Free seminar in New Kensington to cover firearm safety, responsible gun ownership

The basics of firearm safety and shooting fundamentals will be covered in a free seminar Sunday in New Kensington.

“We want to make sure the people that are interested in protecting themselves, their family and their loved ones have the opportunity to have good training under their belts,” said Aaron Allen, owner and lead instructor of Elite Tactical Firearms Training in Greensburg.

Allen will lead the firearm safety portion of the seminar being organized by Eugene Bryan Sharpley at Lost Dreams Awakening.

Sharpley, 44, a Penn Hills native who has lived in New Kensington for 11 years, is a barber, working at Sarita’s Hair Salon. Late last year, he and several others started Urban Second Amendment in East Liberty, where he had a barber shop that closed in March. He’s bringing U2A to New Kensington now that he lives and works there.

In addition to teaching firearm safety and responsible gun ownership, U2A seeks to educate residents of urban communities on topics such as wilderness survival training through outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, foraging, hunting and trapping of small game.

“People in urban areas are least likely to have those skills,” Sharpley said. “These are more rural skills that are passed down from generation to generation.”

Through U2A, Sharpley said he also wants to provide ways for people to get certified in emergency first aid and CPR, and conduct virtual meetings to study the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Sharpley said they noticed an increase in gun sales, particularly among those who had never owned one before.

“We were talking about how, in order to get a hunting license, you have to take a safety course,” he said. “There’s no safety course requirement to own a firearm. We developed a program to offer a formal introduction to firearm safety to the public, with our target demographic being first-time gun owners.”

U2A had classes last year on firearm safety and pantry preparation. The upcoming seminar is its first free public event.

“Everyone is welcome,” he said. “This is an equal opportunity organization that just wishes to contribute to the community.”

Sharpley is not allowed to own a firearm because he is a convicted felon. In 2018, he pleaded guilty to spitting in a police officer’s face during an arrest in 2015. Police said he threatened to kill a woman and refused to comply with authorities who responded.

“I grew up on the wrong side of the law,” he said. “I just want to give back. I want to make a positive mark on this world. I feel this is my calling.”

Allen said his part of the seminar will be classroom instruction with no live firearms, ammunition or shooting. No firearms or ammunition will be allowed inside.

Allen, a corporal with the Pennsylvania State Police, said he opened his business three years ago as he saw a need in Westmoreland County for firearm education and training.

“We have been seeing a huge uptick in everyday civilians wanting to learn about firearms and firearm safety,” he said. “In Pennsylvania, you don’t have to take any sort of training classes to own a gun. There really isn’t a lot of restrictions for individuals that want to use firearms.

“It’s great to see people wanting to come to these trainings and get properly trained.”

In addition, an attorney, Patrick Nightingale, will discuss legal issues such as medical marijuana and concealed carry, the proper procedure for when a person is pulled over by police while carrying a legal firearm, castle doctrine and self-defense.

The seminar also will highlight other services available in the community surrounding self-defense and preparedness.

Given the recent spate of gun violence in the U.S. and the ongoing debate over gun control, Sharpley recognizes that guns are a controversial topic.

“I feel that it’s the perfect time to bring this into every community. More responsible gun owners is what we need in light of recent events,” he said. “The most important thing, in my opinion, would be to educate the good guys and to help to harden soft targets.”