Texas Shooting Range Offers Free Gun Classes For LGBT People In Wake Of Orlando

"These are people who beforehand thought that they couldn't find themselves walking into a gun store."
From: NewNowNext

 The owner of a Houston shooting range that offered free gun classes to the LGBT community in the wake of the Orlando shooting this month says the turnout was higher than expected, and the unprecedented amount of signups set a new record for his business.

“They’re not necessarily what we’ve been told and we’re not necessarily what they’ve been told,” Jeff Sanford, owner of the Shiloh Shooting Range, told KPRC.

According to Sanford, 60 of the 62 people who signed up for the first free class showed up, and over 300 more called in response to the offer.

“Everybody has been so excited about being able to come out and do this. And it’s been a great learning experience for not only my community but for their community as well,” Sanford said. “They’re learning about their rights and learning about the License to Carry Class and they’re absolutely thrilled to take it.”

“These are people who beforehand thought that they couldn’t find themselves walking into a gun store,” he added in an interview with Red State. “This is 3.8% of the population that we need to welcome as supporters of the 2nd Amendment.”

As KPRC reporter Ryan Korsgard observed: “Two communities introduced following a tragedy. Two worlds with a better understanding.”

Jared Anthony, a Houston realtor who was one of the first to sign up for the free class, said the Shiloh Shooting Range “should be supported for what they provide to our community.”

“We learned gun safety,” he said of his experience taking the class. “We learned that it’s not … it’s a big responsibility. If you do carry, it’s something that you do need to take seriously. You are providing … you’re providing a service to the community really.”