They’re used to healing and comforting others, but on Monday, they had an opportunity to learn to take care of themselves and their families.
Leighton Ratliff, one of the participants, had asked some of her coworkers to take the course with her. The class taught the nurses how to use guns properly in case they were ever forced to defend themselves. "You know, in the world that we live in today, I think knowledge is power,” said Ratliff.
Instructor David McCullough called it an exercise in teaching defense as much as safety. "What we're trying to do is teach the students how to react appropriately in a home invasion," he explained. "The best way to win a confrontation is to avoid it.”
Local law enforcement officials were in full support of these nurses’ efforts. "We appreciate the citizens taking classes like this, showing an interest in firearm safety," said Irondale Police Sergeant Mark Meadows.
