics?
I wouldn't lock my gun in a safe for the simple fact you don't have access to it. The gun without ammo won't hurt anyone. Keep your ammo locked up yet readily available. Get your kids familiar with guns early, start with bb guns. A gun is a gun, some more powerful than others but the end result is the same. If kids learn very early you remove the curiosity. Teach your children, don't put them in fear of guns.
I agree with the fact that a gun locked away is about as useless as an unloaded one. You do have a responsibility to safeguard it from children. I have a rather large collection and even have a few that are accessible in an emergency.
I am not only mindful of my son but his friends that are in and out of the house. I started educating my son at an early age and made it a point NOT to make firearms a curiosity item.
There are several drawer type safes that have combinations of one type or another. Some are expensive but are worth the piece of mind.
If you chose a shotgun, I would recommend a trigger style lock if you need to secure it.
Maryland requires the purchase of a lock when you make a pistol purchase.
A small flashlight is a must so you can see to open locks/safes at night.
http://www.patriotsafe.com/
http://www.buyasafe.com/Hand-Gun-Pistol-s/43.htm
http://www.masterlocks.com/show_cat.asp?cat=Gun%20Locks
J.D Defense in Georgetown is real good. He is a retired Georgetown Police Officer. Here is his website....http://www.jddefense.com/
423am, I'm not goin to be as nice as grand dad, those are flat out lies, either you've been fooled or your try'n to fool... I do believe we should do everything possible to deturr crime, motion lights, alarms, video,dogs, ect.
Hand guns are for experienced shooters only! What ever you get practice practice practice...you wouldnt buy a unicycle, jump outa bed n dart down the hall riden?
Teach those children to respect a gun, dont hide it from them, better you teach them right than to learn from cartoons, tv or rap music. Ultimatly...treat every gun as if its loaded AT ALL TIMES, MUZZLE CONTROL {never point at anything you would want to shoot} and..TARGET IDENTIFICATION {dont shoot at shadows...shout commands to stop and identify}
I believe the law in Wic Co. is still...you can only use reasonable force with your assallent/attacker...if the perp has only a baseball bat, you can only use the equivelent
Perhaps grand dad could confirm or correct on this law?
hip.boots
"423am, I'm not goin to be as nice as grand dad, those are flat out lies, either you've been fooled or your try'n to fool..."
Sorry. I speak the truth. Over half of all gun deaths are suicides. The most common homicide in America is spousal killing (the old redneck divorce), next comes other family killings (patricide, fratricide,...).
Do you know what the is the #1 maternal death risk factor for pregnant women in America is? Yup. You guessed it. It's getting shot by redneck boyfriend/husband.
Just look at the DOJ figures from any year and add them up. Before you get to the killing of strangers, you've already accounted for about 90% of all gun deaths. These are fairly well known facts, and these facts are the true tragedy of gun ownership in America.
Go ahead and cling to your guns and be bitter about it. But let's be honest about what we're really doing to ourselves here...
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