Gateway Technical College will offer another round of training courses for those wishing to obtain a concealed carry weapon permit in the state of Wisconsin.

The training meets the requirements of the state’s concealed carry law. A total of 144 have taken the Gateway course.

Gateway law enforcement academy instructors and local law enforcement training officers will provide quality, hands-on Wisconsin Department of Justice-certified training. The course is eight hours, which exceed the DOJ’s recommended number of hours to receive a concealed carry license. It gives attendees time to familiarize themselves with handguns and shoot one on a live range.

Students will be trained to take a DOJ conceal/carry test, which they must pass in order to receive a completion of training certificate from the college.

Course instructor Ray Merlin said the added components to this course compared to the four-hour version taught elsewhere is the in-depth look at the law and familiarization of handguns for attendees.

While the course won’t teach attendees how to shoot proficiently, it does allow them to handle and shoot a weapon to gain some familiarity with one if they have to use it once they obtain a permit, Merlin says.

“I know I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating, which is we don’t want people to experience the recoil of a weapon for the first time when they are defending themselves,” he said. “It’s a self-defense mechanism, and we want them to be prepared for when they use it.”

Merlin says students will be able to see and handle a number of different weapons, including pistols, knives, pepper spray and electronic devices.

Deadline to apply for the course is 48 hours prior to the beginning of the class up to a limit of 20 students. Cost remains at $125. Courses will be held at the Kenosha Campus, 3520-30th Ave., Room T115 in Technical Building.

• April 19, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Course number 504-465-3K1D
• May 17: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Course number 504-465-1K1A

Sign up at on WebAdvisor at www.gtc.edu/webadvisor, or a Student Services office at the Kenosha Campus.

For more information, call Ray Merlin or Molly Meagher at (262) 564-3180.