CENTENNIAL, Colo. – Centennial Gun Club (CGC) is offering free concealed carry classes to teachers, believing that well-trained teachers should be able to bring concealed weapons onto school campuses. The free class is a $125 value, with additional range time to qualify for the concealed carry permit.
The CALL7 Investigators met with CGC managers to find out if the offer is a marketing gimmick or a community service. CALL7 investigator Theresa Marchetta found the gun club is serious about getting guns into traditionally gun-free zones.
“People are a little crazy. They choose gun free zones. We want to be sure our children, our future , have the opportunity to be protected,” said CGC Operations Manager Paul Stanley.
He said while there are a few teachers already signed up, others are leery and have told him they worry taking the class might somehow hinder their careers in education.
“While I am a teacher, those kids, those students in my class are my kids, and my first responsibility is to protect them at all costs,” said Tara, a teacher by trade. She’s concerned her stance on guns in schools could impact her future job prospects, and asked us not to use her last name.
Tara grew up around guns and enjoys shooting on the range. “When all the school shootings happened I realized that I wanted it more for my own personal protection and I thought that that idea of being prepared to protect translates very well to the classroom for teachers.”
“It’s horrific what’s going on out there,” said Stanley, “we want to make sure teachers at least have an opportunity to become familiarized, face some fears and become comfortable with handguns.”
CALL7 talked with several Front Range school districts, including Jeffco, Denver, Cherry Creek and Aurora. All said essentially the same thing: there’s no issue as long as teachers get the training on their own time and don’t bring a gun onto campus.
Watch the story here.
