Here's a look at some of the stories we'll be following today as they make headlines in Southwest Virginia.

More people are taking to the skies, and more guns are being confiscated.

ROANOKE, Va. – The new year will bring a change to the concealed carry permit application process in Virginia. If you were planning on completing online training for a concealed carry permit, time is running out. SafeSide Tactical, which has locations in Roanoke and Lynchburg, started offering its concealed carry course online earlier this year after having to cut class sizes to maintain social distancing guidelines in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly, all training for a concealed carry permit must be taken in person starting January 1. It is illegal in Virginia to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.

ROANOKE, Va. – Dozens of people gathered in Roanoke on Tuesday for a “Back the Blue” rally. Two Republican Roanoke City Council candidates, Peg McGuire and Maynard Keller, teamed up with Virginia Republican Senate candidate Daniel Gade and Congressman Ben Cline to show their support for local law enforcement. The event was held outside SafeSide Tactical where speakers talked about the importance of supporting police officers, not defunding them. This event comes as the General Assembly holds a special session in Richmond focusing on police reform. There was also a voter registration booth at the event.

ROANOKE, Va. – At SafeSide Tactical in Roanoke, the ammo shelves are getting bare and about a dozen are completely empty. When we sell a gun, customers expect to be able to purchase ammo so they can use the gun. To put the gun shortage in perspective, SafeSide Tactical was seeing about a 90% decrease in availability on Thursday. “A lot of folks learned a small part of this lesson in 2013 during the ammo shortage,” said Tyler. Now, we’re really in an ammo crisis.”He said the company is looking at what it can do from a manufacturing standpoint to combat the shortage for local gun shops and ranges.

ROANOKE, Va. – A local indoor gun range and retail store with several locations is suing Gov. Northam for closing down indoor gun ranges via executive order. SafeSide Tactical ownership told 10 News that their company filed a lawsuit against Northam on Thursday, as well as an injunction to have indoor gun ranges reopen. According to the lawsuit, EO 53 mandated the “complete and categorical closure of all indoor shooting ranges.” Under the order, indoor gun ranges are classified as “recreation and entertainment businesses,” and therefore non-essential. The lawsuit argues that indoor shooting ranges “cannot be properly placed” into the recreation and entertainment category.

Safeside Tactical has Ladies Day Every Tuesday! If you need help with the Public File, call 540-512-1554.

RICHMOND, Va. – On Monday, the Virginia Citizens Defense League is holding what it says is the most important Lobby Day it’s ever had. The group chartered about 50 buses so people could get to Richmond from all over the Commonwealth. For some, it’s their first time going to Lobby Day. They say they want democratic lawmakers to know they care about the Second Amendment in Central Virginia. “Hopefully, he will see there’s going to be a lot of people that’s going to be voting in the next election,” said Lynchburg resident Mike Ferguson.

ROANOKE, Va. – Two Roanoke organizations are exploring the intersection of mental health and firearms with a training course during the weekend. Safeside Tactical, a gun store and range in Roanoke, will host Blue Ridge Behavioral Health’s “Mental Health First Aid” course Saturday morning. The training focuses on suicide prevention, as well as looking for mental health warning signs in others before they pick up a gun. Sheila Lythgoe, who runs the training for Blue Ridge Behavioral Health, said Safeside Tactical reached out to her first about collaborating. “It’s really just asking those tough questions about, ‘Are you thinking about suicide?’" Lythgoe said.

ROANOKE, Va. - If you're looking for a safe way to show off your shooting skills while having some fall fun, we've found the activity for you. Safeside Tactical is having a free pumpkin shoot. If you hit the pumpkin, you get one free 30-minute range pass and you'll also be put in a drawing for a Safeside Tactical shirt or beanie. The shoot is Wednesday at Safeside from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Copyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.