MINERSVILLE - Diane Schilling, 60, of Ashland, said she feels more comfortable handling a firearm after taking a gun safety course Saturday led by the Minersville Police Department.
Schilling and her husband, Fred Schilling, were among the 20 people who took the first gun safety course by the police department.
It included about a 90-minute presentation by police Chief Michael Combs and about 45 minutes at the Minersville police firing range in the borough.
The classroom portion of the course was held at Goodwill Fire Company No. 1, during which Combs discussed the proper handling of a firearm, storage, cleaning and laws about gun usage.
"Treat every firearm as if it were loaded even though you know it's empty," Combs said.
When purchasing a firearm, consideration should be made for the size of your hand, how you intend to carry the weapon and how often you might use it, Combs said.
Minersville police Patrolman Jeff Bowers, firearms instructor, said the registration for the event was filled the same day the story appeared in The Republican-Herald on June 28.
There is a waiting list with 15 people on it, Combs said. The course costs $25, and registrants were required to bring their own guns, ammunition, ear plugs and eye protection.
At the range, participants shot from 25, 15, 10, 7 and 3 yards away. A total of 10 rounds were fired each time.
"Take your time," Bowers said to participants.
With smaller guns, the accuracy will be diminished with the increased distance because the barrel is shorter, Bowers said.
After Schilling was finished her rounds, she retrieved her target.
"This is only the second time I shot this pistol," she told Bowers about the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380.
"You're definitely going to stop somebody," Bowers said, looking at the holes in her target.
Fred Schilling said he would aim lower if an individual was threatening them, hence a lot of holes in the white part of the target.
"I hope I never have to use it, but I want to use it safely," Diane Schilling said.
Kristen Spotts, 32, of Schuylkill Haven, used a 9 mm Beretta on the firing range. She also found the course and gun safety training educational.
"I think anyone that carries a gun should be at a safety course," she said.
Jean Angelo, 62, of Minersville, used a Taurus .22 revolver at the range.
Saturday was her first time shooting a handgun, though she said she had used shotguns before.
The last time she fired a gun was "more than 40 years" ago, she said.
About 13 holes were in the center of her target, which Bowers said was excellent.
Combs said the department will do another safety course in the future but a date has not yet been determined.