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Packing Heat
By Hailey Branson/The Daily  
Posted 5:44 p.m., April 10, 2008 E-Mail Article • Print Article • Post Comment


Instructor Will Andrews shows Hailey Branson, Daily staff writer how to load a magazine with bullets on a hand gun at H&H gun range in Oklahoma City in March 2008.


Training Day: A Look at Getting a Concealed Carry License

The air reeked of lead in the dimly-lit gun range that day.

I heard the shots minutes before from those who had gone before me. I was given a pat on the back, a smile, a set of earphones and a pair of goggles.

And a .9-millimeter handgun.

I was there strictly as a reporter. Those around me were there to learn to carry concealed weapons in public, which could eventually include college campuses.

I took this concealed weapons training class in March at H&H Gun Range in Oklahoma City to gain an understanding of what it takes to get a license and to find out who does so.

Guns pose questions in state

I was shocked at first that each of the 36 spots in the two-day class were filled.

I was fully aware I was much younger than everyone else. I also was aware the existence of concealed weapons permits was a sensitive subject for people in Oklahoma, 12 years since the state law was passed allowing those permits.

I had seen a college-age friend slam his fist on the table in March when he first learned the Oklahoma Legislature was hearing a bill that would allow concealed carry license holders to carry guns on college campuses.

The author of House Bill 2513, Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, said the presence of legal concealed weapons in classrooms would deter the threat of a possible gunman.

“A lot of [safety concerns] seem like the same concerns they had in the first place with the Concealed Carrying Act, and those concerns have been proven false,” Murphey said. “So why in the world won’t we allow weapons in the classroom, which is one place where suicidal gunmen know they can come and get a lot of victims?”

OU President David L. Boren was one of several college presidents who pleaded with the legislature not to allow concealed weapons on campuses.

“If it would help for me to get down on my knees to plead with the legislature for the safety of our students, I would do so,” he said.

Though that bill was effectively killed in the Senate March 31, it resurfaced Wednesday night as an amendment to another bill before being blocked again. Legislators say it could be brought up again later in the session.

Potential licensed gun-wielders would have to take the same training I was going through, I thought, as I looked at the faces of my classmates for the first time.

Serious attitude established in classroom

I tried to attach a label to the group around me.

I couldn’t.

There was the severe-looking older man who told me later he took the class to be able to protect his family. There was the skinny, fidgeting man in a LifeChurch T-shirt. There was the middle-aged woman with a sweet-looking face who patted me on the back. She was one of five women in the class, including myself.

When the six hours of classroom time began, the owner of H&H Gun Range, Miles Hall, explained taking and passing the class was just one step in getting a concealed handgun license.

To pass the state-mandated class, students had to pass a written test and a range safety and proficiency exam.

After the class, students would then give their fingerprints and submit to a background check from the Oklahoma State Board of Investigation, as well as one from the FBI.

The final license allows the holder only to carry the type of handgun he or she trained with during the class. A .45-caliber is the biggest gun a person can carry under the law.

Hall said the process does take some time, and those who go through it almost always are responsible, law-abiding citizens. He also stressed concealed weapon carriers are taught to only pull their gun if their life or a loved one’s life is in immediate danger.

“I’m going to do everything in my power, as should you, not to shoot,” he said. “But, if I should, they’re history. Sometimes this is going to be the only thing that separates you from living and not living.”

A silence fell over the room as an attorney walked to the front. Three hours were dedicated to this attorney describing and answering questions about Oklahoma’s concealed weapons laws.

He told students to have the mindset that, any time someone pulls a gun, at least one person is going to die. He told us to seriously consider if we wanted to live with the possibility of taking another human life.

The attorney told us pulling a concealed weapon is justifiable if someone comes at you with deadly force, and made sure to emphasize words alone never constitute deadly force, according to the law.

He told us if we are ever in a situation in which we have to use a gun, we will always be arrested and go to jail. Innocence is determined later.

‘You did very, very well’

The first day ended with a 15-question written exam over handgun laws and general knowledge.

Will Andrews, our instructor, was blunt with what would be on the test as we reviewed, telling us what to underline in our workbook.

I finished the test in 10 minutes. When Will graded it, he looked up and smiled.

“You did very, very well,” he said, granting me permission to return to the shooting range portion of class the next day.

I talked to Will later, and he told me he always expected people to pass the State-compiled written test.

He passes and fails people on the range — where it is important.

‘My hands were shaking too hard’

Nikki Betterton, class coordinator, grinned when she handed me my .9-millimeter handgun. She put her arm around me.

“Mama shoots a .45, and if you were my girl, you’d be shooting a .45, too,” she said, laughing.

The weight of the gun in my hands suddenly made the whole two-day process real. I had fired a gun before, but it had been a long, long time. And I had never shot at a target shaped like a human torso before.

Will, who had been kind and casual throughout the class, suddenly was serious as we entered the range and put on our protective gear. He yelled so we could hear him from under the earphones.

I tried to load five bullets into my gun’s magazine.

I couldn’t. My hands were shaking too hard.

The targets were positioned at two distances, three yards and five yards. The distances were close, Will said, because, if you are pulling a gun, you’re more than likely not going to be shooting someone from a long distance.

I was in my own world of thought when Will yelled. I jumped when I heard the gun next to me crack.

I pulled the gun up slowly. Positioned my trigger finger. Watched as the gun shook in my unsteady hands.

The shot was over before I could blink.

It made me stumble backward. I hadn’t expected the gun’s kick to be so powerful.

The empty bullet cartridge brushed my arm as it flew to the ground.

I hadn’t gotten near the bullseye, but I had 49 more tries.

Will watched me closely, guiding me through the process. Everyone else in the room had a lot more gun experience than I had, and if anyone was going to make a mistake and shoot someone, it would have been me.

Somehow I made three bull’s-eyes by the end of it. Will laughed as I pulled the target to me and dusted the black lead from my hands.

I had done it.

Though I had taken the first step toward actually being able to carry a concealed weapon in public, Will stressed to me that, in doing so, it did not make me a safe and proficient gun user.

That takes much more practice and much more dedication.

Related Stories: Gun bill nixed; Peeping Tom law amended

TO TOTE OR NOT TO TOTE?

What does it take to get a concealed weapons license?

In accordance with the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, those seeking a concealed weapons license must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be a citizen of the United States

• Establish a residency in Oklahoma

• Be at least 21 years of age

• Complete a firearms and safety training course

• Demonstrate competence and qualifications with the type of pistol to be carried by the person

• Submit proof of training and qualification or an exemption for training and qualification

• Submit the required fees, which may vary

• Complete the application process as provided in 21 O.S., Section 1290.12

• Comply in good faith with the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act

• Follow all preclusions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act and the Federal Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act

Once approved, applicants can choose to have a license for five or 10 years.

Source: Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Web site


Comments

Matt - 04/11/08 12:01am

I am extremely disturbed by the OK legislature constantly pushing for concealed weapons on campus. If it passes then I'll be glad I'm graduating next month.

one-non-blonde - 04/11/08 7:52am

The article details very clearly what one has to go through. This is not the wild west days with shootouts like those at the OK Corral. This isn't Hollywood, with Dirty Harry always arriving on time.... This is the reality of the world in which we live. I can't carry a cop in my pocket to protect me everywhere I go. Instead, I chose to take the class and legally carry a handgun... Like the article says..."Mama carrys a .45...."

Andrew - 04/11/08 9:28am

Matt, you obviously posted on the wrong article. This article has almost nothing to do with the concealed weapons law. Hailey is described the process of obtaining a license for our uneducated friends around here. You should really read the article before skipping to the end to post your comment.

Will - 04/11/08 9:47am

It's nice to see some fair and objective reporting on this issue for once. One of the biggest roadblocks when it comes to gun-related legislature is that those who have never fired a gun are often adamantly against them -- and without any justifiable cause in my opinion. Well, I suppose the way the media personifies firearms as being capable of going off accidentally and murdering people and robbing convenience stores could end up skewing the views of people who would otherwise be open to the idea of something that is not inherently bad.

Heath Flowers - 04/11/08 11:43am

THANK YOU for going through this process and writing this article. Many people don't understand what all goes into the process and as such are "scared" of guns or people who carry them. Being "scared" come from being ignorant. Soneone who is scared of guns or CHL holders will be the the same people who are ignorant of the process to get a CHL. Thanks for outlining this for everyone on campus. As far as Concealed Carry on Campus, It is a ZERO cost way to have better security on campus, and it also lowers the liability level of the state and university. By allowing people to have the right to protect themselves, the state will be able to avoid lawsuits such as: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ik5m00QgJSuSV_0p4cvGdwIV8vGA The taxpayers of Virgina are now having to pay 11 Million for an incident that could have been prevented by a CHL holder. President Boren thinks that guns on campus are a liability, but actually, he is total backwards on the issue. Not allowing innocent law-abiding citizens the right to protect themselves is a liability, and the power mongering by Boren may eventually cost lives and tax payers dollars.

disturbed - 04/11/08 12:01pm

this is really scaring me. the fact that it would be possible for anyone to carry a gun to class (of course after completing to the laws and taking the course) is the scariest thing i have ever heard. i understand that you have to go through a lot before hand but what the hell will that accomplish. do people think that the people that shouldnt be carrying a weaon tihnk "oh well since i have to go to a class, thats too much trouble" please someone clarify this all for me because right now i dont understnad how anyone could EVER be comfortable with and actually WANT the ability to carry hand guns on campus.

Reese - 04/11/08 2:58pm

Great article. I'm glad the qualifications were clarified for people who think that everyone and their mother can get a CHL, and I am definitely attempting to get my CHL when I turn 21. I probably wouldn't even carry, but I have a right to protect myself...even on campus.

Michael - 04/11/08 3:15pm

I hate to say it, but this article is riddled with errors. First of all, "The air reeked of lead..." Lead does not have a smell, any more than steel, aluminum, or zinc. The smell described is of burned gunpowder. Second, "...would deter the thread [sic] of a possible gunmen. [sic]" This should read "...would deter the threat of a possible gunman." "Threat" as in danger, "gunman" as in singular, "threat of a." Third, "A .45-millimeter is the biggest gun..." It's .45 caliber. If a .45-millimeter existed, it would be smaller than the .9-millimeter described earlier in the article. Finally, the word "gun" is thrown around an awful lot in this article. The words "handgun" or "firearm" are much more appropriate, as "gun" usually correctly refers to field artillery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DSCN5244_fortlaramie12poundermtnhowitzer_e.jpg) or a naval battery. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Uss_iowa_bb-61_pr.jpg) My question is, how is it that I was able to spot this many errors while reading the article on the bus? Errors that an editor should have caught in a careful proofreading? This is extremely sloppy work by all involved, especially considering the story's placement on the front page.

Anonymous - 04/11/08 3:18pm

It's not that people mistrust firearms, they just don't trust the people that use them.

Anonymous - 04/11/08 4:01pm

Look, I've read all of these articles on gun control, and yes I've used a firearm (multitude of rifles, shotguns, used for hunting). And I'm sorry, I'm still against guns on campus. I cannot see a reason that is valid enough to allow anyone with a concealed weapons permit to carry on campus. Lets say you see someone with a gun today. Since guns are not allowed, you would probably report the incident, or someone would. If this law passed, the sight of a gun would not raise alarm, which in itself could be a failing. I know it is a concealed weapon, but chance dictates that someone will have it not entirely "concealed" at some point. Guns can be a useful tool for hunting, or for self defense, but only to a point. Keep them off campus, shootings are not an every day occurrence, and I can only see the risk increasing with this law.

Matt - 04/11/08 7:30pm

I'm afraid you're wrong, Andrew. Read the section "Guns pose questions in state" and you can see where my concern comes from. While I know this article is focused mostly on the process of obtaining a concealed weapons license, that one part I just mentioned should not go ignored.

dave - 04/11/08 11:13pm

I am absolutly in favor of carrying concealed on campus, and those who oppose it are entitled to their opinion. In my mind IT IS BETTER TO HAVE A GUN AND NOT NEED IT THAN TO NEED A GUN AND NOT HAVE IT. Think about it people.

Jen - 04/12/08 3:11am

Excellent article, Hailey. I admire your investigative spirit :-)

Emily - 04/12/08 10:06am

i have never owned or fired a gun, but if someone was to walk into my class and start killing people, i would want someone to be able to protect us. the type of person that would threaten others is probably not the type of person that would wait around to get their concealed weapons license, so i don't understand why people who want to be able to protect themselves and others should be stopped from doing so.

Matt H. - 04/12/08 12:04pm

I wish people would take a bit more of a realistic view on this issue. Those who would literally be scared if hand guns were allowed on campus really need to slow down in their reasoning and not rush to a conclusion. Why would you be scared of law-abiding citizens who are only interested in protecting themselves? Are you also frightened by every police officer you've ever seen? They have justifiable reasons for carrying guns too. What, or who, you should be scared of is the people who carry guns whilst having ill intent, not just paranoia of guns in general. On that note, plenty of people already carry guns on campus, but you'd never know because they keep them concealed...and they don't go around shooting people. Aside from maybe some hippies transferring, nothing about life as an OU student would really change if we were allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus. It seems as if some people think that the South Oval will suddenly turn into the OK Corral or something. But considering that a crazed gunman planning to go on a rampage himself wouldn't be affected by any new laws, neither would the people who already, technically illegally, carry concealed weapons to protect themselves, so I don't see a huge need for new legislation. It seems to me that anyone who actually believes carrying a gun will make them safer would do so regardless of the law. If I put myself in that person's mind, and weigh the risk of getting arrested/expelled for carrying a gun against getting shot and killed because I didn't have a way to protect myself, I think it's a no-brainer. Kudos to Michael for pointing out all those errors. There are some pretty big ones that are factually and grammatically incorrect which completely change the message that is being sent.

Will - 04/12/08 1:35pm

You can oppose the idea of concealed carry on campus all you want, but until you can offer a solid solution that has an equally timely impact, your argument is null. Your counseling, campus safety committees, and violence prevention programs aren't going to matter to some crazed student who wants to open fire in his classroom. At least with concealed carry, someone in the classroom may be carrying and step up to the shooter.

Brett - 04/12/08 4:41pm

I understand this article was mainly written about the process of obtaining a concealed handgun license, but it raises some very serious questions. I honestly do not understand the rationale that stopping law abiding, honest citizens from carrying handguns on campus makes everyone safer. Somehow people have started to believe that the government and police are supposed to protect them at all times, and that the citizens should all be submissive and cooperative at all times to minimize danger. Where have the ideals of self preservation and self defense gone? In almost all of the campus shootings, these cowardly killers have committed suicide before the authorities could effectively intervene. It is futile to expect campus/local police departments to be everywhere at all times. This is where a concealed weapons license is beneficial. Also, where does the logic come from that banning weapons on campus is going to stop a campus murderer like the ones all over the news? I’m pretty sure handguns were outlawed in these cases, and these laws did nothing to stop the killers. I have been on the OU campus for over 6 years (I have my B.S. and am working on the M.S.), and I hope and pray every day that something like VT or Northern Illinois doesn’t happen here. I pray because that’s about all that I would have left since I can’t carry a weapon on campus.

Anonymous - 04/13/08 2:25am

I gotta say though, why not just you know...ban guns entirely. You could say, "then only the bad guys have them", but these campus gun killers are not really "bad guys", they're people who kinda lost it, either allready had a gun, or went and got one, not the kind of people that will go and get one from an arms dealer or something.

Will - 04/14/08 12:47am

I'm a firm believer that the 2nd amendment guarantees the individual right to own firearms. Constitutional rights are not negotiable. If you ban all guns, then you may as well ban free speech, allow soldiers to be stationed in private homes during peacetime, and allow warrantless searches of individuals. Criminals can commit crimes with bats, knives, crossbows, or cars -- taking away a medium by which crime occurs doesn't actually fix the crime.

one-non-blonde - 04/15/08 11:11am

Bad gius don't go through legal channles so banning guns will only take away the second amendment right of the legal citizens....So that would mean that only the scums would have guns and what would the rest of the upstanding people do? Throw yo-yos at them?? Get a grip. Anonymous - 04/13/08 2:25am I gotta say though, why not just you know...ban guns entirely. You could say, "then only the bad guys have them", but these campus gun killers are not really "bad guys", they're people who kinda lost it, either allready had a gun, or went and got one, not the kind of people that will go and get one from an arms dealer or something.


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