[Pennsylvania] After spending eight years in the military, Leroy Learn Jr. decided to come back to Erie and open Learn Defense Industries in North East. He saw the lack of education when it came to gun handling, and the basics of learning how to use a firearm. With his experience in the military he knew how quick a situation can become dangerous. Learn is a certified instructor by the NRA Simulations and Taser. He teaches classes on self defense, and basic pistol training. Learn says the in the last year he’s seen more people buy guns and are looking for ways to properly handle a firearm.

“Unfortunately, with the Coronavirus and the riots really picked everything up with the fear that came along with those it was an absolute boom in people just wanting to contact us and talk to us about it,” says Learn.

During the last year we’ve seen firearm sales skyrocket, with more people looking to buy and learn how to handle a gun. Learn says he saw the need for basic training when it comes to firearms, and especially more training when it comes to the law.

“If you have a lethal encounter and you act outside of the law, you’re still responsible for your actions you perform. That’s why in our basic pistol course we spend so much time going over the law because there’s a lot of law out there, and if you don’t know what it is, you can go to jail for being the victim of a crime,” says Learn.

Not only does Learn teach the law but he also is showing people the proper way to handle a firearm. With more people looking to own and learn how to use guns he says he’s seen more new gun owners come to classes.

“I have so many and they just purchased a fire arm because it was the only fire arm to purchase in the store at the time and they had to have the gun right then and there. Then they come to class and the firearm doesn’t function the way they want it to,” says Learn.

“I would say the best thing about it is that it gives you confidence. I see several people come into the class and they don’t feel confident around it or feel confident just going for a walk or they just feel afraid about something so it gives them confidence,” says Learn.

Learn says this is the best thing you can do if you’re looking to get a firearm and keep up on your self defense skills.

“If you don’t practice with it you will lose what you’ve been taught but if you get that basic knowledge, and you sit there and go okay I got that now I can go and continue my training for myself and then go and get more advanced training when I feel confident enough for that later more advanced training,” says Learn.