Bay County Sheriff's Office offers its next free gun safety classes on May 18

PANAMA CITY − For Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford, it's important for residents who own firearms to be proficient with their weapons.

According to Ford , the Bay County Sheriff's Office is gearing up for its next two gun safety classes on May 18. The event, which will boast both a beginner and intermediate-level class, will be held at the Campflower Road Gun Range.

BCSO has offered the classes about every other month for the past year. Ford said they partially stem from HB 643, which went into effect in July 2023 and eliminated licensing requirements to carry a concealed weapon or firearm in most public places across the state. The classes are only for handguns.

"I'm a big proponent of our second amendment right," said Ford, who is up for re-election this year. "With a right comes a responsibility to know how to use a firearm, and so (the class) was an opportunity for us to engage with citizens and provide a safe, professional environment to learn firearm handling skills and firearm skills in general."

He noted the classes take approximately four hours. They cover a variety of things from learning to property load a handgun in the beginner class, to more tactical self-defense training in the intermediate class.

Both will feature live-shooting drills.

"The beginner's course goes more into safe handling of firearms, (as well as other) skills, accuracy and marksmanship," Ford said. "The intermediate course is for those who are familiar with the use of a firearm and just want to improve their marksmanship and shooting skills."

The classes will be overseen by two instructors, one of which is retired Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen, who said participants should show up with their firearms and magazines unloaded. He also suggested they bring at least 50 rounds of ammunition.

They will practice shooting at ranges between about 5 yards and 15 yards. They also will learn more about HB 643 and how it differs from a concealed carry permit.

Like Ford, McKeithen said he believes the classes offer a great, free opportunity for residents to become more proficient with their weapon − something he said is especially important in the wake of many new gun owners following HB 643.

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"There's really no (other) place in Bay County where someone can actually go and freely have access to a shooting range," McKeithen said. "We try to cater to the shooter. We try to make them feel comfortable. We try to make them really understand (if) they want a gun."

To register for the classes, call 850-747-4700 or email theresa.anglin@bayso.org .

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay County Sheriff's Office offers its next free gun safety classes on May 18