About 60 Galveston County employees are one step closer to exercising their second amendment right, after completing training for a Concealed Handgun License.

Employees like Nick Foster, who said he had some experience with guns going into training, spent Saturday at the Clear Creek Gun Range for the shooting portion of the CHL class.

“I’ve personally been wanting to do it and meaning to do it and never had proper motivation,” Foster said. “With it being with people I know and free, it was a no brainer.”

Foster said he was pleasantly surprised when he heard the training was free; covered personally by County Judge Mark Henry, along with commissioners Ryan Dennard and Ken Clark as co-sponsors.

“I want to say thanks to the judge and commissioners, this is a neat perk to working for the county,” Foster said.

In addition to helping host the event, Commissioner Dennard took part in the class.

“It’s a beautiful day to be out celebrating the opportunity to exercise our right to bear arms and be able to learn gun safety, which is important,” Dennard said. “We’re real pleased with the outcome.”

Dennard said the feedback has been positive, evident by the first class filling up in just five minutes.

“I think a lot of people have thought about getting their CHL but they just didn’t have the push to do it,” Dennard said. “This gave them a reason to take the time and the opportunity to do it free of charge, they’re excited about it and so are we.”

Judge Henry said he plans to announce a second date soon so that more employees can take advantage of free CHL training.