Marketplace
![[SeMissourian.com]](http://www.semissourian.com/images/nameplate.gif)
|
|
Fair ~ River stage: 26.02 Rising Monday, July 6, 2009 |
RSS
 Print
 Email link
 Respond to editor
 Read comments (16)
 Share link
Losing a fear of firearmsSunday, July 1, 2007
Stoverink said she had only shot a gun one time before Saturday, the day she took a concealed-carry course taught by her son-in-law, Christopher Moore of Jackson. Moore owns and operates Point Blank, a firearm training facility in rural Jackson that offers courses ranging from the beginner conceal-carry course Stoverink took to tactical training and wilderness survival. Point Blank also does private investigations and provides bodyguard services. Moore, a former Marine, has an array of firearms and law enforcement certifications, including sniper and SWAT training. He also has held the Southeast Missouri State University accuracy record for police firearm training since 2001. The eight-hour conceal-carry course consists of classroom and range training. Moore said he wishes the state required more hours, because it is hard to give out all the necessary information in the given time frame. During the classroom portion, students receive an introduction to Missouri laws on carrying concealed weapons and use of deadly force, instruction on firearms safety and cleaning, and an explanation of the three best areas to shoot to disable an attacker. "Our training programs are geared around your survival in a deadly situation," Moore told Stoverink and the rest of the class. "It's more than just strapping on a gun. We will prepare you to protect your life by taking someone else's, and that's a huge responsibility." Stoverink said she was interested by the classroom training and the moral issues raised. "We got into some really interesting discussion about when deadly force is allowed," she said. "It's only when a person's life is threatened, but sometimes it's hard to make that decision in a split second. That's why it's good to discuss it before you're in that really stressful situation." After viewing a computer-generated 3-D model of a semiautomatic handgun's operation, the class headed to the range for the live-fire portion of the training.
Moore told the group about a Department of Justice report that most attackers were 12 feet or less away from victims in fatal shootings. "There's no room for error in an engagement that close," Moore said. Stoverink said although she has been blessed not to be in a situation where she felt her life was threatened, now she has the skills to defend herself if need be. She said she fired around 100 rounds during the live-fire portion of the training and was well within state guidelines for a conceal-carry permit.
Moore said Stoverink did well for her first time firing. "Her safety was good, her marksmanship was good, she just did a great job all around," Moore said. "I want people to leave my courses with a good safety level with firearms. I want them to have the confidence to defend themselves, if need be." Stoverink said her instinct before the training would have been to retreat in a dangerous situation, but now, under the right circumstances, she said she thinks she could use what she learned to protect herself or her family. "I have a new respect for firearms," Stoverink said. "Knowledge is much better than fear."
Comments  Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please Login or Create an account first, and then you will be able to flag a comment as objectionable. Please also note that those who post comments on semissourian.com may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
|
|
del.icio.us
Digg
StumbleUpon
Technorati
Newsvine
Facebook
Furl
Reddit
Google
Thank you for this fair gun article. I think all law abiding people should get certified to carry whether you intend to own a gun or not. Someday you might change your mind about needing one. All young people should be taught gun safety in school rather than the knee-jerk guns are bad stuff. Sure there are some who should not have a gun, but that doesn't mean the rest of us shouldn't. Guns are for protection from criminals and they keep the government more in check.
The first thing that totalitarian governments do when they declare martial law is to seize the guns of the people. Then the people are helpless and they never get their guns back. Don't think gun confiscation could never happen here because it has already. Check out the videos about gun confiscation after Katrina. The police even subdued an elderly woman who was using her gun to protect her property that was not even damaged by the storm. We have a constitutional right to legally bear arms and that right does not go away after a hurricane or any other catastrophic event. That is when guns are needed most. the police can not protect everyone in a crisis.
Just remeber this: Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot were for gun control. The people of their countries never dreamed of the horrors that followed. Thanks again for the positive article.
I would also like to thank the Southeast Missourian for the article that they have written in regards to Chris Moore and his courses. Both my wife and I have taken his course. Chris is a very in depth teacher and will take the time to explain to you the answers to your questions. He breaks things down to a level that anyone whether they have ever shot a gun before can understand. I would encourage anyone with a firearm to take one of his courses if nothing else but to learn more about firearm safety as well as when you can use your weapon. In speaking with many gun owners their is sometimes a misconception on when to use deadly force that may in fact have unintended consequences should they use their firearm. Again thank you for puting this gun freindly article on your front page.
Recently, I took the concealed/carry firearms training Chris taught at Point Blank. I highly recommend Chris to anyone interested in any type of weapons training. He is an excellent teacher!
~Rae
Chris Moore is a professional trainer and does an OUTSTANDING job conducting his courses. I have taken beginning to advanced courses at at least 3 other professional facilities and Point Blank beats them all for course content and presentation. More people in this area should be aware of the professional level of instruction available right here in our back yard. It is equally good for general knowledge of gun safety or for advanced techniques on perfecting the shooting sports. Keep up the good work Chris!
My son and I recently took both the concealed carry and advanced handgun course from Point Blank Training. We were totally impressed with how professional and organized both courses were. We not only learned about proper shooting techniques, but more importantly how to be SAFE with a firearm. The curriculum and the instructor (Christopher Moore) are absolutely first class. We highly recommend Point Blank to anyone.
I was in the SEMO law enforcement academy with Chris and have trained with him on many occassions and can honestly say that he is first class instructor. I advise everyone to attend training at Point Blank and take full advantage of their facilities and instructors.
My wife and I both attended the concealed carry course offered at Pointblank Training and we were both very impressed by the how well the course was conducted. The course was conducted in a very safe and professional manner where open discussion was encouraged on the topics. Chris has received extensive amounts of training over the years which he openly displays for all to see. He is a fun and knowledgeable instructor who makes the class very enjoyable. I would highly recomend that if anyone is considering taking a weapons class of any type that they consider Pointblank Training.
It is very nice to see a straight forward, unbiased, well-written article about handguns in a newspaper, especially when it is about such a fine training facility. I have taken several courses at Point Blank and intend to take several more. I enjoy the combined mental and physical challenges of shooting and Christopher and his staff very much nurture those aspects while still reminding everyone of the serious responsibility of owning and handling a weapon. I highly recommend Point Blank.
Very fair article from the SE Missourian. It's rare to see anything positive about gun's, concealed carry, training or anything on the subjects that is actually positive in the papers.
I am a Point Blank Junky! I in fact, just finished a class out at Point Blank on Sunday that was again a great class where i read this article.
Christopher, as the others above have said is an excellent instructor who not only understands his profession but understands how to teach a person of any skill level, from the extreme beginner to the most advanced student.
Gun's are for protection of yourself and your familiy. Do not wait until it is too late and you have become a vitim (another statistic) of a crime before you learn how to use a gun effectivly for self protection.
Point Blank will train and ingrain in you everything you need to know to effectivly protect yourself and survive a criminal encounter. The only thing you need to do is show up, make a commitment to train and refuse to be a victim.
For more information about Point Blank I encourage you to visit Christophers webite at www.pointblanktraining.net
I drive from 2 1/2 hours away to come down and train with Christopher, he is not only my trainer/instructor but has become a good friend. You locals are very lucky to have this training and facility right in your back yard.
Point Blank is a top notch training facility. Chris and the staff are good.
45 Carry
I have personally attended training and taken many courses at Point Blank, and I can tell you that training of this "caliber" is unmatched. Christopher Moore's classes are in depth and easy to understand. You cannot and will not find weapons and combat training this good and this professional, even in St Louis or Kansas City. In my opinion, Point Blank is truly the BEST for both civilian and law enforcement training this area has to offer.
My wife & I took concealed carry and advanced handgun classes with Chris. He is a terrific instructor and will help to improve your skills regardless of your training level. I look forward to taking more of his classes in the future.
I took the Concealed Carry and Advanced Handgun classes from PointBlank Training and really learned a lot. Chris and the other instructors were very professional and heavily emphasized safety first and foremost. I have already registered to take a Low Light Tactical class and would like to take the Advanced Handgun class again. There was so much information to absorb, one day was not long enough! I highly recommend PointBlank Training for any level of handgun training.
I have participated in multiple military and civilian weapons courses over the last few years and have found that the training I recived at Point Blank to be very effective and practical. The instructors are exstreamly knowledgeable and helpful in all aspects of the training process.
Before taking the Concealed Carry Course with Chris at Point Blank Training, I was afraid of handguns. My husband talked me into taking the course and every since then I feel more empowered than I ever have. Chris taught me so much, that I now feel that if I need to protect myself, I have enough training and knowledge to know when and how to use my handgun. Since the CCW Course, I have also taken his Advanced Handgun and LowLight Firing Courses. I promise that once you take his courses, you will feel safer and more empowered to protect yourself in a time of need. Chris is the greatest instructor for these courses and very well qualified. I wouldn't trust anyone else to train me!
I have gained a great deal of useful knowledge and what i feel to be important information from the classes i've took from Chris and his other great instructors. I belive anyone can take the information they can instruct and use it in the most useful of ways. They offer classes for the "Gun shy" to the experts. I encurage all to at least......Give It a Shot!