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Butte gun training instructor says demand for concealed weapons permit training has doubled

Posted: Feb 14, 2013 9:25 PM by Katy Harris KXLF News
Updated: Feb 14, 2013 9:38 PM

BUTTE-A Butte gun training instructor says the demand for gun training certification towards a concealed weapons permit has doubled in recent months.

Mike Wallace teaches gun safety in group and individual classes.
He says the amount of people asking for gun safety certification has doubled.
This started to really take off when the federal government's proposed legislation of gun control.

"I don't know if they're scared because it may not be around some day and they want Grandfathered in or they just want it for protection," says Wallace.

He adds that there is one demographic that has really decided it's time to carry a concealed weapon.

About half the people that are asking for the concealed weapons permit training course are women.

"A lot of times they're the only ones out there and nowadays because of the economy and so forth, more women are working outside of the home and they have to travel and they're getting into situations where they may need it at some point," says Wallace.

Right now the gun market is scarce because of the proposed legislation on gun control.

All Star Collectibles Owner Scott Lang says, "Ammunition, magazines, firearms-everything's really hard to get."

If you're new to the gun world and are thinking about carrying concealed, you may want to listen to a few words of wisdom from Lang.

"I wouldn't recommend just buying the first thing you get just because it's there and it's available. Make sure it's something that you want. Make sure it's not something that's too large of a caliber for you, that its something that you're able to control when you shoot it and practice with it."

Conceald weapon permit applications are available at the Butte Silver Bow Law Enforcement building.
Currently they take about 5 to 7 weeks to be issued if there are no hold ups.

Lang says AR-15's themselves, parts and magazines have been some of the hardest items to keep in stock at his store.