So you need to rob a bank or convenience store sometime soon, but you’re not quite sure of the most effective way to conceal your firearm. No worries, the good folks at Starks Training Institute will educate you on how to conceal your weapon so that nobody suspects a thing — until you open fire on the entire bank/store/restaurant. Thanks to a series of shotty armed robberies, like the ones from last December in Lincolnton or the recent New York robbery in which the attacker fumbled his shotgun right into the hands of the store clerk, responsible, armed-robbing citizens like you and me can reap the knowledge of those who know the basics of weapon concealment. A Concealed Carry Course will be provided today for your education. Just another clever requirement needed to meet the criteria for an NCCH permit. Make sure to bring a lunch and leave all ammunition at home, as this course aims to make you “one bad motha- shut yo’ mouf!” 8:40 a.m. Hyatt Gun Shop, 3332 Wilkinson Blvd. 704-392-7233.
This article appears in Aug 15-21, 2007.
Perhaps you should look up statistics that show how much violent crime drops when citizen’s are able to obtain handgun permits. In fact, it is important to note that a criminal will carry a handgun regardless of if it is legal or not, but a law abiding citizen will not. Maybe you should realize that the only thing keeping you from getting shot by the criminal who is robbing the bank/resturant/etc, is the citizen who is carrying a handgun legally.
If you take away handguns, and guns, we will just kill each other with spears and swords, knives, rocks.
Grow up.
I have taken this course because I feared for my well being. After taking this course, I do NOT fear the predators anymore. It also establishes the fact that I have passed a written test dealing with the use of force, have passed a proficiency test on the range and have exhibited safe firearms handling techniques.
The part that you really do NOT get is that it IDENTIFIES YOU AS A LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN who has PASSED local, state and federal BACKGROUND CHECKS.
I am proud to say I passed the STI Class and after taking this class, do not fear ugly primal man anymore.
If you ever write again, DO YOUR HOMEWORK first, and GET IT RIGHT!
Your EMPLOYER might want to take a second look about YOUR QUALIFICATIONS, and ETHICS as a reporter.
I am literally in awe of your lack of knowledge and understanding on this subject. This is a class for private Law Abiding citizens to take in order to protect themselves from others that would seek to do them harm. Do you not read the local paper and see all of the stories about robberies, murders, and carjackings? How you can equate that this class is meant for robbers and thugs is utterly ridiculous. Before you write your little story, you may want to actually looks at the facts and understand that North Carolina passed this law in order for the average citizen to help protect themselves.
While I am sure that the bozo who wrote this had something in the right place, it certainly was not his facts, or for the most part, not even his brain. Concealed carry classes are for law abiding citizens, not for criminals. Since this person states he is an armed-robbing citizen, I have to assume that he would be one of those guys in the movies that held his firearm sideways while he shot at the police. Methinks he doth protest too much, using emotionally irrelevant crackpot language to get no point across that I can see.
Take the class, learn to use a firearm safely and effectively. That way, when this bozo holds you up, you will know EXACTLY how to handle the situation.
….what passes for “journalism” nowadays. Since when did lashing out with uneducated rants replace investigative reporting?
This is a course for law-abiding citizens. You know…the kind of people who WON’T rob or murder you? People who go through the criminal background checks to get a CCH permit are the “good guys” – NOT the kind of people who force society to lock their doors at night. Could you pass a background check?
Perhaps the smoke you’re blowing has blinded your ability to do your job effectively. Maybe it’s time for a job-performance review and a urine test? 😉
-Mike
I read your “cute” article, Robbery 101. After recovering from the floor, I realized (and was saddened) at just how much ignorance runs throughout the media today. I have taken Mr. Starks class and he does not teach you to rob a bank, or even to conceal your weapon; he teaches to protect yourself. Poor thing, you thought you would score points with your boss, with the readers, just so you could move up in the food chain; tisk tisk silly intern!
While this is Charlotte and astounding journalistic incompetence is not uncommon in the local media, this has to be the worst case I have ever seen in Creative Loafing.
Mr. Starks’ class is not about how to “…open fire on the entire bank/store/restaurant.” It is about the laws and rules for carrying a personal firearm to protecting yourself from criminals.
If this is an example of your “best practices” in journalism, you need a lot help.
hey Jesi…you are stoooopid !
As much fun as it is to harp on the so called “journalist” who wrote this laughable excuse for a story, the real person to blame is the editor.
Whoever approved this for print needs to have his/her head examined, but I fear that would require the services of a proctologist :0
I know Creative Loafing is a ultra-liberal publication, but jeez, have SOME standards.