Community rallies behind LCC’s gunsmithing program — online petition collects nearly 2,500 signatures in just three days

A contingent of local residents showed up at the Susanville Pizza Factory Friday, Nov. 21 to learn about the recent decision by the Lassen Community College Board of Trustees to terminate the college’s gunsmithing program and try to come up with a solution to save it.

According to a email sent to LassenNews.com Friday evening, an online petition supporting the gunsmithing program had already collected nearly 2,500 signatures in the first three days of the petition drive to save the program.

According to a handout distributed by the newly formed Lassen Gunsmithing Action Committee at the meeting entitled “Protecting tradition. Preserving craft. Restoring Lassen Gunsmithing,” for generations since its founding in 1945, the gunsmithing program — one of the oldest and most respected programs in the nation — “has attracted students from across the nation seeking specialized training in firearm repair, machining, stockmaking, engraving and safe craftmanship. Graduates have gone on to become industry professionals, shop owners, custom builders and leaders to preserving American gunsmithing tradition.

“As one of only a handful of accredited programs in the country — and the only one serving rural Northern California — Lassen’s program has played a crucial role in sustaining skilled trades education, supporting the local economy and maintaining a historic craft. Its nearly 80-year legacy continues to symbolize excellence in hands-on technical training.”

According to spokesperson Gabe Williams, the purpose of the newly formed committee is to open a dialog with the college in order to find a way to ensure the continuation of the program. He hopes when the college sees the community support the program has generated, the trustees can find a way to resolve the issues standing in the program’s way and reinstate it.

A wide variety of ideas and concepts arose at the meeting including an audit of the program and an investigation into the process the college board followed before presenting the issue to the trustees, including the allegedly improper involvement of the college president in a college revitalization committee created to try and save the program. Someone said these issues eventually may rise to the level of a lawsuit.

Williams stressed the committee’s mission should be proactive in seeking a solution, not just reacting with an attitude.

One person alleged the college did not inform the public the program was in danger.

Another person who attended the board of trustees meeting said,” You could tell they had their minds made up” before the matter came to a vote.

Another suggested getting a grant writer to help raise money.

A former gunsmithing instructor said the program’s enrollment dropped due to COVID and a current instructor said when he asked for travel money to respond to recruiting requests from four different schools, the administration denied his request.

The current instructor said other programs have directors who oversee the program, but gunsmithing does not.

He said he had students who were willing to come to the college for gunsmithing, and he recently turned away an entire class. He also said other programs at the college are experiencing enrollment declines, but they are not on the chopping block.

He also said he’s heard the college planned on terminating the program and bringing it back later, but he said such a decision would lead to the demise of the equipment used by the program.

LCC Trustee Sophia Wages, the lone nay vote of the board’s decision to terminate the gunsmithing program attended the meeting and someone asked her opinion.

“I just want what’s fair for the program,” she said.

Someone lamented, once you lose something it’s gone forever.

Committee members plan to plead their case at the next board meeting, reportedly scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 9 when they hope the board and the administration will open the door to a fresh discussion and reverse its decision.

For more information on the Lasswen Gunsmithing Committee, email lassengac@gmail.com or call (775) 453-4582.

Click here to read LassenNews.com’s Nov. 7 story, “LCC board considers fate of gunsmithing program at Wednesday’s meeting.”

Click here to read LassenNews.com’s Nov. 13, 2025 story, “LCC board ends gunsmithing program.”

Click here to read LassenNews.com’s Nov. 19, 2025 story, “Gunsmithing Action Committee meeting held at 6 p.m. Friday at Susanville Pizza Factory in effort to save historic LCC program.”