In response to the high demand for free firearms safety classes provided by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at Shooters World, Sheriff Chad Chronister has announced that teamHCSO will double funding for these classes.
All available slots were filled within just 20 hours of the program's announcement on April 25, 2023. Due to that overwhelming demand, Sheriff Chronister has added another $50,000 to the partnership, a total investment of $100,000, allowing for more than 1,300 Hillsborough County residents to be trained free of charge. The funds come from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund, which is money confiscated from criminal activity in the county. These funds will now be utilized in our community to make Hillsborough County a safer place to live, work and raise a family.
This free course will provide attendees with safe handling and storage knowledge along with best practices for where and when they can legally carry their firearms.
"We strongly believe in the benefits this program will bring to our community and its ability to promote responsible gun ownership, ultimately reducing the incidence of accidental discharges, injuries, and fatalities," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "We are pleased with the positive response to the program so far and will continue to prioritize investing in the safety of our community. We look forward to receiving participant feedback to enhance the program further."
teamHCSO extends its gratitude to the Kearney family and everyone at Shooters World for their incredible support of this firearms training course. Their commitment to firearm safety and our community's education is unparalleled, and we are incredibly grateful for your generosity.
If you are a Hillsborough County resident, you can sign up for this free class by going to shootersworld.com. Classes are offered seven days a week. When you enter the code "HCSO" at checkout, the class with be free.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is also giving out free trigger locks and/or a single-firearm vault to all who participate in the course and anyone in need of one. To learn more about how you can receive a trigger lock or vault, call teamHCSO’s Community Outreach Division at 813-247-8115.