(SUMMERDALE, Ala.) - This is one of a few cities that not only promotes gun safety and ownership but has its own public firing range.
Lately demand is pretty high. "If you've got a weapon and you have never shot it, get training somewhere because it's totally useless if you don't," said Police Chief Eddie Ingram.The city of Summerdale and its police chief take gun training seriously. So far, Ingram and his officers have trained more than 4,000 regular folks and expect to train more than 200 this year alone. "He taught us you know basics about the gun and taught us how to use it and then we came out here and it's hands on, " said Natalie Wilson, who has taken the class three times.
Ingram says he pairs the gun owner with the right weapon based on height, weight and skill level. Some as young as nine years old. "You take that curiosity away from that child when they are young and you teach them respect for those fire arms and then you don't have to worry about it as they grow in life," said Ingram. The department offers classes for businesses, families and individuals. "I took the class personally because there's a lot of firearms in my house and I want to be able to know how to use them if someone was to break in to my home anything like that I want to be able to use the weapon, " said Wilson.
With the possibility of changes in gun legislation coming out of Washington, the Summerdale Police Department has been flooded with calls inquiring about the classes more than 80 this week alone. "If we don't train people with these guns out here you know. If it was up to me everybody would own a gun and know how to use it, " said Ingram.
Classes fill up quick. This Saturday's is full. There's another one scheduled for February 9th. The cost is $20.00 per person. The money pays for the upkeep of the firing range.
