Obama protects 2nd Amendment, BCCC offering handgun training | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Though fears of big-government oppression abound, it is now easier than ever for American citizens to purchase and carry firearms. Following President Barack Obama’s inauguration in January 2010, there was widespread apprehension that he would support strict gun control measures. Certain firearm shops in Beaufort and Pitt counties reported ammunition shortages and sell-outs lasting for months into his presidency.

    As has time progressed, however, Obama has remained silent on gun control. Interestingly, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that violent crime dropped in the first half of 2009 to its lowest levels since the 1960s. Since Washington, D.C.’s attempted handgun ban was successfully challenged at the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2008, gun ownership rights have continually increased on the local, state and federal levels. It seems that the Supreme Court’s historic ruling has prevented the growth of any gun-control momentum within the Obama administration, in that, for the first time ever, the Supreme Court declared that individual gun rights go beyond “a well regulated militia,” as the Second Amendment to the Constitution states.

    Most handgun owners across the country were able to rest easy following the setting of such weighty precedent by the High Court; but several municipalities still ignored the ruling, confident that their actions would be championed by their President, who made this statement on the eve of the Democratic primary debate in Philadelphia:

    “As a general principle, I believe that the Constitution confers an individual right to bear arms. But just because you have an individual right does not mean that the state or local government can’t constrain the exercise of that right,” said Obama.

    But in June 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, again, in favor of gun ownership rights, declaring that the right to gun ownership applies nationwide. With this, the uncooperative local governments, such as Chicago (the defendant in the case), were forced to rewrite their laws.

    In fact, gun rights advocates have been having a field day since Obama took office. The Virginia General Assembly, in Feb. 2010, made it legal to carry a gun in Virginia establishments that serve alcohol. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, in Apr. 2010, made it legal to carry a concealed weapon without a permit in Arizona. The Indiana legislature, in Jan. 2010, passed bills to prevent businesses from disallowing employees the right to keep weapons in their cars on company property. Obama, himself, in 2009, signed bills into law allowing guns to be carried in national parks and in luggage on Amtrack trains. He also hasn't raised the issue of reactivating the assault weapons ban, signed by President Bill Clinton, which Bush let expire in 2004. Despite the historically positive violent-crime statistics reported by the FBI, the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence recently issued a report card flunking Obama across the board.

    In North Carolina, concealed handguns are allowed, but there are still many regulations. For example, even with a gun permit, according to the North Carolina Department of Justice, a person may not carry a concealed handgun in the following areas: any law enforcement or correctional facility; any space occupied by state or federal employees; a financial institution; any premises where the carrying of a concealed handgun is prohibited by the posting of a statement by the controller of the premises; educational property; areas of assemblies, parades, funerals, or demonstrations; places where alcoholic beverages are sold and consumed; state occupied property; any state or federal courthouse; any area prohibited by federal law; and any local government building if the local government has adopted an ordinance and posted signs prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons.

    Beaufort County Community College is offering handgun training this fall and winter through the Division of Continuing Education to help individuals meet the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office requirements for obtaining a Carrying Concealed Handgun Permit. The cost of the class is $75, and students must provide a minimum of 40 rounds of ammunition and their own firearm. They must also come ready with eye and ear protection, as well as a hat and a holster method of concealment. The course is not a beginning class. Students should be familiar with their weapons. If the instructor, BCCC Director of Public Safety Programs Leonard Hudson, believes a student is not familiar with the weapon, he/she will be asked to leave the range area, and no refunds will be given.

The course will be offered as follows:

•    Thursday, Sept. 16, 6 to 11 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 18, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
•    Thursday, Oct. 7, 6 to 11 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 9, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
•    Thursday, Nov. 18, 6 to 11 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 20, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
•    Thursday, Dec. 9, 6 to 11 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 11, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Students may select from one of the above course but they must attend both class sessions.
All classes will be held in Room 102 of the Public Safety Annex Building on the BCCC campus. Students may register by calling 252-940-6375, or in person in Room 802 of Building 8 on the BCCC campus. BCCC accepts Visa and MasterCard.