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Judy Cope armed with more than knowledge
By Michael Cary
The Gazette-Enterprise
Published August 31, 2007
ZUEHL — The state’s “Castle Law” removes a requirement that a citizen retreat from an attacker before using force if the other person is entering a citizen’s home, auto or workplace.
But, do you shoot to kill?
Never, says Guadalupe County Commissioner Judy Cope, who not only stands occasionally on the political firing line, she frequently is on the firing line at the Bexar Community Shooting Range.
About once a month or so, Commissioner Cope answers the shoot to kill and other questions about carrying a concealed handgun in her capacity as a concealed handgun instructor, certified by the Department of Public Safety.
“Do we shoot to kill? Never shoot to kill. You shoot to stop someone because you are in fear for your life. And you can protect a third party if the person is in imminent danger. It’s a judgment call. Use only the amount of force sufficient to protect yourself,” Cope said recently to 14 men and two women who signed up for her class, either to renew a license or obtain a new one.
Cope explained to the class that every shooting, even with the advent of Senate Bill 378, or the Castle Law (it goes into effect on Saturday), deadly force must be justified.
“Every shooting goes before a grand jury, and you’re either no-billed or indicted. You must be in fear for your life, that’s the answer you should have when an attorney asks you the question,” Cope explained to the class.
Students who take the concealed handgun class learn many things about the responsibility of carrying a concealed weapon and being licensed to do so. They also learn about pepper spray, tasers and things to do to avoid altercations or to take oneself out of harm’s way.
A concealed handgun carrier who gets pulled over by a police officer would be wise to notify the officer about the handgun, because the information will be on the computer when he or she runs the license plate number.
If a handgun is possessed by a person who is injured in an auto accident, the injured party should tell a policeman so the weapon can be secured.
“How many times have you encountered trouble? To leave without using your weapon in a situation is the best choice,” Cope asked, then answered for her class.
Before Cope’s recent class adjourned to the shooting range, she demonstrated alternative defense items.
Tasers? They are legal in Texas. Check the batteries.
Pepper spray should be aimed at an attacker’s chest to ensure inhalation.
“The first thing to do before you spray is to check which way the wind is blowing,” Cope explained. She keeps a pepper spray canister on her key ring.
“When you park your car, take 30 seconds to look around and see what is going on. You’ll be amazed at what you see,” she said.
Most people have a sixth sense, but they don’t always use it.
“If you feel like something is not right, it’s not,” Cope said.
At one point during the class, Cope put her students through a practice drill with toy handguns, and a couple of students cracked Dirty Harry jokes: “Do you feel lucky, punk? Go ahead, make my day.”
Another lesson on where to point and shoot out on the range.
“Point your gun at me on the range and you don’t get your license. If you point it at your neighbor, all bets are off. Lock and load, lock it back, load the magazine, release the slide, hold your breath, squeeze the trigger. The one with the name on the shirt is the instructor. This is the target. Fire before I tell you and it’s a miss,” Cope explained.
Shooters were soon matched with shooting coaches (fellow students), and they headed for the target range.
It’s not a course that is meant to be difficult to pass.
The students must fire 20 rounds at nine feet, 20 rounds at 21 feet, and 10 rounds at 45 feet, with a 70 percent accuracy. The target is a DPS-approved human silhouette, and shooters are encouraged to aim at the center mass, which is about the center of the abdomen/chest, where it is easier to score a hit than to take a risk and shoot at someone’s head and miss.
La Vernia Mayor Pro Tem Harold Schott retired from the San Antonio Police Department after a 33-year career.
One would be wise not to charge at him with a weapon, because he is a deadly-accurate shooter. Not one of his bullets hit outside the “bread basket” area on his target, and a couple of holes were on dead center in the bullseye.
But Schott was renewing his concealed handgun license by taking Cope’s class, and he explained the reason for it:
“If you go to buy a new shotgun, even if you’re in a policeman’s uniform, you have a five-day wait for an FBI background check. If you have a concealed handgun license, you could have the gun today. If you want to purchase a gun, a license makes it easier,” Schott said.
Joe Thompson of Seguin said he enrolled in Cope’s concealed handgun class to protect himself.
“The course was recommended to me by a master instructor in conflict avoidance. The way things are going in the world, I thought it was a good idea to have some certification,” Thompson said.
Cope said she has taught the concealed handgun license class for the past 12 years. She rents a classroom at the Bexar Community Shooting Range, and she teaches the classes about every month or so when enough students sign up.
The tuition for a new license costs $110 (10 hours instruction), and a renewal costs $80 (four classroom hours). The licenses are good for five years, but after the third renewal, they’re good for 10 years.
“Put your ears on, and lock and load,” Cope tells her students on the shooting range.
And, she can’t resist having a little fun at their expense.
After the first round of shooters had hit the target a few times, she gave them the bad news.
“If a bullet goes through the same hole twice, it doesn’t count, I forgot to tell you that,” Cope told them.
“Someone always looks at me and says ‘are you serious?’” she said.
To sign up for Guadalupe County Commissioner Judy Cope’s concealed handgun class, call her at (830) 303-2295.
http://seguingazette.com/story.lasso?ewcd=e0d92042921ed87a
By Michael Cary
The Gazette-Enterprise
Published August 31, 2007
ZUEHL — The state’s “Castle Law” removes a requirement that a citizen retreat from an attacker before using force if the other person is entering a citizen’s home, auto or workplace.
But, do you shoot to kill?
Never, says Guadalupe County Commissioner Judy Cope, who not only stands occasionally on the political firing line, she frequently is on the firing line at the Bexar Community Shooting Range.
About once a month or so, Commissioner Cope answers the shoot to kill and other questions about carrying a concealed handgun in her capacity as a concealed handgun instructor, certified by the Department of Public Safety.
“Do we shoot to kill? Never shoot to kill. You shoot to stop someone because you are in fear for your life. And you can protect a third party if the person is in imminent danger. It’s a judgment call. Use only the amount of force sufficient to protect yourself,” Cope said recently to 14 men and two women who signed up for her class, either to renew a license or obtain a new one.
Cope explained to the class that every shooting, even with the advent of Senate Bill 378, or the Castle Law (it goes into effect on Saturday), deadly force must be justified.
“Every shooting goes before a grand jury, and you’re either no-billed or indicted. You must be in fear for your life, that’s the answer you should have when an attorney asks you the question,” Cope explained to the class.
Students who take the concealed handgun class learn many things about the responsibility of carrying a concealed weapon and being licensed to do so. They also learn about pepper spray, tasers and things to do to avoid altercations or to take oneself out of harm’s way.
A concealed handgun carrier who gets pulled over by a police officer would be wise to notify the officer about the handgun, because the information will be on the computer when he or she runs the license plate number.
If a handgun is possessed by a person who is injured in an auto accident, the injured party should tell a policeman so the weapon can be secured.
“How many times have you encountered trouble? To leave without using your weapon in a situation is the best choice,” Cope asked, then answered for her class.
Before Cope’s recent class adjourned to the shooting range, she demonstrated alternative defense items.
Tasers? They are legal in Texas. Check the batteries.
Pepper spray should be aimed at an attacker’s chest to ensure inhalation.
“The first thing to do before you spray is to check which way the wind is blowing,” Cope explained. She keeps a pepper spray canister on her key ring.
“When you park your car, take 30 seconds to look around and see what is going on. You’ll be amazed at what you see,” she said.
Most people have a sixth sense, but they don’t always use it.
“If you feel like something is not right, it’s not,” Cope said.
At one point during the class, Cope put her students through a practice drill with toy handguns, and a couple of students cracked Dirty Harry jokes: “Do you feel lucky, punk? Go ahead, make my day.”
Another lesson on where to point and shoot out on the range.
“Point your gun at me on the range and you don’t get your license. If you point it at your neighbor, all bets are off. Lock and load, lock it back, load the magazine, release the slide, hold your breath, squeeze the trigger. The one with the name on the shirt is the instructor. This is the target. Fire before I tell you and it’s a miss,” Cope explained.
Shooters were soon matched with shooting coaches (fellow students), and they headed for the target range.
It’s not a course that is meant to be difficult to pass.
The students must fire 20 rounds at nine feet, 20 rounds at 21 feet, and 10 rounds at 45 feet, with a 70 percent accuracy. The target is a DPS-approved human silhouette, and shooters are encouraged to aim at the center mass, which is about the center of the abdomen/chest, where it is easier to score a hit than to take a risk and shoot at someone’s head and miss.
La Vernia Mayor Pro Tem Harold Schott retired from the San Antonio Police Department after a 33-year career.
One would be wise not to charge at him with a weapon, because he is a deadly-accurate shooter. Not one of his bullets hit outside the “bread basket” area on his target, and a couple of holes were on dead center in the bullseye.
But Schott was renewing his concealed handgun license by taking Cope’s class, and he explained the reason for it:
“If you go to buy a new shotgun, even if you’re in a policeman’s uniform, you have a five-day wait for an FBI background check. If you have a concealed handgun license, you could have the gun today. If you want to purchase a gun, a license makes it easier,” Schott said.
Joe Thompson of Seguin said he enrolled in Cope’s concealed handgun class to protect himself.
“The course was recommended to me by a master instructor in conflict avoidance. The way things are going in the world, I thought it was a good idea to have some certification,” Thompson said.
Cope said she has taught the concealed handgun license class for the past 12 years. She rents a classroom at the Bexar Community Shooting Range, and she teaches the classes about every month or so when enough students sign up.
The tuition for a new license costs $110 (10 hours instruction), and a renewal costs $80 (four classroom hours). The licenses are good for five years, but after the third renewal, they’re good for 10 years.
“Put your ears on, and lock and load,” Cope tells her students on the shooting range.
And, she can’t resist having a little fun at their expense.
After the first round of shooters had hit the target a few times, she gave them the bad news.
“If a bullet goes through the same hole twice, it doesn’t count, I forgot to tell you that,” Cope told them.
“Someone always looks at me and says ‘are you serious?’” she said.
To sign up for Guadalupe County Commissioner Judy Cope’s concealed handgun class, call her at (830) 303-2295.
http://seguingazette.com/story.lasso?ewcd=e0d92042921ed87a
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