The women who arrived at the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office on Saturday morning had different reasons for wanting to learn firearm safety.

For Josie Spencer of Spartanburg, who has been a widow for six years, she wanted to overcome the fear of handling a handgun, particularly the one that has been sitting untouched in a nightstand.

"I want to feel a little safer," Spencer said. "I'm a widow and I have a gun that don't know how to use.... It's loaded in my nightstand and wouldn't even know how to open the cylinder."

For Pauline White of Gaffney it will allow her to spend some quality time with her son Heath White who is becoming a S.C. Highway Patrolman.

"I wanted to take the class because my son is always wanting me to practice with him," she said. "And I'm scared of guns."

White took the class with her coworker from Cuts Hair Salon, Candice Bright, who was hoping to learn some basic gun techniques and safety.

The reasons ranged from helping prepare Limestone College student Ashley Jefferies for her criminal justice major to improving aim for Blacksburg's Katie Bolton.

During the past two weeks, sheriff's deputies who volunteered their time have taught 26 women in the gender-specific firearm safety class. Sheriff Bill Blanton said the class is held whenever there is enough of a request and allows women to feel more comfortable by getting the instruction with other women. Over the years, he estimated that more than 200 women have taken the class.

"We try to teach respect and not fear," Blanton said. "If you fear the gun, it's not very useful to you."

For Spencer, the class helped. After firing 12 rounds from 10 yards out with a .38 caliber revolver, she said she was comfortable using the weapon.

The instructors, all of whom are members of the

Sheriff's SWAT team, are crime scene investigator Jimmy Henson, who also instructs the deputies in firearm safety and use; Detective Captain Mike

Fowlkes, a SWAT marksman; narcotics Detective Mike Gibson, who shoots competitively; Detective David Oglesby; and training officer Sgt. Wes Foster. Sheriff's Deputy Sgt. Wes Foster watches carefully Saturday as Josie Spencer of Spartanburg uses a handgun for one of the first times in her life. Spencer is one of 26 women who recently took a firearm safety class for women offered by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.