By Eric Stock
CLINTON – A Central Illinois group that teaches how to use a gun is shifting its focus because there are so many others teaching gun safety since concealed carry became law in Illinois.
Champaign-based Guns Save Life is hosting a two-day personal protection training for teens next weekend in Clinton.
“There’s a lot of people out there that very much have an interest in teaching their kids how to be safer out in public, especially when they are in college or they are away at school,” Executive Director John Boch said. “This is something that’s just not available – as far as we can tell – offered by anyone else.”
Director John Boch said while the training does include the judicious use of deadly force and defensive shooting tactics, the training covers how to handle bullies and how to defend yourself with our bare hands if you are attacked.
“There is a firearms component that may make some people a little squeamish, but probably seven to eight of the nine hours of this class are going to be non firearms-related information for the young people so they don’t find themselves in a bad situation,” Boch said. “If they do, they understand what the laws are in relation to using force and self defense.”
Boch added part of the training will be to always be aware in public.
“Don’t be walking around oblivious to what’s going on, texting on your phone when you should be paying attention to what’s going on around you,” Boch said. “That electronic device text fixation is a terrible thing and it’s one of the things the bad guys use to select their victims.”
The defense training will be held at the DeWitt Sportsmen’s Club in Clinton July 16-17 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuition for the class is $100.
The number of weapons instructors has surpassed 3,300 since the Illinois passed a concealed carry law in 2013.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
