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
NRA membership included with all handgun training classes during the month of June.
FREE one-year, NRA membership will be included with all basic handgun training class registrations, during the month of June.
Good for both males and females. NO proof of fatherhood required.
All classes conducted in Winter Haven, conveniently located near Legoland.
See our class schedule at register for any class thru EVENTBRITE at: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/gun-safety-firearm-training-classes-ccw-permit-229249
Don’t be left in a 3 to 6 month waiting line to get your concealed carry license when this law takes effect.
It should be understood that you will need a license or permit to have reciprocity, similar to your driver’s license.
May 6, 2025
At a recent White House press briefing, Karoline Leavitt, President Trump’s press secretary, faced a direct question about concealed carry rights. A reporter asked if there were any “ongoing efforts for national reciprocity” so that Americans could carry concealed weapons “in all 50 beautiful states.” Leavitt didn’t dodge the question. Instead, she made it clear: the Trump administration is supportive of the idea, but Congress would have to act first.
According to Leavitt, this is something Trump talked about “on the campaign trail for sure.” Her message was simple – Trump backs law-abiding gun owners, but passing a national reciprocity law requires legislative support.
Nationwide concealed carry reciprocity takes another step closer to becoming a reality. Congressman Richard Hudson appeared on Fox News, Friday, April 11, 2025 . . . .
Our concealed carry license qualification class cost:
See our upcoming class schedule and register for a class through EVENTBRITE at . . . https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/gun-safety-firearm-training-classes-ccw-permit-229249
BASIC HANDGUN SAFETY, SELF-DEFENSE & FLORIDA CONCEALED CARRY LICENSE QUALIFICATION CLASSES – Winter Haven, FL
We are currently accepting registrations for our May, June and July classes basic handgun and Florida concealed carry license qualification classes.
Classes will be conducted on our new, air conditioned, indoor, gun range, with a state-of-the-art, high efficiency ventilation system. No battling the summer heat, no sweating, no breathing smoke filled air.
What separates our firearms training classes from the others . . .
We have convenient online registration, with NO pre-class appointments or fingerprinting required.
All our firearms training qualifies the participant for applying for a Florida concealed carry license, currently recognized in 38 states. Your Florida concealed carry license will be valid when the ‘nationwide concealed carry reciprocity law’ goes into effect.
See our current summer class schedule and register for a class on EVENTBRITE at . . .
or call us at: 863-206-1996
Recently while on an out-of-town trip, I had a rather painful experience.
While traveling out of town, I had some spare time before my appointment so I took the opportunity to visit a gun shop in the area.
The shop being occupied by only a handful of firearm enthusiasts, it was easy to move about and browse the inventory. Also, it was a rather small shop, so it was not difficult to overhear the conversations of others.
One of the shoppers was an older woman, some might describe her as elderly, interested in purchasing her first handgun. It was her conversation with the salesperson, on the other side of the gun counter, I found a bit uncomfortable.
As the woman asked her questions, the salesperson courteously responded to her inquiries and showed her one handgun after another.
What quickly became evident, the woman had no clue as to what she was doing or knowledge of what she was shopping for. All the woman knew was she wanted a gun that would fit in her hand, was not too heavy, had a safety and would fit into her small pocketbook.
She was overheard saying her friend had one that “looks like that”.
As the salesperson handed her one gun after another, she manipulated them, pointing out their shortcomings and why they would not work for her.
Her attention was directed toward the semi-autos. That is what her friend had.
Her concern was she had arthritis and did not have the strength to pull “that thing” back. Of course, the gun had to have a safety and she wanted one that would not jam. She was not concerned about how to load it. She would have someone do that for her. Maybe her friend.
After sometime and well into the shopping experience, a well-intentioned, nearby, fellow shopper suggested she consider a revolver.
Her response: “Oh no. Those are old-fashioned. I want one with a safety. My friend has one like these,” as she pointed at the semi-autos.
The woman must have looked at least 20 handguns and handled a dozen of them. Becoming obviously more and more dissatisfied with her inability to find the one gun that fulfilled all her needs, she left the store frustrated and empty-handed.
THE TAKE AWAY FROM THE EXPERIENCE
Before purchasing your first firearm:
First and foremost, determine what the gun is to be used for:
No one gun is good for all purposes.
Second, set a budget. What is the most you are willing to spend. Guaranteed, what you want, a gun that will fit your needs, is going to be more expensive than what you initially considered. Also, you get what you pay for. Go cheap and you will get a cheap gun. When purchasing a tool to defend your life and the lives of your loved ones, it is no time to go cheap. If you ever have to use the gun to defend your life, you will only be given one chance. There are no do-overs.
3rd – Do your research. Yes, ask friends. Ask other gun owners. But do not rely solely on their opinions. You know what is said about opinions. Everyone has different physical characteristics, hand size, hand and arm strength, firearm knowledge, skills and experience. Remember, this is your first handgun. A cardinal rule: Keep it simple. The simpler your first gun is to operate, having the fewest buttons, levers and gadgets on it the better. At 2 o’clock in the morning, when you hear glass break and you do not own a cat, it no time to have to think: Is this the gun with the safety up or the safety down? Do I have to pull the slide back? Read bona fide articles, but avoid YouTube videos. Many videos are misleading.
4th – Before purchasing your first handgun, take a firearm training class. Learn the differences, the pros and cons of the different handguns, from an unbiased, certified firearms instructor. The few bucks you will spend on a handgun training class can save you hundreds when purchasing your first gun.
Following the above suggestions will save the first-time handgun buyer a lot of aggravation and likely prevent him or her from making a $450 – $600 mistake.
Contact us for official NRA firearms training. We will educate you in how to purchase your first firearm and train you in using it safely.
According to Hillsborough County Animal Control, the victim sustained multiple lacerations and deep puncture wounds to both her right and left upper and lower legs, lower right arm, wrist and hand.
Two Pit Bull Terriers had the woman on the ground viciously attacking her. One with its teeth locked onto the woman’s leg, the other biting and pulling her arm. Grabbing their pistols, they ran to the elderly woman’s aid.
April 29, 2024
Busy in her kitchen preparing dinner, Cierra Medina’s evening was shattered by screams for help coming from the street in front of her home.
Looking out her kitchen window, Cierra saw her 72-year-old neighbor on the ground being viciously attacked by two Pit Bull Terriers. Shouting to her husband to watch her 8-month-old daughter, Cierra rushed out the front door of her home, with her Taurus 9mm in hand.
Screaming at the dogs to ‘STOP‘ and running up to the victim, who had one dog attached to her left arm and another with its jaws firmly locked onto her right leg, Cierra fired a shot into the ground hoping to scare the dogs and stop the attack. Regrettably, that did not occur. The dog clenched onto the woman’s arm, released its bite and backed off, but did not flee. The second dog with its grip on the woman’s leg was not deterred.
Cierra was then joined by her aunt Kristy Parks, who lives across the street.
Hearing the victim’s screams from inside her house, Kristy grabbed her Ruger LCP .380 and rushed out to join Cierra and assist the woman on the ground being mauled by the two dogs.
Cierra attempted to fire a second round at the dog that would not release its grip on the victim’s leg, only to discover her gun had jammed. Kristy then fired one round from her Ruger LCP .380, loaded with jacketed hollow points, striking the dog in the frontal chest. The dog remained unfazed and continued to bite and pull at the victim’s leg. Kristy fired again, striking the dog the second time broadside in the chest, causing it to release its grip and retreat.
While Kristy kept the dogs at bay, holding them at gunpoint, prepared to fire again, Cierra assisted the victim in crawling on her hands, elbows and knees to the front door of her home and inside to safety, leaving a trail of blood on the driveway sidewalk and porch.
With Kristy holding her gun on the two growling and snapping dogs, Cierra helped the victim into the house. The victim covered with blood, bleeding profusely from both her right arm and both her right and left leg. Cierra quickly administered what aid she could, fashioning improvised tourniquets in an attempt to control the bleeding.
During the commotion and hearing the gunshots, other neighbors appeared on the scene and called 911, while Kristy and Cierra rendered aid to their injured neighbor. Upon the arrival of EMS and a quick initial examination, the victim was immediately transported to Tampa General Hospital Trauma Center for treatment.
According to a written report by the Hillsborough County Animal Control, the victim sustained multiple lacerations and deep puncture wounds to both her right and left upper and lower legs, lower right arm, wrist and hand, which included “significant” tendon and arterial damage.
The wounded dog was euthanized on the scene by Hillsborough County animal control officers, after having been tased several times in an attempt to control it. The other dog was taken into custody and transported to Hillsborough County animal control.
The WFLA News Channel 8 – Tampa, FL news broadcast can be viewed HERE.
Florida, Brandon, Hillsborough County, pit bull, dog attack, animal attack, gun, pistol, GLOCK, Taurus, Kristy Parks, Cierra Medina
Lessons To Be Learned:
Appearing on Fox News Friday, April 11, 2025 . . . .
Nationwide concealed carry reciprocity takes another step closer to becoming a reality. Congressman Richard Hudson appeared on Fox News, Friday, April 11, 2025 . . . .
There are some people who just should not own guns . . .
Arming themselves, the 2 women rushed to the aid of an elderly woman being viciously mauled by two pit bull terriers.
In-Gauge of Polk County, in Winter Haven, Florida recognized two women for their quick and decisive actions that saved the life of a 72-year-old woman, who was being viciously attacked by two pit bull terriers, at its monthly meeting, Tuesday, May 14th.
The incident occurred the evening of April 29th, in Brandon, Florida. While in her kitchen, preparing dinner, Cierra Medina heard screaming coming from the street in front of her house. Looking out the kitchen window, Cierra saw her 72-year-old neighbor on the ground being attacked by two pit bull terriers. One dog biting and tugging at the woman’s left arm the other clamped on to the woman’s right leg, pulling in the opposite direction.
Retrieving her 9mm pistol, Cierra rushed out the front door of her house to the woman’s aid, firing one round into the ground, hoping to frighten the dogs into releasing their grip on the victim. Regrettably, the dogs were undeterred and continued to attack the woman. Attempting to fire another round, Cierra discovered her gun had jammed.
It was then Cierra was joined by Kristy Parks, who lives across the street and also responded to the screams for help. Kristy, armed with a .380 took aim and fired one round, point-blank, into the larger, more aggressive dog’s frontal chest. The dog was unaffected. As the dog turned, pulling backward on the woman’s thigh, Kristy fired a second shot broadside into the dog’s chest. Being struck a second time, the dog broke its grip and backed off. Both dogs stood back growling at the two rescuers.
As Kristy held the dogs at gunpoint, prepared to fire again, Cierra assisted the victim inside a chain-link fence and gate. With all three safely inside the closed gate, Cierra helped the victim into her home where Cierra administered first aid until law enforcement and EMS arrived. The victim was transported to Tampa Regional Hospital Trauma Center for the treatment of her injuries.
Cierra and Kristy were each presented with Citizen Hero Awards, a STOP THE BLEED emergency blood loss control kit and a gift certificate from the Wild West Arms Gun Store, for the replacement of the two guns confiscated by law enforcement as evidence.
Cierra and Kristy received official STOP THE BLEED training and were certified during Tuesday evening’s meeting.
May is National STOP THE BLEED Month. Being a licensed STOP THE BLEED training provider, In-Gauge of Polk County conducts free, open-to-the-public STOP THE BLEED training clinics throughout the year.
Up date: The victim has been released from Tampa Regional Hospital and will remain confined to a wheelchair and has lost mobility of her right arm, due to nerve damage sustained in the dog attack. The dog owner was issued a fine by Hillsborough County Animal Control, with other charges pending by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
* The victim’s name is kept anonymous under Florida’s Marsy’s Law.
