After 30 years as a cop, Skip now trains civilians in the proper use of handguns. This particular class is for a concealed carry permit.

There are six people at the firing line. They start two yards back from the paper target and move progressively back to the 12-yard line. They’ll fire a total of 50 rounds.

Skip keeps an eye on Norbert, an overweight guy wearing a desert camouflage jumpsuit. Norbert needs to be told everything twice. That annoys Skip.

Weapons are supposed to be empty as the class lines up at the two-yard line. "Load your weapons and be sure they’re pointed downrange," Skip orders.

Hearing the command, Norbert throws a salute toward Skip with his left hand as he takes a slight sidestep leaving his 9-mm Glock pointed directly at the shooter beside him.

"Downrange, I said," yells Skip. "The next one to point his weapon at the firing line — I’ll shoot him myself."

Again, Norbert salutes but this time keeps his weapon pointed downrange.

"Load and holster your weapons," Skip orders. Everybody complies except for one guy who’s trying to put the clip in backward. After some instructions the line is ready to fire.

"On my command, draw your weapon and fire two shots at the center of the target, then holster your weapon," Skip calls out. Then he gives the order to fire, "Contact!"

Everybody on the line gets off two shots. Amazingly, Norbert’s shots are both in the black (K-5) area. Things progress smoothly until the group gets to the 12-yard line.

While Skip is giving instructions to one of the other shooters, he is startled by what he sees. Norbert is standing at the line with his pistol pointed at the side of his own head.

"Downrange with that weapon, mister!" Skip screams as he comes up behind Norbert. Puzzled, Norbert points his Glock downrange.

"Don’t you dare try to kill yourself on my turf, you idiot," Skip yells at Norbert.

Amazed at the instructor’s reaction, Norbert explains innocently, "I had an itch, sir — all’s I was doing was using my gun to scratch the itch on my head."