Donation will help keep Pine Tech gunsmithing program going

By John Behling
The gunsmithing program at Pine Technical College (PTC) in Pine City, received a boost May 2 when major supplier Brownells donated $17,478 in supplies.
ìWeíve been working with PTC to supply students with tools for the gunsmithing program for 23 years, and thought it would be a terrific way to help bring more skilled workers to the career field,î said Brad Fenton, who awarded the donation.
ìBrownells has really made an impact on us with this donation,î said gunsmithing instructor Dave Defenbaugh. ìIt comes at a good time, what with the budget shortfalls and cuts. This equipment will help us breathe a little easier for this year and next.î
Founded 23 years ago, the gunsmithing program at PTC is unique to the upper Midwest and one of the seven schools nationwide that offers a degree in gunsmithing.
Graduates of the program typically find employment with retail stores like Cabelas and Gander Mountain as repair personnel and with weapons manufacturers such as Magnum Research in Minneapolis.
Although the field of weapons manufacturing is now experiencing technological advances in the areas of smart weapons and composite materials, gunsmithing has fundamentally stayed the same for Defenbaugh, who started teaching when the program was created at PTC 23 years ago.
After over two decades of teaching, Defenbaugh still enjoys each new wave of students.
ìItís nice to see the students come in with the deer-in-the-headlights look and leave with confidence in their faces,î Defenbaugh said.
Students are required to undergo 1,340 hours of hands on training coupled with lectures, which account for 1/3 of total class time.
Because they handle firearms regularly, PTC gunsmithing students must adhere to a zero-tolerance safety policy.
ìWe make it known on day one that live ammunition anywhere other than my office or the shooting tube will get you expelled,î Defenbaugh said. The program has never had an incident of firearm related accident or injury.
Outside of class, the PTC Shooters Association has promoted safe use of firearms and firearm sports for 21 years. Annually the organization hosts a gun show at PTC. The event allows students, and the public, to buy, sell and trade firearms. The event includes the raffle of a custom rifle built by a student. This yearís show was held March 1-2 with an attendance of 2,810. Proceeds go to scholarships, material costs and other departmental expenses.
Currently, handguns are a hot political topic. Revisions in concealed weapon legislation are expected to create a large increase in number of permits issued.
ìI think that it should be every honest, law-abiding citizenís right to own a firearm. Concealed? I donít know how I feel about that,î Defenbaugh said. Defenbaugh declines to carry a weapon and feels that those who decide to should undergo the same psychological training required for police officers. ìWhen you strap on that weapon, you strap on a lot of responsibility,î Defenbaugh said.
Another debated issue concerns the liability of weapons manufacturers for crimes perpetrated with their products. On this subject Defenbaugh is more decided.
ìYou have way too many stupid people who do stupid things with firearms and then go back to the manufacturer about it. I, personally, have a problem with that,î Defenbaugh said.

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