LPSO to offer concealed handgun class Saturday

If you are looking to take your firearm ownership to the next level, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will teach a concealed handgun class from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the National Guard Armory at 751 Goode St. in Thibodaux.

“It’s really hard to pinpoint what brings people to the class and what causes the number of students to fluctuate,” said concealed weapons instructor Sgt. David Robichaux. “After Christmas, people come in because they received guns as presents. After income tax season, people use the extra money to buy a firearm and come in to take the class.”

Robichaux has been teaching the concealed weapons class for five years and has been working at department’s gun range for eight years. Before manning the range, he worked patrol for LPSO.

“The number one question I get from students is ‘How do you feel about the number of people getting their concealed weapons permits?” Robichaux said. “I feel good. They have been checked out and they are not criminals. Criminals probably aren’t going to take the class and felons don’t get permits. Those who come to the class come to get educated and get their permit. They are going about things the legal way. I like the program.”

The sheriff’s office normally conducts the classes four to six times a year, but starting with the Aug. 1l class, the department will host a class each month.

“We conduct these classes every three months as a public service,” said LPSO Public Information Officer Brennan Matherne. “Citizens wishing to obtain his or her concealed weapons license must first pass a concealed weapons course.”

According to Robichaux, yearly numbers of students have been on the increase but class sizes fluctuate throughout the year.

“We had 54 at our first class this year and 10 at our last class,” Robichaux said. “Having one class each month will be great because it is better to work with smaller groups.”

At 1 p.m., the class will continue at the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Training Range on Highway 182 in Raceland. “We are able to offer people the option to take the class locally because we have the venue for the class – the gun range and the training facility,” Matherne said.

According to Louisiana State Police Lt. Doug Cain, more than 1,500 Tri-parish residents currently have concealed weapons permits – 703 in Terrebonne, 555 in Lafourche and 291 in St. Mary. “Legislation requiring residents to have a concealed weapons permit was passed in 1996,” he said.

In the classroom, the course will cover handgun nomenclature, safe handling of revolvers and semi-automatic weapons, ammunition knowledge, the fundamentals of pistol shooting, handgun shooting positions, child access prevention and handgun cleaning procedures.

“The most important aspect of the class is to teach gun safety,” Matherne said. “One most important things about gun safety is how you grip the gun when you are firing it.”

The course will also review the use of deadly force and conflict resolution and laws relating to the two subjects. Louisiana revised statutes 14:18 to 14:21 explain deadly force and conflict resolution by explaining justifiable homicides, the use of force or violence in defense and instances in which an aggressor cannot claim self defense.

“Permit holders want to have protection for themselves and their homes, but they do not want to get in trouble or violate any laws by owning a gun,” Robichaux said. “They want to know what is legal and not legal to do with the permit. We tell them. We break down the gun laws and explain them. We talk to people about the wrong and right reasons to own a gun.”

While at the shooting range, students will be required to fire 12 rounds at six feet, 10 feet, and 15 feet and must perform safe reloads at each distance. To pass the course, students must score 100 percent hits within the silhouette of a National Rifle Association B-27 type silhouette target with at least 36 rounds.

When it comes to those who take the class, Matherne said that there are a few more male than female participants.

“People want to protect themselves and there are events that happen every day that can effect someone’s decision to get his or her concealed weapons permit,” he said. “Luckily, we live in a parish that does not have much violent crime, but the idea of protecting one’s family is always at the forefront of many people’s minds. It’s not always about crime. The reasons can sometimes be different for each student. In Louisiana, you have this option – to carry a licensed concealed weapon – under law.”

Robichaux also said that students in the 45 to 65-age range account for a majority of those taking the class.

“They are taking the class for security,” Robichaux said. “Some may not even get the permit but they take the class to learn about gun handling and gun laws.”

The course is $110 per student, and registration is required. Those who wish to apply for a concealed weapon handgun permit from the state of Louisiana must pass this course to obtain a license.

To register, contact Robichaux at (985) 449-4480 or david-robichaux@lpso.net.

If students have a disability or injury that prevents them from climbing stairs, contact Robichaux 72 hours in advance so that accommodations can be made.