Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: Will there be an increase in blacks obtaining concealed carry permits? [View all]Sequoyah441
(3 posts)I took a Handgun Instructors course from a NRA training counselor. Upon passing the test I was then allowed to teach the NRA Introduction and Basic handgun classes or "First Steps" as they referred to them at the time. I then applied to the TN state DOS to become a state certified handgun instructor that allowed me to teach and conduct the state's required class to obtain a HCL ( I was among the first 50 in the state to apply.) About a month later I received my credentials from the state along with then available materials to conduct a class. I did all this at my own expense to help raise money for my gun club with those proceeds being directed to improving the facilities reserved for our youth marksmanship programs.
We did this for several years until our club attorney determined that our liability insurance wouldn't cover the instructors since we were teaching the state class instead of the NRA class. Several of us again at our own expense bought our own insurance and continued on. Later due to changes in management at the firing range we used we stopped offering the course.
Since then I've been helping two different HCL schools. I'm not an inside person so I do not care to teach the classroom portion of the course so I concentrate on the firing range portion. I'm now the lead range instructor and I call the course of fire. This doesn't sound very impressive but someone has to be in charge and my primary goal is that we have no "accidents" and everyone goes home in the same condition as they arrived. So far other than and few cuts and scrapes all students have been safe, as well as all other instructors. Me not so much but that's another story.
Of the thousands of students several failed on their own, we have took it upon ourselves to fail some that we didn't think had the right attitude or mental facilities. I've told more than a few they needed to invest in buying big stick and a mean dog and forget about guns. IMO the course is very easy and shouldn't be a problem for anyone with just a little common sense to pass. I've been very impressed with several new shooters and very disappointed by experienced shooters. The shooters that scare me the most are LEOs. Their complacence scares the crap out of me.
I also volunteer about 15 hours a month as a range safety officer. My job is to make sure everyone on my range is safe and safely firing their chosen firearm. With dove season not to far away we're starting to see people come in to practice and warm up with their shotguns on our shotgun ranges, then it will be muzzle-loader and center-fire rifles on the rifle range. As the year concludes we'll also have some after dark and cold weather shoots for handguns and long-guns mostly for fun but to also give folks some experience in those conditions.
To answer another of your questions I did make a typo. I start typing fast and mistakes are introduced and I also did a poor job of proof-reading. Please forgive or not.