Triton College Offers Firearms Training Course for General Public

Deborah Bayliss | As of Wednesday, January 15, 2014


In response to a federal court striking down Illinois’ ban on public possession of concealed guns last year—Triton College’s School of Continuing Education will offer a new course that will provide individuals with the education and training needed to apply for the Concealed Carry License in Illinois.

Colleen Mazzuca-Pesce, Assistant Dean at Triton’s School of Continuing Education helped develop the curriculum along with the Illinois State Police and three fire arm training instructors which includes a River Grove police officer.

“When Illinois passed Concealed Carry last summer, we knew what was going to follow. The laws were constantly changing and it took us about six months to put together a program,” Mazzuca-Pesce said. “We ran our first course in Dec.”

People are inquiring and signing up for the Triton College course in large numbers, according to Mazzuca-Pesce.

“Both men and women are signing up for the course,” said Mazzuca-Pesce. “You’d be surprised at the amount of people who have FOID cards (a Firearm Owners Identification, something Illinois residents must have to legally possess or purchase firearms or ammunition).

Approved by the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Community College Board, the course fulfills the 16-hour state requirement and will include lessons on basic firearm safety as well as Illinois and federal laws regarding carrying a concealed handgun. The course will also include an hour of training at a firing range in Lombard.

“Triton has a very strong criminal justice program and a long history of training first responders, which will be leveraged to provide a high quality CCW (Concealed Carry Weapons) education for our district residents,” said Paul Jensen, Dean of the School of Continuing Education.

Course participants will use laser pistols designed with the weight and look of a real handgun to practice dry firing a gun until it’s time for actual gun range practice where they will then use their own personal firearm during a one hour session.

“When community members are informed and educated and if ever are in a situation where the need arises, training will provide them with what they should do,” said Mazzuca-Pesce. “Knowledge is power.”

The course curriculum also covers concealed carry laws and restrictions.

Cost is $249 and participants must be 21 years of age and have a valid FOID card they are required to show on the first day of class.

For class dates and times, visit www.triton.edu/CCW.

Triton also offers education and training in Basic Security and a 20-hour Firearms handling course.

For more information, call Triton’s School of Continuing Education at (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3500.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

A.L. Smith - Harold Washington Legacy Committee