Local News

Sheriff’s Office Offering Firearms Classes

Mar 17, 2015

Citizen firearm classes are offered to the public by the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office at their top of line facility in Okanogan. The classes they offer certainly focus on safety, but the primary goal of the training is to develop the ability to defend yourself or others using a firearm.

They offer an Essentials class, covering the basics followed by an intermediate course that picks up where the essentials class leaves off. All classes are four hours in length. They include a safety briefing and a mix of classroom and on range instruction. They end the day with a pot luck meal and certificates of training.

There is no charge for the classes. You will need to use the Sheriff’s Office firearms and ammo for the Essentials class and you may use theirs or your own for the Intermediate class and all others, but you will have to provide your own ammo for all classes other than the Essentials class. The NRA provided the Firearms for their classes and they have provided the department with the ammunition for the Essentials class.

In order to sign up for the classes, you will need to fill out a registration form, and complete the mandatory background check. This is to ensure they are not teaching felons.

The Sheriff’s Office generally teaches about 10 classes per year and begin in the spring around April teaching one or two per month through October. Times and dates are determined annually in the spring and modified as needed throughout the year.

They currently do not teach youth on their range, so you must be at least 18 years of age to attend a class.

Sign ups are first come first serve basis. You must attend the Essentials class prior to attending Intermediate or above unless you have approved formal training.

If you have any questions about the program, contact Deputy Michael Blake, at 509-846-6011 or at mblake@co.okanogan.wa.us .