Washington Free Beacon staff writers Ali Meyer and Stephen Gutowski appeared on NRA News Cam & Co to discuss going taking a concealed carry class.
Recently Gutowski took the steps to become a certified NRA safety instructor. Meyer said that one of the major draws to her taking the class was that she was able to get some range time. She also had previous experience shooting firearms.
"This was a little bit of a different experience because going through the safety course I feel like it added a bit extra. I was able to learn about and take the extra precautions when firing," said Meyer.
Meyer showed off her certificate of successfully completing the safety course as well as a few of her targets from the range.
Cam asked Gutowski what interested him in wanting to take the class in order to become a NRA instructor.
"The idea came up that maybe we would have a range day for the office and our president, Aaron Harison, thought that if our staff would be handling firearms it's important for them to know proper gun safety. So that's what this was born out of," Gutowski said.
Gutowski said that for media figures and people who are in media there is a heightened level of death threats and that there is a benefit in taking the basic pistol course to better understand how to defend themselves. Successful completion of the basic pistol course qualifies someone for a concealed carry permit in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
When asked if Gutowski would want to see more media types take the class, Gutowski said it would be beneficial.
"Frankly I would like to see reporters just on the fact that it teaches you a basic understanding of firearms. That is sorely lacking in our media," Gutowski said.
Cam invited Gutowski and the rest of the Free Beacon staff who have gone through the safety course out to the NRA range to go shooting with him