BLAIRSVILLE, GA – Union County Sheriff’s Office is sponsoring a Weapons Carry Class on Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

This class is open to the public and free of charge, and it will be held at the Haralson Memorial Civic Center at 165 Wellborn Street in Blairsville.

The training covers the “Do’s and Don’ts” for carrying weapons and provides an overview of how people can legally defend themselves and their property.

Staff Sergeant Purcell will be teaching the course. sixth time teaching the class. He has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, including as a Georgia P.O.S.T. certified instructor with Firearms and Defensive Tactics as his major course of instruction. SSgt. Purcell is also a two-tour Vietnam vet and has taught this class six times.

The Staff Sergeant was a senior instructor from 1986 to 2010 at Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College Police Academy. Additionally, he was the assistant director of the academy from 2002 to 2010.

Purcell has a degree in criminal justice and graduated from the Professional Management Program, Command College. He also attended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy 159^th session.

In addition to his law enforcement service and education, Purcell was one of the few officers selected to travel to Israel and serve as a law enforcement exchange officer.

Participants don’t require a firearm for class. Please park at the civic center and not in the adjacent parking lot for Skillet Café Restaurant.  Parking will also be available across the road at the county permit office on the hill.

There is no fee or test for this class, just free information.