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Judges sign up for firearms training
Many on the bench already have military or law enforcement experience
BY JIM HOUSTON
Staff Writer
On the heels of recent fatal attacks on a federal judge's family and an Atlanta judge, some Columbus judges have signed up for handgun training by instructors at the Columbus Police Department.
About half of the state or city judges in Columbus have opted to participate in the series of training sessions, said Columbus State Court Judge Andy Prather, who organized the sessions.
Prather said after a federal judge's husband and mother were murdered, he began to seriously question what he should do.
"I realized that if I had not done everything reasonably possible to defend my family and something happened to them, I would never be able to forgive myself," Prather said Wednesday.
Then Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rowland W. Barnes, his court reporter and a sheriff's deputy were gunned down in Atlanta on March 11.
"I went out and bought a gun," Prather said. "That's when I realized I was much more afraid of that gun than of something bad happening."
Police officials offered to allow the judge to use their range, where several officers suggested a series of lessons could teach him better than to turn his head, close his eyes and squeeze the trigger on his 9 mm pistol.
That's when the idea of offering training to Columbus' judges was born. Prather sent invitations to all the judges, with some declining and others welcoming the opportunity.
Muscogee Superior Court Judge John Allen, a Vietnam veteran, said he qualified as an expert marksman in the U.S. Air Force and still has the .38-caliber revolver with which he became so familiar.
"I've only been to the range once or twice over the last five years. I'm not a regular target shooter," Allen said.
Still, he said it's a good idea for anyone who owns a firearm or is considering carrying a handgun to become proficient with the weapon.
Superior Court judges Robert Johnston and Bobby Peters also will be taking the six-hour instruction class.
"I had some firearms training in the Army, but that was a long time ago," Johnston said. "I have been to the range with deputies and I have a pistol, but it's been about 10 years now. I just felt it was appropriate to participate."
Peters, a former deputy sheriff, said he still remembers his firearms training, but he'll take his .357 Magnum to the range with the other judges.
It won't be an all-male judicial shoot, however. State Court Judge Maureen Gottfried, whose husband is a police officer, also has signed up for the firearms instruction.
"It's my personal opinion nobody should carry a gun unless they've had some particular training," Prather said. "At a minimum, we should go through the same qualifying that police do."
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/11566041.htm
Many on the bench already have military or law enforcement experience
BY JIM HOUSTON
Staff Writer
On the heels of recent fatal attacks on a federal judge's family and an Atlanta judge, some Columbus judges have signed up for handgun training by instructors at the Columbus Police Department.
About half of the state or city judges in Columbus have opted to participate in the series of training sessions, said Columbus State Court Judge Andy Prather, who organized the sessions.
Prather said after a federal judge's husband and mother were murdered, he began to seriously question what he should do.
"I realized that if I had not done everything reasonably possible to defend my family and something happened to them, I would never be able to forgive myself," Prather said Wednesday.
Then Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rowland W. Barnes, his court reporter and a sheriff's deputy were gunned down in Atlanta on March 11.
"I went out and bought a gun," Prather said. "That's when I realized I was much more afraid of that gun than of something bad happening."
Police officials offered to allow the judge to use their range, where several officers suggested a series of lessons could teach him better than to turn his head, close his eyes and squeeze the trigger on his 9 mm pistol.
That's when the idea of offering training to Columbus' judges was born. Prather sent invitations to all the judges, with some declining and others welcoming the opportunity.
Muscogee Superior Court Judge John Allen, a Vietnam veteran, said he qualified as an expert marksman in the U.S. Air Force and still has the .38-caliber revolver with which he became so familiar.
"I've only been to the range once or twice over the last five years. I'm not a regular target shooter," Allen said.
Still, he said it's a good idea for anyone who owns a firearm or is considering carrying a handgun to become proficient with the weapon.
Superior Court judges Robert Johnston and Bobby Peters also will be taking the six-hour instruction class.
"I had some firearms training in the Army, but that was a long time ago," Johnston said. "I have been to the range with deputies and I have a pistol, but it's been about 10 years now. I just felt it was appropriate to participate."
Peters, a former deputy sheriff, said he still remembers his firearms training, but he'll take his .357 Magnum to the range with the other judges.
It won't be an all-male judicial shoot, however. State Court Judge Maureen Gottfried, whose husband is a police officer, also has signed up for the firearms instruction.
"It's my personal opinion nobody should carry a gun unless they've had some particular training," Prather said. "At a minimum, we should go through the same qualifying that police do."
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/11566041.htm
