Introductory Firearms Course - Crazy Idea?

J

Jeff Thomas

New member
Hear me out, please.

I've thought of offering my services to introduce people to firearms. Placing an ad in the local, neighborhood newspaper, and basically saying something like: 'Introduction to Firearms Course - if you've considered purchasing a firearm for self defense, and don't know where to start, I'll provide one hour of introduction, including advice on training, safe storage, purchasing, selection and Internet resources. Cost $50'.

The fee is open ... I'd prefer to simply get people to join one of my favorite charities ... Mothers Arms ( www.mothersarms.org ), but we'll see.

In essence, I'm wondering if I could generate some interest on the part of non-shooters, and help them get past their initial fears? I can offer some credentials that should generate some reasonable confidence on the part of prospective students.

My main goal would be to help expand the pool of responsible, and politically active firearms owners.

Your thoughts? Another goofy idea? ;) Thanks.

Regards from AZ
 
Not goofy at all..every Canadian who wants to obtain a Firearms Acquisition Certificate, or a Possession and Acquistion License must attend a mandatory Firearms Safety and Handling Course.
Them's the Rules..<s>
 
Good idea -- it's mandatory in my Club to pass a written exam on our Safety Training Course (which includes theory and practice) before you can become a Full Member -- and the Pass Mark is 80%.

My only concern would be about insurance and/or liability disclaimers in the event of an "incident". Is there any way you can make sure your ar$e is well and truly covered??

B
 
If I read this correctly, the idea is a "pre-intro" course for those who think they may need a defensive handgun but know nothing about them. If so, a good idea, but I have a couple of suggestions:

$50 is a bit high, I think. Since you say the fee is irrelevant, you might offer the course in return for a small charity donation (this is on my mind because the local Police Athletic League just lost their grant). If you do so, the charity will probably cover your overhead.

One of the biggest barriers to couples getting into handgunning is when the man wants a gun and the woman doesn't. Since you have contacts with Mothers Arms, publicizing the female aspect (maybe a female co-instructor?) will help lessen the women's resistance. You might also point out the value of CCW as an anti-rape strategy.

If there's any way you can get the local police or Sheriff to endorse your course, it will legitimize it with the citizens and be a great promo.

As for the liability, since this is a "pre-intro", it should be possible to do it without the actual physical presence of a firearm. Do it all from slide shows and video, and offer a follow up for those interested in trying a weapon: a trip to a range with rentals. The range's insurance and waivers will be in force.
 
I hate to do this, but it's for your own good.

Lousy Idea. You yourself need to go to an NRA Pistol and Personal Protection course. THEN take the Instructor's course. Why? Simple. #1 The NRA has established and lawyer approved training material and requirements. Coming up with your own information opens you up to lawsuits if anyone ever has to use their gun and then says,"Jeff Thomas told me to do it like that." Being a certified NRA Instructor and sticking to the ciriculum puts the legal liability on the NRA, whom I'm sure has better lawyers than you. #2 during the course, you will learn about the budgeting for the course. I know you don't THINK that it's that bad, but just wait. After going throught the course, you'll find that to just break even, you'll charge about $90 per student. Why? Range fees, INSURANCE, written materials, target stands, targets, guns (what if the person doesn't know what they want, but wants to learn?), spare guns if their gun breaks, a few spare parts, eye and ear protection, rental of a place for the classroom portion, on and on and on. Insurance is the largest single piece. What if the person you're teaching accidentally shoots him/herself or another person on the range? Just guess who pays the tab...you...but the legal aspect will at least be covered by the NRA if you're a certified instructor and teaching their way. Coinneach and I both teach the course out of a local gun shop. The owner must have 20-30 instructors total, and we have a 15-18 person class once or twice a month. There are normally 17-20 instructors that make it every time (we're volunteer, by the way) and every student typically has an instructor to him/herself. Good luck with what you wind up doing.

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Frontsight!
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Why is everybody all boud up about the AK-47? YEAH, I GOT ONE, WHAT'S IT TO YA?!
 
I think the NRA FirstSTEPS pistol course I took was $35. Maybe you should find out from the NRA how to get certified to teach the course.

For my .02 (USD), the NRA knows how to teach firearms safety better than anyone else around.

Munir
 
I agree that NRA certification would be wise for me to obtain. And, there will be some features of firearms safety in this course.

But, that's not the main intent of the course. It seems to me that there are a lot of people who have an interest in having a firearm (or two) for self defense, but they have no idea where to start. Many people have no military training now, and they know nothing about firearms. So, I would give them an introduction, as I noted above: where they can obtain firearms training of various types (basic, pistol, carbine, shotgun, etc.), where they can shoot, how to buy a firearm and what's involved, how they can safely store their firearms, options for carry, and even a floppy with links to helpful firearms sites on the Internet (such as ... TFL).

I don't want to give it away, because people don't value what's free. But, if Mothers Arms likes the idea, I could simply charge a MA membership ... that way, the individual would keep receiving information on the subject.

I know that when I began learning more about firearms, it was a bit intimidating. Some of the folks in the gun stores are more concerned about machismo than imparting knowledge. You don't know exactly what to do at a range. Firearms 'etiquette' is a mystery. I had little idea of what firearms to buy, and how best to do it. And, so on.

So, I thought this might be worth a shot.
 
Jeff I applaud your desire to help. When I got interested in guns, I had no idea where to look. Quickly found out that looking up 'guns' in the library didn't even work--had to be 'firearms.' Didn't know whom to trust vs. who were the nuts (all of us :D ). Never had walked into a store which specialized in guns, and somehow erroneously figured that the guy behind the gun counter at Wal-Mart was also clueless (wrong on that one). Didn't know about NRA in our state, etc.

In short--your class is just what I was looking for as a 'leg-up' into the big world of firearms. In my case, a neighbor suggested a hunter safety course and it worked well for me and introduced me to a shooting range.

I'd encourage you to work out the legal angles and go for it! -- Denise
 
Jeff....comendable idea. Much good advice above. Good way to get fence sitters to come over to RKBA. Just be sure to keep yourself covered.

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Sam I am, grn egs n packin

Nikita Khrushchev predicted confidently in a speech in Bucharest, Rumania on June 19, 1962 that: " The United States will eventually fly the Communist Red Flag...the American people will hoist it themselves."
 
I've been thinking about something similar here--my dad offered to pay for me to take the instructor's course, but I don't feel comfortable teaching shooting with handguns since I'm still getting there myself.

But I think what Jeff wants to do would correspond almost entirely to that first "familiarization" night. I don't know how many times I've told my anti friends, "I don't care if you want to shoot or not, but let me show you how to de-cock, unload, and make the weapon safe." That's the kind of knowledge that puts a beginner at ease, along with the internet resources and info on where to take the real course locally.

Frontsight, in your opinion, does that make the idea workable? (Assuming anyone wants to attend?) That is, cut out all shooting and self-defense instruction and simply teach familiarization, safing weapons, unloading, Four Rules, internet resources and a local place to take the NRA safety course if the student wants to go on? I'm thinking of one or two nights in my home or theirs. I would still like to use actual weapons, maybe with snap caps or dummy rounds, to demonstrate safing and unloading.
 
Well, based upon most of the responses above,and having Alicia Wadas (of Mothers Arms) give me the go-ahead, I'm going to do it.

And, as soon as Mothers Arms gets their 501(c)(3) approval (imminent), the 'fee' will be a charitable deduction for the student.

Now, any suggestions for a name? 'Firearms Familiarization' is what it is, but I could use something simpler and with more marketing flair.

I also thought I could give folks a bibliography of books they can read, including self defense, political philosophy, etc.

Once I get an outline together, I'll post it here so others who are interested could use it (and help us develop it) in their area.

Thanks again. Regards from AZ

[This message has been edited by Jeff Thomas (edited July 08, 2000).]
 
Jeff,
Best of luck, amigo.
A little suggestion: see if you could get someone from the local paper/TV/radio station to take the course and report on it. Maybe offer it to them gratis or make it a contest between reporters (beginners of course) to get the best marks. That could get you LOTS of press.
Again, good luck with it.

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Those who use arms well cultivate the Way and keep the rules.Thus they can govern in such a way as to prevail over the corrupt- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
 
Great idea. To better defend our gun rights, every "gun club" should consider offering the course for free to the public. Great public relations tool.
 
The key here is to be licensed. Without credentials, people won't really take you seriously...and it adds to your marketing ability.

Insurance is still important even if you don't engage in live-fire practice. If someone stubs their toe or pinches a finger, you could be held liable and need to cover your posterior.

Establish a serious curricula. Take plenty of notes. I would also suggest that you video tape each class so you can review your performance and determine ways to improve in your dissemination of information. Seeing your ineptitude on the tv will embarass you greatly, providing impetus for improvement. Just remember that we've all been there :)

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When Reason Fails.....
 
Jeff Thomas,

You posted, "And, as soon as Mothers Arms gets their 501(c)(3) approval (imminent), the 'fee' will be a charitable deduction for the student."

This isn't quite correct. The amount of the charitable deduction would be reduced by the fair market value of goods or services received by the donor. What this means is that if the fair market value of the famaliarization course is $50, and you pay $50, no charitable deduction. If the value is $50, and you pay $100, you would get a $50 deduction. I hope that Mothers Arms is clear on this point. The last thing a pro RKBA organization needs is IRS revocation of charitable org. status.
 
Do all gun owners a favor and get certified first!!!
I just finished NRA certification, it isn't hard and isn't that expensive.
If an accident were to happen it would be more anti-fuel, with certification the NRA will stand behind you, and it gives you certain credetials.
Those of us who have bothered to become certified did so for a reason even though we may very well have been qualified otherwise.

If an article were written on you how would it sound? - John Q gunowner teaches firearms course
Your setting yourself up for trouble that I hope never happens
 
Jeff,

How about,

"Great Guns"
"Friendly Firearms"
"Get to know a Gun"
"Shot in the Dark"
"Gun Know-How"
"Come and be educated about what to look for in a gun, what you might need in a self defence weapon and why guns are as important today as they were historically." ;) :D :)

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John/az
"When freedom is at stake, your silence is not golden, it's yellow..." RKBA!
www.cphv.com
 
TaxPhd, you're right of course. I should have remembered that detail. I wonder how it would be treated if I simply requested that they join, but otherwise make it voluntary? We're not talking much money here, but I understand your point.

And, OK, OK, I'll get certified. But, really, this isn't the usual firearms course ... I'm not sure everyone gets my point.

Thanks again for all the feedback.

Regards from AZ
 
Jeff, it still doesn't matter. We get the point, but let's say "Granny" already has a Beretta 92 FS that her lawyer son decided would be the best gun in the world for her. She asks you, becuase you're in the position you're in, how to put the safety on. You tell her. Two weeks later,she shoots her foot. Lawyer son sees dollar signs, and since you weren't following a ciriculum, you're personally liable. Sound rediculous? It's not. Here's another way to look at it. Let's say they see you as a "mark" to begin with...I'm an honest guy, but if I weren't, I'd shoot myself in the foot for a cool mil of the money you don't have. Being Certified isn't about preotecting the words you DO say, it's about protecting yourself from the words you DIDN'T say.

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Frontsight!
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Why is everybody all boud up about the AK-47? YEAH, I GOT ONE, WHAT'S IT TO YA?!
 
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