GALLIA COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) -- Walk into just about any gun store in our region and you'll likely be met with bare shelves, and long wait lists for guns and ammunition.

And when it comes to classes to learn how to use those guns, they're filling up fast.

Local gun instructors credit a lot of that interest to what's going on in Washington. With all the uncertainty about gun control, many folks are wanting to make sure they have the tools -- and skills -- to protect their families.

“We've seen classes really pick up,” instructor Jessamy Bright says. “We're filling up our classes. I've been really surprised at the response.”

This fall, Jessamy and her brother-in-law Tyson started Patronus Training. Tyson spent eight years in the military. Now, he's using that expert arms training to help folks learn how to protect their families.

“Protective firearms instruction for the real world,” Bright said. “We want people to be able to use these things in real life.”

Lisa Merry got her concealed carry permit after taking a class from Patronous. She's also signed up for a more advanced class.

“If I'm put in a situation where I feel that I will be harmed, I feel more confident that I will be able to protect myself,” Merry said.

Patronus Training uses the Backwoods Guns Range for the hands-on portion of its classes.

The last few weeks, interest has been so high, Bright says folks were lining up at the range.

“We had a private class last weekend, and the range was more packed than I had ever seen it,” Bright said.

For many of those folks, it's their first experience with a gun. Patronus Training says it’s had calls from folks saying, “I just bought an AR 15 ... What do I do with it?”

Their answer?

Take a class.

“I would rather have someone who is knowledgeable who carries safely as a fellow concealed carry person,” Bright said. “So definitely, it's important to get some experience. Get some trigger time.”

Wherever you go to get that trigger time, make sure you sign up early. Everywhere we checked, classes were filling up fast.