News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Crossville Police giving women the chance to become more familiar with firearms during a Saturday Ladies Only class.
Captain Brian Eckelson said the class allows women to get comfortable with using a firearm. He said firearm safety and familiarity are important for any person, but many women have never fired, cleaned, or loaded a gun.
“One of the most important things with firearms is safety, hands down,” Eckelson said. “If somebody’s afraid to even touch a gun, when the time comes they need to use the gun, there’s a chance they won’t be able to operate it, or they’ll not use it.”
Eckelson said the class will not include shooting or permits, but attendees will learn how to clean, store, holster, load, and unload weapons. The class will allow women to decide whether they want to attend an R&R Gun School permit class and own a gun in the future.
“The biggest thing that usually takes the longest is the open Q and A,” Eckelson said. “Where they’ll just sit around and try to dispel some falsehoods and give people some information that ordinarily, they’re scared to ask at other times.”
Eckelson said the class filled up quickly, but women interested in attending can call the Crossville Police Department is reserve a spot on the waiting list.
“Kind of the way they see it, it’s a safe environment to learn with no distractions or fear of feeling silly,” Eckelson said. “Just somebody wanting to learn how to handle firearms safely.”
He said the department has held the event for several years and sometimes hosts it semiannually. He said no outside weapons or ammunition is allowed. The Department will host the Lady’s Only Gun Familiarization Class on March 2. It typically lasts about two hours and begins at 9:00am at the Police Department.
