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kwch.com

Are all the new gun owners properly trained?

by Jim Grawe

KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

10:05 PM CST, January 23, 2013

(GODDARD, Kan.)

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A lot of Kansans have been buying guns, including Tiffany North of Goddard who recently got her first pistol.

"I like having it in the house, so I know I'm safe if I need it for any reason to protect my family," North says.

In North's case, she grew up around guns and learned gun safety at a young age.

"I think it's very important that everybody have a basic knowledge about how to handle a gun and how to be safe with it," North says.

Before attending police academy, new patrol officer Eduardo Banda had limited experience with guns.  He carries one every day now, but not before a lot of training.

"Safety was the number one thing at the academy they taught us," Banda says.

Now, as gun sales continue to surge Sargent Don McElroy believes a lot of Kansans are buying guns without really knowing how to safely handle them.

"You know there's a lot of people who have never handled weapons, who are not proficient with weapons that are buying guns," McElroy says.

McElroy teaches a concealed carry class.

"I see people in my classes all the time who are unsafe with guns," McElroy says.  "I don't believe guns are dangerous at all.  I believe people are dangerous.  People with guns with ill-intent are dangerous.  People who don't understand the mechanics of how a weapon functions can be dangerous also."

Many local gun shops offer gun safety classes.