In-Gauge of Polk County – A non-profit organization
Gun Safety, Court Ordered Gun Safety Class, Firearm Training, Florida, Polk County, NRA, Firearm Safety, Child Gun Safety Education
FREE Gun Lock Giveaway
We will be there. Stop by and visit our booth.
Our theme: Child gun safety.
We will be giving away FREE gun locks and distributing other child gun safety materials, provided by the NRA’s Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program.
Gun
FREE fresh, hot, popcorn for everyone you pays us a visit.
We should have enough to last all weekend.
“Most churches are small, so security plans often don’t need to be elaborate or expensive,”
06-08-2023 – Talia Wise – CBN News
A new Lifeway Research study confirms that most pastors are making their congregant’s safety one of their top priorities.
According to “Planning and Armed Congregants Top Church Security Measures”, 81 percent of U.S. Protestant pastors say their church has some type of security measure in place.
Although churches are meant to be safe places, recent mass shootings make it hard for churches to ignore that they must be prepared for the unthinkable.
“Churches are not immune to violence, disputes, domestic disagreements, vandalism, and burglary,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “While loving one another is a core Christian teaching, churchgoers still sin, and non-churchgoers are invited and welcomed. So real security risks exist whether a congregation wants to acknowledge them or not.”
Fifty-seven percent of pastors are most likely to say their congregation has an intentional plan for an active shooter situation. While 54 percent say armed church members are part of the measures they have in place.
More than a quarter use radio communication among security personnel, while 1 in 5 say they have a no firearms policy in the building where they meet or have armed private security personnel on-site.
Fewer have uniformed police officers on church grounds (5%) or metal detectors at entrances to screen for weapons (1%).
As CBN News reported, American churches have seen a steady rise in acts of hostility in recent years.
The FRC’s “Hostility Against Churches” report documents 420 acts between January 2018 and September 2022. They include vandalism, arson, bomb threats, gun-related incidents, and more.
“Criminal acts of vandalism and destruction of church property are symptomatic of a collapse in societal reverence and respect for houses of worship and religion – in this case, churches and Christianity,” the report states.
“Americans appear increasingly comfortable lashing out against church buildings, pointing to a larger societal problem of marginalizing core Christian beliefs, including those that touch on hot-button political issues related to human dignity and sexuality,” the FRC explains.
Andy Willis, who heads up security at Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, told CBN News he has the monumental task of keeping their almost 30,000-member congregation safe.
“Today, churches that speak the truth, that teach and preach true biblical principles, they draw a lot of attention because there are a lot of components of society today that don’t want to hear that,” Willis said.
“As a church security team, we have to be prepared for those kinds of situations, to intervene and to protect the flock,” he added.
The Lifeway Research shows that churches are not just relying on security teams but are softening to the idea of allowing congregants to carry firearms.
Last year, only 45 percent of the pastors polled said part of their security measures include having armed church members. That number has jumped up to 54 percent this year.
In 2019, 27% said they enforced a no firearms policy at their building, but that number has dropped to 21% now.
“Most churches are small, so security plans often don’t need to be elaborate or expensive,” McConnell said.
Meanwhile, those polled say they are less likely to rely on intentional planning to address potential security threats. In 2019, 62 percent said they had such a plan in place for an active shooting situation. Since then, that number has fallen to 57 percent.
“While churches may have different convictions on how to maintain security, it is surprising that fewer churches have an intentional plan for an active shooter than did in 2019,” said McConnell. “As churches cut back on activities during COVID, this may have been one of the initiatives that did not resume for some churches.”
What were they thinking?
Apr 8, 2022 : WESH 2 – Kelsi Thorud
BELLEVIEW, Fla. —
Two teenagers have been arrested after a 16-year-old was shot and killed in Belleview Sunday.
According to police, the shooting happened inside a mobile home in the Gateway Homes of Belleview mobile home park along SE 52ND Court around 7 p.m. They found the victim, 16-year-old Christopher Leroy Broad Jr. suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital where he died.
Over the past few days, investigators have determined that another teen, 17, and Broad, were taking turns shooting at each other while wearing a body armor style vest.
“I saw a teenage boy come outside all hysterical screaming,” said Joe Vanhouten.
Vanhouten is an Army veteran who lives next door. He saw the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
“I was always taught from a young age you never play with guns,” he said.
According to arrest affidavits, three teenage friends, including Broad, lived at the home with one of their fathers. On the day of the shooting, they had a couple more friends over to hang out.
The lead detective discovered that one of the teens recorded Snapchat videos of the shooting. He said one of the videos first shows Broad shooting at one of the others who was wearing a “tan plate carrier style vest.” Another video shows how they took turns and Broad was shot at next five times by a 9 mm handgun.
“It seems weird to me that they would have a body armor vest. Why would you have one?” said Vanhouten.
According to the arrest affidavit, one of the teens told police they have shot at the vest before and no bullets went through it. The report also states the alleged shooter said one of his shots struck Broad in an area not covered by the vest. The medical examiner said he died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.
“A sad deal that teenage boys being I guess being teenagers, not realizing the possible consequences of what they were doing,” said Vanhouten.
Police now have the gun after serving a search warrant on the home. According to the arrest affidavit, the alleged shooter told police the gun belongs to his father who leaves it at home for protection.
“It’s just a sad story all the way around,” said Vanhouten.
Police say the 17-year-old who allegedly shot and killed Broad is now charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child with a firearm.
Another teen, also 17, is charged with providing false information to law enforcement.
Police say that teen was interviewed as a witness to the shooting and misled officers about what took place by blaming the shooting on other people like the other friends at the home and telling the 911 dispatcher that the house was shot by unknown suspects.
WESH 2 is not identifying the teens until they have been formally charged as adults.
WESH 2 tried calling the alleged shooter’s family, but they are not accepting calls. They also did not comment when we visited the neighborhood.
Authorities want everyone to know that guns should never be used this way.
“I’m sure these kids never envisioned that a death was going to occur as a result of their behavior,” Dr. David Thomas, a forensics professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, said.
Thomas said many people don’t understand armored vests.
“The biggest misnomer is that they’re bullet proof because they’re not. They’re ballistic vests and they’re rated on scales of what type of bullet they’ll stop,” Thomas said.
Thomas says even a police officer wearing the best vest wouldn’t want to get shot in it.
“That trauma is ungodly, what the body goes through,” Thomas said.
According to the police report in this case, the alleged shooter said one of his shots hit Christopher in an area not covered by the vest.
Thomas told WESH 2 News, sadly, he thinks a lot of teens don’t understand just how dangerous guns are.
“If you don’t know anything about the gun, if you don’t know anything about the equipment, just leave it alone. Stay safe and leave it alone because it’s not something to play with,” Thomas said.
Walmart videotapes all firearm transactions.
Lee Wiliams – The Gun Writer : October 29, 2021
Walmart became a charter member of the Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership, which the nation’s largest retailer organized in 2019 along with Everytown for Gun Safety — one of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Astroturf (not grassroots) anti-gun groups.
The agreement requires Walmart to:
There was another caveat in the agreement with Bloomberg: “Motivated by our desire to create a safe environment in our stores and clubs, we request that customers no longer openly carry firearms into Walmart or Sam’s Club locations in states where open carry is permitted – unless they are authorized law enforcement.”
Walmart’s Senior Vice President J.P. Suarez said then that the retail chain signed Bloomberg’s 10-point code to “fine tune the things we’re already doing and further strengthen our standards. We hope other retailers will join us in adopting the code.”
As you can imagine, when the agreement was signed, Bloomberg’s employees were ecstatic.
“The announcements from Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods today reflect the values of the American public, who are united in a call for common sense on guns. This is a clear signal to businesses across the country that it’s safe to do what’s right. Americans will stand with businesses that stand for our safety,” said Everytown president John Feinblatt.
“Two major gun retailers made major policy changes today that will make Americans safer. These corporate policy wins are additional proof points that the tide has turned in favor of gun safety. It should also be a call to action for Congress: there’s simply no reason for lawmakers not to immediately pass comprehensive gun safety legislation. Just as companies are realizing that cozying up to the gun lobby is bad business, lawmakers should see the writing on the wall: America is rejecting the NRA lobbyists’ dangerous agenda,” said head Demanding Mom Shannon Watts.
At the time, the partnership drew little fanfare. There were a few stories on pro-gun websites, one story from Reuters, but little else.
An astute reader pointed out this week that the agreement is still in effect. The details are still posted on Walmart’s corporate website, but, apparently, it’s something the giant retailer doesn’t want to discuss. Walmart’s corporate communications division did not return emails seeking comment for this story. (They don’t accept phone calls.)
Their agreement with Bloomberg never caught on. The Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership was pushed by an anti-gun group in Philadelphia for a few years. They managed to coerce a few local gun dealers to sign. There is no mention of the partnership on the Everytown website, other than a few old press releases. Apparently, nationally, it fizzled, yet Walmart is marching to the sound of Bloomberg’s tiny drum.
The first sentence of the company’s 2019 press release announcing the agreement states: “Walmart has a long heritage as a company of serving hunters and sportsmen and women.” This statement was true at the time. They did serve hunters, shooters and sportsmen and women. They don’t now. They haven’t since 2019.
Until Walmart rescinds its agreement with Bloomberg, I won’t be shopping there. That’s the thing about Bloomberg and his traveling cavalcade of crazy. Once you hop into bed with these clowns, you wake up the next day covered in clown makeup, which the whole world can see.
Always be alert for the occurrence of a squib load and the possibility of a barrel obstruction.
If you do not know what a SQUIB LOAD is and how to recognize it, it is strongly suggested you learn ASAP.
Technically defined, a squib load is an underpowered charge. That underpowered charge could result in a barrel obstruction.
A squib load is most notably recognized by an odd sound. While shooting, should you hear an odd sound, a sound different from the big bang, kaboom or crack, you normally hear or only heard when firing that last volley of shoots, CEASE FIRE immediately, following safe gun handling practices, inspect the gun for a barrel obstruction.
Firing another round, following a squib load, that resulted in a barrel obstruction, could result in the firearm blowing up in your hand and you loosing parts of your hand as a result.
Number 1 . . .
Number 2 . . .
The recalls above are the most recent (June 21, 2021) of two known ones. At the pace manufactures are turning out ammunition, in an attempt to catch up with backorders, quality control has diminished. Always be alert for the occurrence of a squib load and the possibility of a barrel obstruction. It can happen with any ammunition domestic or imported. Be vigilant, be alert, be safe.
We train you to defend your life and the lives of your loved ones.
Our next available, comprehensive, 5-hour Handgun/Concealed Carry License Qualification Training Class is
The cost of this 5-hour handgun/concealed carry license qualification training class is $75.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at 863-206-1996.
The fully illustrated, official NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting training manual available for purchase in every basic Handgun/Concealed Carry License Qualification Training class.
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Polk County, Lakeland, Winter Haven, self-defense, concealed carry, focused fire, shooting lessons, gun training, gun classes, concealed carry, conceal weapon, online class, lead feather, online permit, gun shop, gun show, gun permit
Florida 6-year-old grazed by bullet after 4-year-old relative fires gun
June 09, 2021 : By JAMI GANZ -NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Who are we to judge? However, by all appearances the author does not want to hold the 15-year-old accountable. The article should have more correctly stated: “The firearm was illegally in the possession of a 15-year-old family friend.” In the state of Florida, a 15-year-old cannot legally own or be in possession of a firearm.
A Florida child was grazed by a bullet after a 4-year-old relative fired a gun at the kids’ home, according to authorities.
Tampa Police said the bullet grazed the leg of the 6-year-old, who did not sustain serious injuries but was hospitalized, the Tampa Bay Times reported Tuesday.
Authorities said the firearm was hidden under a sofa at the residence and “appears” to belong to a 15-year-old family friend, according to the outlet.
Andrew Warren, State Attorney for Hillsborough County, in which Tampa is located, took to Twitter to weigh in on the incident.
“My anger-fueled tirade on gun safety & the gun violence epidemic does not lend itself to 280 characters. So I’ll just say thank God he’s alive,” tweeted Warren.
Police said that no one else was injured in the shooting, according to the paper.
Whether any adults were home when the shooting unfolded was not detailed in a media release referred to by the outlet.
At least 369 unintended shootings by children occurred in the U.S. last year, leading to 142 deaths and 242 injuries, according to statistics from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The site and AAP recommend that while guns should not be kept in homes with children, if firearms are present, they should be stored in a safe or lock box.
Nikki Fried, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture: “I’m proud to work with Everytown for Gun Safety . . . “
The Florida Department of Agriculture has partnered with Everytown for Gun Safety.
Nikki Fried is ordering Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services buildings to light up orange this weekend to support gun violence awareness.
Wear Orange Weekend runs Saturday and Sunday. Friday was also National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
The department is illuminating the historic Mayo Building located across from the Florida Capitol, as well as the department’s Tallahassee Regional Licensing Office, where the department processes concealed weapons permit applications.
Nikki Fried is bathing her office building orange to raise awareness of gun violence.
“With so many lives lost to gun violence in the Sunshine State and around the nation, it’s important to send a message: we remain determined to see common-sense gun violence prevention reforms enacted to protect our communities,” Fried said. “As the lives of children, parents, friends, loved ones and fellow Floridians have been cut short by firearms, we will stand strong to demand change that honors their memory.”
“I’m proud to work with Everytown for Gun Safety to mark this occasion, which I hope will lead to reflection, persistence, and long-overdue action on gun violence.”
Fried proclaimed Friday, June 4, as Gun Violence Awareness Day in Florida in a proclamation on behalf of the Florida Cabinet.
The key department buildings are lit orange in a partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety, America’s largest gun violence prevention organization.
We train you to defend your life and the lives of your loved ones.
Our next available, comprehensive, 5-hour Handgun/Concealed Carry License Qualification Training Class is
The cost of this 5-hour handgun/concealed carry license qualification training class is $75.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at 863-206-1996.
The fully illustrated, official NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting training manual available for purchase in every basic Handgun/Concealed Carry License Qualification Training class.
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Polk County, Lakeland, Winter Haven, self-defense, concealed carry, focused fire, shooting lessons, gun training, gun classes, concealed carry, conceal weapon, online class, lead feather, online permit, gun shop, gun show, gun permit
In-Gauge of Polk County conducts training that prepares you to defend your life and the lives of your loved ones.
If you are looking for unequaled firearms training, for either personal development or to qualify for a Florida concealed carry weapons license, visit our website at: www.ingaugeofpolkcounty.com
Get official NRA firearms training that is recognized as the ‘standard‘ worldwide.
NRA firearms training teaches you more than just how to pull a trigger.
NRA basic handgun training teaches you:
NRA advanced handgun training teaches you:
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Polk County, Lakeland, Winter Haven, self-defense, concealed carry, focused fire, shooting lessons, gun training, gun classes, concealed carry, conceal weapon, online class, lead feather, online permit, gun shop, gun show, gun permit
