Helena resident Billie Bridges hesitantly drove down the unpaved road to the shooting range at Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area. She was on her way to an introduction to handguns class offered by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR).
“I’m a bit frazzled,” she confessed as she sat down with the other students. “I’ve never been here before, and I’ve never shot a handgun.”
Firearms instructor Sgt. Scott Kellenberger quickly reassured her, “You’re in good company. The other people here are new to this as well.”
Kellenberger, who serves as regional coordinator for the Alabama Wildlife & Fisheries Division Enforcement Section Hunter Education Unit, led the group through the essentials of safe handling and storage of firearms. He gave each participant a flyer illustrating the parts of a semi-auto pistol and revolver, proper grip and stance, site alignment, safety rules and equipment, range etiquette, and other firearm safety basics.
He explained how to practice homework drills for stance and pistol grip as well as dry firing to keep sharp the hands-on skills they were about to learn.
“It’s good to go to the range when you can, but it’s also extremely important to practice your skills at home,” Kellenberger said.
Several of those who attended, including Tammy Davis of Centreville, had taken the ADCNR handgun class before.
“I learned so much the first time that I wanted to come back and learn even more,” she said. “Plus, I appreciate how the firearm instructors work with you one on one. You really need that as a beginner to help form good habits.”
After Kellenberger’s introduction, the students stepped over to the range’s concrete benches, which were each equipped with both a .22 cal revolver and semi-auto pistol. Instructors worked with participants on the basics of safe operation with unloaded firearms. Then students had the opportunity to shoot at paper and steel targets as instructors observed and gave feedback. Jack Chen, a fan of computer games who works in the IT industry in Birmingham, said he had never shot a handgun before.
“I appreciate the opportunity to learn to safely operate a firearm,” he said. “I’ve been looking to do more outdoors, and shooting targets is a lot of fun.”
University of Mobile student Travis McKenzie, a Bibb County native, was in the area on spring break. Although he is in ROTC and planning on going into the Army after college, he too had never shot a handgun.
“I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to get some hands-on instruction,” McKenzie said.
But the classes are not just for the total beginner, Kellenberger said. Handgun owners who are concerned about their skills are more than welcome
to take the class.
“We are here to help cultivate safe gun use,” he said.
Kellenberger and his team have been conducting the free, four-hour introduction to handgun classes on select Saturdays at a limited number of WMAs since last March. Now the popular program is expanding to additional WMAs, and new dates are being added. The classes are open to members of the public 16 years old and older who have or purchase a wildlife heritage or hunting license. The purchase of those licenses help support conservation efforts throughout the state.
ADCNR provides ear and eye protection as well as the use of ammunition and firearms to class participants. Students also may bring their own pistols for additional instruction.
For more information and to register, visit the Outdoor Alabama website page here.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.