Saturday, March 14, 2009

Leavipp arms women with gun knowledge

Pilar Armstrong El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

Over the last few years, more and more women have armed themselves for personal safety.

On March 7, Socorro Gun Club member Vern Leavipp held a "For Ladies Only" informational gun workshop in Polvadera to arm the estimated 20 attending female gun owners with knowledge about their weapons and self-defense.

During his workshop, Leavipp stressed that handgun ownership requires a certain amount of personal awareness, discipline and self-control. He recommends practicing at a shooting range at least once a month in order to become proficient with a handgun.

"You need to go to the range enough to be very familiar with a gun and to be able to act responsibly if you need to use it," Leavipp said.

Leavipp suggests purchasing a handgun with a minimum caliber of 9 mm or higher for personal protection. The caliber of the gun is the inside diameter of the barrel, or the diameter of the bullet for use with a gun. The smallest caliber of handgun is the .22-caliber. Handguns available to the civilian population are either single-action revolvers or semi-automatics.

Revolvers are handguns in which a person loads bullets into a multi chambered component that turns around or revolves when fired. A person must "cock" the revolver or pull back the hammer every time a shot is fired.

Semi-automatics are handguns that a person loads bullets into a magazine or clip. After the first round is chambered, the gun can fire each time the trigger is pressed until the magazine is empty. Fully automatic firearms can fire continually once the trigger is depressed. Fully automatic firearms are only available by special permit to members of law enforcement and special forces personnel.

Leavipp recommends that would-be buyers conduct his or her own research before purchasing a handgun. One important question people should ask is "What purpose will the handgun serve?"

"Know what you're going to use a gun for before you go to the gun store," said Leavipp.

Know Your Rights

The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution affords every citizen the right to bear arms. However, laws can also vary from state to state.

The New Mexico State Constitution protects a citizen's rights to bear arms for security, defense and lawful hunting and recreational use.

Leavipp said big responsibility comes with gun ownership. Guns, the instructor said, should be used only as a last resort.

"The Number One priority when it comes to self defense is to avoid confrontation," Leavipp said. "Only when you've done everything to avoid confrontation can you use lethal force."

An example Leavipp gave would be if a burglar broke into a home and threatened the occupants with deadly force. Only then would someone be justified in defending themself with lethal force.

"Use what force you have to stop the force of the other person. If that person is holding a gun (and threatening you with it) only then can you use lethal force," said Socorro County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Preciliano "Shorty" Vaiza.

Vaiza stressed the use of lethal force should only be used as a last resort. He also said that many people feel overconfident when they're holding a handgun and have a false sense of bravado. He emphasized that additional handgun training and knowledge of the laws relating to handguns is paramount to responsible gun ownership.

"We (Sheriff's Department) go through continuous training regarding the use of lethal force. Private citizens should also go through continuous training," he said.

While Leavipp's workshop was a one-shot affair, training and educational opportunities abound in and around the Socorro area.

Arming Yourself with Knowledge

The Socorro Gun Club, which meets on the first Tuesday of each month, stands ready to accept new members. The group meets in the Petroleum Recovery Research Center building on the west side of the New Mexico Tech Campus, at 7:30 p.m.

Meetings typically include discussions about past and future events as well as various educational seminars on a wide array of shooting-related topics.

Anyone who wants to join the SGC can obtain an application through the Web site www.socorrogunclub.com.

Additionally, the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish regularly conducts Hunter Education Safety classes. Visit the Web site at www.wildlife.state.nm.us/education/hunter_ed for information on classes in the Socorro County area.

parmstrong@dchieftain.com

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