By Ed Jones
Certified Firearms Instructor & Training Counselor
The Chatuge Gun Club will present a course titled “BASIC PISTOL”, a 12-hour course demonstrating fundamental handling of handguns and the legal ownership, storage, and use of firearms and information pertaining to the citizen’s right of self-defense will be presented by the Chatuge Gun Club, Inc., of Hiawassee, GA. The course will be conducted on Saturday and Sunday, 23 & 24 October 2021.
The course is a basic handgun course enhanced by emphasis on self-defense and the law, so it is suitable for experienced, as well as novice shooters. Ignorance and carelessness are the two leading causes of firearm accidents. Our aim is to eliminate both! Safe gun handling and storage techniques are paramount and are presented as a priority throughout the course.
Firearm Safety is the focus of the presentation. Other topics visited include selection of a firearm, the anatomy of a handgun and its ammunition, loading and unloading of firearms, cleaning, and maintenance of firearms. We also explore methods and techniques that may be used to prevent home invasion or other occurrences which might evolve into a life-threatening situation requiring the use of deadly force. The 8-hour classroom portion of the course will be held on Saturday beginning at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be included this day.
In addition to the course, questions and information pertaining to the legal, ownership, possession, transportation, and the use of firearms and deadly force will be fielded by an Attorney that practiced in Georgia. Supervised live firing will be conducted throughout the day on the following Sunday at the Chatuge Gun Club’s firing range. The single thing that makes this class unique is the fact that we can provide one-on-one coaching on the firing line.
Having attended other courses over the years, although their content is generally excellent, they are not able to provide this intensive firing line assistance. For safety and a more complete learning experience, the one-on-one experience is essential. This is made possible by qualified members of the Chatuge Gun Club who are willing to donate their time and expertise to afford a safe, entertaining, and rewarding experience. Participants should provide a suitable handgun and 100 rounds of appropriate ammunition.
A “suitable handgun” is defined as one capable of firing a minimum of five shots without reloading; it should also be capable of being fired without manual re-cocking. Single action revolvers are allowed but not recommended. High performance or magnum loads are not necessary nor are they desirable. A target load is adequate. A certificate of attendance is awarded at the completion of the course. The course is a “must” for anyone who has a handgun for personal protection. The minimum age for participation is 16; those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A nominal fee of $40 will be charged to cover the cost of classroom, classroom materials, texts, snacks, lunch, targets, etc. (Yes, it says lunch).
The instructors, coaches, instructional and law enforcement personnel contributing to this course are strictly volunteers donating their time and efforts as a public service to educate and possibly quell some of the negative images being given to firearms by the media for whatever reason. Pre-registration is required to a class capacity of 30. For information and/or registration, call Ed Jones at (706) 896-1783 or edjones@brmemc.net between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.