In 16 intensive hours of instruction in the classroom and on the range, the nine students who completed the defensive handgun class were sent home with a solid understanding of handgun shooting skills and a certificate that qualifies us for applying for a concealed weapon-carrying certificate in Maine, New Hampshire and Florida. [...] we're told, the guns in our holsters are a last resort, and that if they ever come out to be fired, lives will change -- and not for the better.