Another journalist sees the up-sides of self-defense preparations

The Canton Repository has published an excellent article written by a journalist who sat through a recent concealed handgun license course offered at The Firing Line in Canal Fulton. The article details some of the students who participated in the class, and describes the course itself. Perhaps the opening few paragraphs will do more than anything in terms of helping readers understand the need for armed self-defense preparations.

Recently, Warren pizza shop owner Eugene Madill drove to The Firing Line here to take an Ohio-required 12-hour “Carrying Concealed Weapon,” or CCW, training course.

A few weeks ago, he returned to the indoor pistol range to thank his instructors, Joseph M. Slish and Ed Lee, for the instruction that saved his life.

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Again, from the story:

Near closing time Nov. 21, Madill got a delivery order to a high-crime area of Warren. He sent his help home, telling them he would make the delivery.

Arriving at the address, Madill knocked and was met by a person in a ski mask and a hooded sweatshirt.. As he turned to run, he was ambushed by two similarly dressed accomplices who had approached from behind. The trio dragged him into the vacant house and began beating him. Repeatedly, he tried to shield himself from the attack while reaching for his wallet.

That’s when he spotted a fourth person approaching with a knife. “It don’t matter,” he told the victim. “We’re going to kill you anyway.”

Madill then reached inside his jacket and pulled out his 9mm semiautomatic pistol. He shot the knife-wielder and one of the others who continued to beat him. The four fled and Madill called the police from his business, Mr. B’s Pizza. When he returned to the scene with officers, they found no one.

But one assailant showed up later at an emergency room.

And a 16-year-old was found dead in an adjacent yard the following morning, the knife still in his hand.

Madill told his instructors that a prosecutor and detective assured him, “Whoever taught you, taught you right.”

The article went on to describe a typical CHL course at The Firing Line, and provided a look at the varying backgrounds of students:

Michelle Sanor, 41, feisty but a mere 5 feet tall, was determined to learn how to safely and accurately fire the .22-caliber pistol that had belonged to her late father.

Ramon Santos, 65, a certified public accountant, had never fired a handgun and was intent on learning.

Marlington Township resident Edgardo Calibag, 51, acquired handgun knowledge in his native Philippines. And it was without rancor that he recalled an anonymous message left at his home telling him to “go back where you came from.”

Soft-spoken Custodio Fabella, 65, who lives in Jackson Township, was, like his classmates, interested in getting a CCW license for self defense.

West Virginia native Earl Beall, 55, brought a lifetime of gunmanship to the class, but sniffed not once at neophytes’ questions. He often returns to West Virginia, camping with family members including grandchildren. His concern is protection from rabid critters rather than human interlopers.

The article provides extensive summary of the instruction offered during the course, and as has been the case in past instances where journalists have attended CHL classes, the Repository writer took particular note of the constant instruction on firearms safety.

This article is gives enough information that it is likely some who have been fearful of taking the course will feel more comfortable in signing up. Reporter Diana Rossetti and the Canton Repository deserve thanks for offering a fair and balanced look at the types of people who obtain concealed handgun licenses and their reasons for doing so.