CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — It's been a little over a week since the deadly shooting at a church in White Settlement, Texas. That event has revived the conversation over whether the presence of guns create a more dangerous or safer environment.
A local gun training expert says if you want to stop an attack, you need to train.
For those that do choose to carry or handle a gun, instructors at the Association of Professional Trainers (APT) Firearms Academy say safety is key.
David Muir is a staff instructor at APT and has been training with APT for 22 years.
"We're teaching people what we expect with fire arm safety. How to safely handle fire arms, muzzle awareness, trigger awareness, how to be aware of our background and our surroundings." Muir said.
APT is the second oldest gun fighting school in the country.
"It's important because we live in a gun society," Muir said. "There are guns present. Guns are tools, no different than a hammer. In one hand it builds a house, in another hand somebody uses it in a horrific way. It's important for people to learn how to use a tool."
Kendall Baker said she wants to understand a firearm before owning one.
"It's a big responsibility to have a gun, own a gun, be around them so it's something that I want to learn about fully before I put one in my house or carry one for protection." Baker said.
The course begins in the classroom so that when students get to the range, they're ready to focus on their skill set.
"In the classroom we're learning a lot about the law." Muir said. "What the law says we can do, and can't do, and how we act in public, especially as someone who is carrying a gun."
He says he has clients from all different backgrounds. From military to stay-at-home moms.
"Because people from all kinds of backgrounds are interested in fire arms and are interested in protecting themselves and their loved ones." Muir said.
Trish Brummet says that's why she carries a gun. She's taken around 40 classes with ATP, to familiarize herself with her weapon.
"If something happens then I'm ready," Brummet said. "I'm not going to carry it just to carry it. I want to be ready for how to use it."
Muir says Texas is very progressive in giving people as much room as they can to carry firearms in public. But he says with that legislation comes responsibility.
"Sometimes there's a feeling that they're strapping on a gun because they want to be a hero," Muir said. "I would tell you that the there is no law that says you have to be a hero, that's a choice. If you do everything right, you'll be the hero of the day but if you make a mistake, the line between hero and zero is pretty small.
"If you decide to be the hero of the day, be trained and capable of being that."
