MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Law enforcement believe, if you are armed, it's vital to be educated.
"There's a law called the illegal discharge of a firearm and you can be arrested for that," Lt. Rickey Bacle said.
Bacle believes heading out to a gun range is the proper way to shoot some rounds for fun.
"If you were to go outside your home and fire a weapon and the bullet accidentally strikes someone and kills them, you could actually be charged with involuntary manslaughter," Bacle said.
Assault rifle type firearms are raising eyebrows to some lawmakers, even President Obama. The Commander-in-Chief is calling to ban this type of firearm from being sold on store shelves. He believes it's only reserved for the military.
One parent, who also favors armed guards on campuses, doesn't agree with the ban proposal.
"I can think on my own and I know what to do and what not to do with a weapon and I have taught my children the same thing," Liz Strickland said.
Strickland believes the country is having the wrong conversation. Some say those who commit massacres are unstable medically.
"These are sick people who are doing this," Strickland said. "These are not sane people like you and me."
Author and former Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives Martha Zoller is hoping to arm the country with new knowledge.
"What I'm not hearing enough of is what are we going to do about mental illness in this country," Zoller said.
Gun sales are rising across the nation. The same goes locally.
But Zoller says the national gun debate, that's firing up many gun owners is not political.
"I don't think this is the typical Republican, Democrat divide. I think this is more of an urban versus rural divide," Zoller said.
Strickland says banning any sort of gun is not the right direction to go.
"Personally, I can't help but to think about how many of my ancestors fought to give me that, and now here's an administration who's goal is to take those away, one by one by one," the parent said.
Louisiana U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu continues to be a gun owner advocate, but she has publicly endorsed some moderate measures in hopes of curbing gun violence.
Her colleague, Louisiana U.S. Senator David Vitter is a strong proponent for gun ownership. He has publicly objected to new restricted gun measures even before President Obama made his new gun proposals.
Back to the public gun range in Ouachita Parish. Deputies say they are simply working with those who are targeting fun. And not bodies.
"We have a 25 station pistol range, and 19 rifle stages," Bacle said.
To find out more about the Ouachita Parish Gun Range, click here.
