Clare brought the two Colts to the concealed carry class, the pearl handled revolver and the automatic. Clench examined them with great interest.
“I never saw these before,” he said. “They look like they’ve never been used but they’ve got to be old.” He looked puzzled.
“Well, you’ve been in my store. You know I sell new antiques. You’ll have to come by the store and see the other ones I bought. I’m not going to take them home till I get a gun safe.”
“Good idea. Well, if they were really antiques I might be worried about safety but they look all right. But if you want to buy something more up to date, like a Glock, let me know and we’ll talk about it.”
“OK. But I got these really cheap.”
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The class involved more learning about the laws than shooting. Clare learned that open carry is legal in Ohio, but you’d better not do it. It could be considered brandishing.
“It took me ages to get it through my head that you can’t carry an open can of beer in the car. So I’m not about to walk around with a gun showing,” she said.
Clench advised the class to go to a shooting range occasionally, for practice, in order to get comfortable if not skillful with their firearms. Some of the students had always lived in the country and were hunters, and mainly wanted to refresh their knowledge of the law, but several were like Clare, inexperienced and bone ignorant.
“I can practice with the guns at the range, but mostly I’m worried about breaking the law,” she said.
“Well, just study your book there, and get to know a good lawyer,” Clench replied, smiling. “Just remember, your goal is to protect yourself.”