National Rifle Association instructor Kathleen Kuck believes guns are not responsible for deaths, people are.
Kuck and her husband are dedicated to educating members of the community about Tucson’s gun laws and firearm safety. Through their business, JnC Defensive Strategies, LLC, they began co-teaching last year and now offer a variety of classes. The couple offers instruction about concealed weapons, home firearm safety, basic pistols, personal protection in and out of the home and “girls on guard,” a self-defense course.
Although Arizona Senate Bill 1467, which would have allowed guns on public rights of way of Arizona campuses, was vetoed by Gov. Jan Brewer, Arizona has passed a number of gun laws over the past few years and gun owners need to be aware of all laws governing gun use.
“We really applauded Brewer for standing up for sensible gun laws and listening to Arizonans,” said Caitlin Brady, Arizona field organizer for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “There is a big effort by the state to liberalize gun laws in terms of expanding gun rights.”
“We worked hard to make sure the legislature and government knew Arizona did not want this bill to pass,” she said. Brady points out the NRA pushes for gun rights to prevent “the next school shooting.”
However, the Brady Campaign believes the absence of guns will decrease the possibilities of violence.
Kuck believes the worst-case scenario would be for an individual to purchase a gun and not have any experience of how to shoot it or take care of it.
Kuck and her husband have taught classes at the Southeast Regional Park Shooting Range for Pima County Parks and Recreation, Picture Rocks Community Center, Green Valley Recreation’s Continental Vistas center and other locations around town.
“Our program is still voluntary,” Kuck said. “I don’t think the state should have to mandate, it should be someone’s choice. I personally feel that for me to carry, myself, I want the training. I need to know how to use that to save my life if I need it someday.”
People who successfully complete any NRA course are allowed a concealed weapons permit. Andrew Westrick, a senior studying political science at the University of Arizona, owns a nine-millimeter handgun. He said he comes from a family where everyone is comfortable around guns.
“It’s a dangerous world we live in, especially in Tucson. There is a lot of crime here and I’m going into law enforcement, so I have to be comfortable with weapons,” Westrick said.
Before buying the handgun he said he did a lot of research. Not only did he research the different brands and calibers to decide which was appropriate for him, he also educated himself on current gun laws.
Westrick said it is easy to purchase a gun. He went to Sportsman’s Warehouse, filled out some paperwork and answered a questionnaire about mental illness. The store called the FBI to complete a background check, which took about 10 minutes.
Gordon Winkelman, instructor for Tactical-Advantage.Org, LLC, teaches NRA classes. The concealed carry class is his most popular, he said. The majority of class participants are middle aged or older.
“Most criminals are younger and as people get older, they have physical problems and they get preyed upon,” Winkelman said. “The mere presence of a firearm stops a crime.”
His classes have been taught for 10 years and throughout the county for the last six. Recently, there has been an increase in attendance in the last two months because more people are interested in owning a gun.
“We’re trying to make people in the Tucson area safer and understand firearms,” Winkelman said.
Gun Laws:
• A person must be at least 18 years old to legally purchase a rifle in Arizona and 21 years old for handguns.
• Requirements include: - taking a training class or hunter education class - submitting a fingerprint card - paying a fee of $60
• A person does not need a permit to openly carry a firearm in a belt holster or gun case
