Hundreds attend Marietta gun safety seminar

Hundreds of people turned out for a gun safety seminar held in Marietta on Thursday night.  The event, which was sponsored by the Marietta Police Department, drew a crowd so big that they actually had to move it to the auditorium at Marietta Middle School to accommodate everyone.

Before the event, police said nearly 700 people had registered for the gun safety seminar.  Typically, they say, they have about 100-150 people.  Thursday's crowd was by far the biggest they've seen, with the women outnumbering the men.  Because of the high turnout, police were forced to find a new location to host the seminar.   

Those who attended the event learned the top four rules for owning firearms: treat every gun as if it's loaded; never point a gun at anything you're not willing to destroy; keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to fire; and identify your target.  They also learned about the state's Stand Your Ground law.

Many said they came for answers before buying a firearm.  Others said they already have weapons in their home, and wanted to know what they can do to make sure their families stay safe. It's suspected that guns in the news-- including the Connecticut school shootings, the debate on gun control, and skyrocketing gun sales-- contributed to the high turnout.

Marietta police usually host two or three firearms safety events each year, and they've been holding them for about the past two years. Their next seminar will take place on February 28, though police say they're not sure what kind of response they'll get.