Conceal/carry permit classes grow in Dexter area

DEXTER, Mo. -- ISIS, civil unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, and all manner of things in the news could be motivating people to obtain their conceal/carry permits in Missouri. At least, that is the theory of one area instructor.

Eric Hutchison is a retired law enforcement officer and holds a federal firearms license. Hutchison teaches conceal/carry classes and says he is seeing an uptick in the number of people enrolling in his class.

"I'm not exactly sure why the reason is," Hutchison remarked. "It could be because of what people are seeing in the news. I just really don't know."

Hutchison explained that his average class size had been roughly eight people at the most; but he recently taught a class with 13 people in it.

"It all boils down to making sure you and your family are protected at all times," Hutchison said. "And, when used correctly, a gun is no different than a smoke detector or a fire extinguisher."

Hutchison has 21 years of law enforcement experience and has been instructing firearms safety for 10 years.

"I would say the biggest area of questions I get, where people misunderstand the law, is when and when not to use lethal force," Hutchison explained. "I use the shark tank analogy. If your child falls into a shark tank, you're going to jump in and save them. If you drop an expensive watch in there, though, you won't jump in."

Hutchison said he believes that, while Missouri is an open-carry state, some people feel alarmed when they see a firearm out in the open.

"It's like when you go to a restaurant and you see a sign that says 'no firearms,'" Hutchison said. "People aren't comfortable when they see one. But, if it's concealed, how will they know?"

Among the things he teaches in his class is where to sit in a restaurant.

"I teach people to sit with their back against the wall and facing the cash register," Hutchison said. "But just because someone might be robbing the place does not give you the right to use a gun."

Hutchison said he isn't sure why the gun-crime rate has gone up in states with conceal/carry laws.

"The bottom line is that a criminal is going to have a gun if they want one," Hutchison said. "It's the law-abiding citizens that are at risk."

Recent statistics show that, since Missouri repealed a law requiring background checks to be performed on someone who purchases a handgun, gun homicides have increased as much as 25 percent.

"I would say one reason that gun crimes have gone up is just because more people are carrying and have more access to guns," Hutchison said. "That's why I teach so much about responsible gun ownership."

Hutchison said he is a strong advocate of gun safes and gun locks -- especially in homes with children.

Hutchison also sells firearms and said that, since he has a federal firearms license, he is required to perform background checks on someone who wants to purchase one. In Missouri, a gun dealer who doesn't have a federal license is not required to perform a background check.

"I have a problem with dealers being able to sell anything they want to someone at a gun show without a background check," Hutchison said. "There's no way of knowing who a person is if they just come up and say they want to purchase what you have. I think the background checks should be mandatory."

Hutchison said another law that doesn't make sense to him is dropping the age limit for a conceal/carry permit in Missouri.

"They lowered it from 21 to 19," Hutchison remarked. "But you can't purchase a handgun in Missouri unless you're 21."

Hutchison said he believes that a typical 19 year-old may not necessarily have the maturity or appropriate attitude to be in possession of a handgun.

"I always stress accountability and responsibility," Hutchison said. "And I'm all for non-lethals like Tasers and pepper spray. I talk about them in class, also.

I can't say exactly why more people want to get their permit; but everyone wants to ensure their safety and the safety of their family."

Pertinent address:

Dexter, Mo.