Floyd’s Resident Firearms Instructor Jim’s first gun was a rifle his father gave him for Christmas at the age of 12. He has been shooting ever since. With over 30 years of experience in handloading ammunition and specializing in load development research, he spends many hours shooting and testing his ammunition. He also makes his own bullets by casting molten lead into bullet molds. Having spent 30 years in industrial construction as a pipefitter/welder, Jim decided it was time to retire. A lifelong resident of Charleston, SC, he also decided it was time for a change from heat, humidity and hurricanes. After coming to Floyd on vacation in the spring of 2008, Jim and his wife Janet fell in love with the area. Eight month later, they packed up their house, three dogs, two cats and moved to Floyd permanently. It wasn’t long after that, Jim realized the need for a firearms instructor in Floyd County. He met with Sheriff Zeman to discuss the possibility of being a firearms instructor in the county. They discussed what information was needed to not only meet the requirements of the Commonwealth of Virginia but what was important for the citizens of Floyd County to know. Jim opened for business in the summer of 2009. Jim is an NRA certified instructor and offers a variety of services including concealed handgun permit classes, training for beginning and advanced handgun, rifle and shotgun shooters , both in a group setting and private instruction. He also offers in-home self defense education and planning. Among the other services offered are firearms appraisals, which can assist the owner in determining the value of their firearms for insurance purposes or for buying and selling. Also offered is oneon-one consultation for first time firearms buyers to assist them in the choosing of a firearm that would best meet their needs. Having family members in SC who raised cattle and farmed, Jim has a high respect for those in the agricultural community. He helps to eradicate coyotes and groundhogs where they are a problem to farmers and landowners. He offers this service free of charge, as a way to give back to the community. With three years of United States Army sanctioned training as an armorer, Jim has a keen understanding of communication, coordination and planning. He is very familiar with leadership and discipline and can follow as well as lead. When instructing people in firearms, he believes communication and understanding are key. “If you can’t explain the basic concepts of firearms and their safe use and handling, it can lead to disastrous results,” stated Jim. A large part of the concealed handgun permit class consists of an in-depth review of the Commonwealth of Virginia firearms 20
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statues. Although Jim is not trained in law or an attorney, he is very familiar with the firearms statutes and stresses the importance of knowing the law regarding firearms. He states, “ignorance of the law is no excuse when you are standing in a courtroom in front of a judge facing a firearms related offense.” Jim is an avid coon hunter and can be found several evenings a week with his best friend and coon-hunting buddy out in the laurel thickets chasing what he calls, “that ring-tailed bandit.” Story by Jim Connor • (540) 230-7727 • www.jgcphotos.wordpress.com Jim, his wife, four dogs and two cats are residents of Floyd County, and Jim is recognized by the Floyd County Sheriffs Office as a firearms instructor.
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