Recent mass shooting events spur new interest in gun classes

Julie Maestri, of Tomball, works in the shooting range during qualifying at a License to Carry Course at Spring Guns and Ammo in Spring on July 7, 2018. (Jerry Baker/For the Chronicle) Julie Maestri, of Tomball, works in the shooting range during qualifying at a License to Carry Course at Spring Guns and Ammo in Spring on July 7, 2018. (Jerry Baker/For the Chronicle) Photo: Jerry Baker, Freelance / For The Chronicle Photo: Jerry Baker, Freelance / For The Chronicle Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Recent mass shooting events spur new interest in gun classes 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

In the wake of the Santa Fe and Parkland high school shootings, some may be taking a closer look at what they would do if they found themselves in an active shooter situation.

A new class, which is open to the public, is meant to teach participants what to do if faced with such an event.

Kris Mayfield, who has spent 28 years in law enforcement, many as a special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, is teaching an Active Shooter Survival class at Spring Guns and Ammo’s Spring location at the end of July.

“The class is designed to let people know that these are the circumstances you might find yourself in and what you can to do get out of there alive if you’re confronted with an active shooter situation,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield is certified to teach the class through the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training program. He has instructed police officers before, but this is the first time he’s opening the course to the general public.

He said that ideally, the goal is to first keep an active shooter out of a populated area, but he will teach students how to be aware of their surroundings and what their options are in any circumstance.

“I don’t pass on tactics, but I do pass on knowledge — things to look for, things to keep in your office to keep someone out if you get trapped or how to hide if you haven’t been able to run,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield said that in the past year, different gun ranges and stores in the area have received a lot of calls from people inquiring about this type of training.

“(These active shooter situations) bring that scenario to the forefront of peoples’ minds. Everybody wants to know what they can do to protect their family from becoming victims in case something like that happens in public,” Mayfield said.

More Information Want to go? Active Shooter Survival Class at Spring Guns and Ammo 6 to 9 p.m. July 31 4401 Spring Cypress Road, Spring $10 per person For more information, go to www.springgunsandammo.com/c-h-l/spring-events/spring-location/1003-active-shooter-survival-class.

Mayfield said people are realizing that law enforcement isn’t always able to stop something before it happens or while it’s happening, but the fact that people are a bit more apprehensive isn’t necessarily bad.

“A little fear is not a bad thing; it makes you pay attention to what’s going on around you,” Mayfield said.

Some area gun shop owners say that there is also a rise in customers who are new to gun ownership because of active shooter events.

Ryan Skar, who works at Spring Guns and Ammo, said that these new customers want to know how to better protect their families, so they enroll in safety shooting lessons or License to Carry classes.

Charles Persinger is Spring Guns and Ammo’s head instructor in addition to being a retired police officer with more than 20 years of firearm experience.

“There’s always an uptick after an incident. We get some people who have never shot before and are terrified,” Persinger said.

However, these gun shop owners and class instructors aren’t pushing the need to carry, or even own, a firearm. Their main goal is to educate customers about firearm safety.

“We want them to be proficient, so if they have to use a gun, they don’t shoot an innocent bystander. It can be a panicky situation if you’re being attacked or if there’s an active shooter. You need to have safe muscle memory of what to do,” Persinger said.

Greg Evans teaches such License to Carry and Learn to Shoot classes at Spring Guns and Ammo and said that there’s always an instructor over the shoulder of someone who’s just learning.

Another establishment that offers instruction is 4Ward Defense Firearms and Training along Jones Road.

Owner Eric Ward said he agreed that active shooter events often spur on inexperienced people who want to learn.

“Most of our customers are concerned parents, nurses or individuals who want to get self-defense training. The biggest thing we do with new students is teach them how this all works — which includes repetition, skills and studying. We demystify the firearm,” Ward said.

jane.stueckemann@chron.com