Posted on 01/18/2010 7:04:18 AM PST by marktwain
ABBEVILLE — Ed Strickland spends his days surrounded by guns.
While the career lawman and avid hunter might have one of the best-guarded homes in Abbeville, the claim to fame he’s particularly fond of is his 10-year role as a concealed weapons permit course instructor — a $65 “public service” he provides for about 20 residents from throughout South Carolina each month.
Who goes there
Strickland’s class Saturday attracted 19 people — 14 men and five women — of varying races and ages. Some were in their 20s, while others were well into retirement.
Several identified themselves as victims of crimes, while some said they wantedto avoid becoming one. One man said he was drawn to take the course after he was shot during a home invasion and another said he’d be one of the few people in his “rough” Greenwood neighborhood to carry a gun legally.
Each was fingerprinted and given applications before packing into the basement of Strickland’s lodge-style home on the S.C. 28 bypass shortly after some 9 a.m. coffee. The casual setting and informal lecture — spiked with the occasional joke or two from Strickland — made for a relaxed setting to discuss serious business.
“Let me tell you how the gun empowers you,” Strickland told the class in his introduction. “You’ve got a guy who can bench press 735 pounds, you’ve got a guy who’s working on his fifth-degree black belt.”
Referring to an elderly student while holding a tiny pistol he later compared to a keychain, Strickland said if she saw either man coming, “she could take this right here and deal with both of them.”
(Excerpt) Read more at indexjournal.com ...
$65....wow...that’s half what I paid for my course.
My class was $75. The more expensive classes (around $200) generally includes the registration fee as well. Just depends on where you go. My guy was awesome and if you're in the Greenville area (I took it at our hunting club near Campobello) I'll be happy to freemail you the guys info.
From the article: “The law generally favors homeowners who shoot intruders. Multiple shots can lead to trouble, though, since, “You’re not trying to kill, you’re trying to eliminate the threat,” according to Strickland.”
Slight disagreement. If the perp lives he is still a threat; he and/or his homies will eventually be back looking for you.
Nice piece, thanks for posting.
Just for fun, in Alska the fee is optionsal - you only need a permit if you go Outside. Otherwise, no permit reqired here to CCW.
I dont know about your state, but once the threat is gone you have to cease fire. By the threat being gone, it means that the assailant does not have the means to put you in jeopardy. If he has a sucking hole in his chest, his ability to harm you is pretty much dissipated. Another shot after that and you will find standing next him in court.
Alska = Alaska time for some java.
Hey, I understood it! I know what you mean about coffee. The only people who do not make mistakes are those who do nothing.
LOL
You are most kind. Some days it is hard to hold the pencil to type.
Every instructor will tell you that you shoot to stop the threat. No more. There isn’t a single CCW instructor in any state who will tell you any different.
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