CNN says firearms instructor a hot business

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I am really not surprised. Gun and Ammo sales have increased considerably and indoor ranges are popping up all over. Somebody has to teach all these new people. It seems there is a new sign advertizing CCW classes on about every corner.
 
I know this particular guy and he is actually able to support himself as an NRA instructor, although I think the $75K may be a bit of exaggeration (he actually may make much more). The pic is from a class I ran at my local boy scout camp where he was an assistant instructor. Nonetheless, he is spot on as far as people wanting to be involved with NRA firearms training either on the instructor level or as basic students. The NRA is the "Gold Standard" for basic firearms instruction. Folks on this forum should consider becoming certified NRA firearms instructors to pass on the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to own, store and use various firearms safely and successfully. Consider coming to SW Florida in the cold winter months and training to become an instructor. PM me for more information.
 
John Farnam.....

About 10-12 years ago, as more states passed CCW laws/new gun statues & there was a sharp increase of sales/firearm instructors, I heard a funny remark of top training instructor & author; John Farnam.
"These new tactics & firearm instructors are like mushrooms. They are popping up all over the US & most are full of ___ . " :D

New safety classes or cadre are good, but I always suggest new gun owners or armed professionals(sworn LE, military, armed security, EP agents, corrections, etc) save up & take courses from top programs.
These classes have been around for a long time or have instructors/cadre who have "smelled the smoke" or "have seen the elephant"(a phrase used by top trainer; Jeff Cooper).
Some gun companies like SIG Sauer in NH & Smith and Wesson in MA offer classes too. ;)

I'm not critical of a small business owner or program that wants to teach gun safety or proper methods but if they(or the investors/owners/CEOs) only want $$$, things can go sideways very quickly. My state's Div of Licensing changed the armed security/G training standards in part due to training cadre-gun class(K) cadre who lied/cut corners. :cuss:
 
I am a certified Pistol and Rifle Instructor. I only charge for the class materials. Never gave a thought to making money. I feel it far more important that we educate shooters and promote firearms safety. I usually have small classes of 4 to 5 so that I can spend time making sure students learn what they need to know.
 
Maybe they're learning? Their ratings took a hit while they were busy banging the gun control drum last year. Maybe they're trying to appear more neutral now.
 
Maybe they're learning? Their ratings took a hit while they were busy banging the gun control drum last year. Maybe they're trying to appear more neutral now.
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I'm sure election year has nothing to do with it. :rolleyes:


Lots of people seem to be taking classes, but I've seen a lot of people starting up their own classes and I'd be surprised (at least in my area) if the market isn't saturated shortly. Had a guy come into the gun shop asking where to put his flyer for concealed carry classes, I told him 'over there with the rest of em'.

Glad there seems to be lots of new shooters though, last month I convinced and helped two friend friends get their first guns ever. I was pretty happy, I told one of them at the range, 'Two new shooters, I'm on a roll, if only I were this good at being a Christian' lol.
 
Gander Mountain, SIG Sauer....

My big point with the huge increase in sales/gun ownership is that new shooters learn & understand the safety/tactics/use of force laws.
Some major retail outlets & firearm company execs get that concept.
I've seen signs posted in local Gander Mountains that encourage safety training & SIG Sauer has put out banner ads/marketing saying new owners should learn how to use their products correctly. :D

Over the Easter holiday, I saw a broadcast of CNBC(NBC News)'s "AR-15, America's Gun" doc.
It reminded me of how weapons like AKs, ARs, semi auto pistols, .50BMG rifles, etc have become more & more common with even casual gun owners/hobbyists.

Last summer, I spoke briefly with a gun shop customer who told me how he wanted a new Beretta M9A1 9x19mm to go with his milspec M4 5.56mm.
I asked him what he did & he said he was a electrician. :rolleyes:

RS
 
Ryanxia said:
I'm sure election year has nothing to do with it. :rolleyes:


Lots of people seem to be taking classes, but I've seen a lot of people starting up their own classes and I'd be surprised (at least in my area) if the market isn't saturated shortly. Had a guy come into the gun shop asking where to put his flyer for concealed carry classes, I told him 'over there with the rest of em'.

Glad there seems to be lots of new shooters though, last month I convinced and helped two friend friends get their first guns ever. I was pretty happy, I told one of them at the range, 'Two new shooters, I'm on a roll, if only I were this good at being a Christian' lol.
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I wasn't aware that a news agency could run for office.
 
With stories like this I don't know how we'll ever find out what happened to that plane.
 
Kiln said:
I wasn't aware that a news agency could run for office.
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Where you also not aware there is a considerable amount of political influence in the mainstream media? :)

More so though I think because politicians that usually fuel the fire of 'ban this, ban that, common sense' are taking a break so as to hope we'll forget come election time that they tried to take away our Rights.
 
RustyShackelford said:
a funny remark of top training instructor & author; John Farnam.
"These new tactics & firearm instructors are like mushrooms. They are popping up all over the US & most are full of ___ . " :D
Click to expand...

Last time I checked, that's not what mushrooms were "full of".

FWIW, his comment is a mis-telling of the real joke, which parodies a form of corporate management they call "mushroom management" in which employees are treated like mushrooms: kept in the dark and fed a load of fertilizer.
 
Post 17.....

I think Big John knew exactly what he meant. ;)
He is more of an authority on guns/tactics/lethal force training than the 100s of "new-hires" or the hard-chargers who think teaching new students is easy. :rolleyes:

Many high end/top level instructors do not bad-mouth or rail against other tactics instructors as a matter of professional curtesy but I'm sure they would not spend their $$$ on some classes. On the flip-side, many like Massad Ayoob take courses or advanced skill training then praise top notch schools & cadre.

I've been around firearms & formal classes since the 1990s. I've seen great gun trainers & programs. I've also seen range cadre or licensed instructors I wouldn't trust with a TV remote or a bag of marshmellows. :uhoh:
 
That silencer article is full of Left-wing misinformation propaganda. I highly doubt there was a rush on "assault rifles" considering no new ones have been available since 1986. The US military does not use any AR-15s. The idea that a silencer prevents game from hearing a shot is laughable. If a deer can hear a twig snap under my foot, I'm pretty sure it will hear a muffled gun shot. Silencers are most useful to protect a hunter's hearing, but you won't see that on CNN.
 
Rusty S.

I have sponsored Mas Ayoob, Kathy Jackson, Tom and Lynn Givens, and Marty Hayes in S/AZ during the past 4 years. We moved the courses from S Vista to Tucson last year. 2 days before Mas arrived I had a massive heart attack and Sam Spade stepped in.
I survived the H A and am getting in really good shape now. We will bring back all of the afor mentioned folks during the next year or so.
When John Farnam comes to give a class at FAS I'll take it if I can stay on my feet 8 hours by then. Dropping 80 lbs should help me out with that. :eek:
 
RustyShackelford said:
I think Big John knew exactly what he meant. ;)
He is more of an authority on guns/tactics/lethal force training than the 100s of "new-hires" or the hard-chargers who think teaching new students is easy. :rolleyes:

Many high end/top level instructors do not bad-mouth or rail against other tactics instructors as a matter of professional curtesy but I'm sure they would not spend their $$$ on some classes. On the flip-side, many like Massad Ayoob take courses or advanced skill training then praise top notch schools & cadre.

I've been around firearms & formal classes since the 1990s. I've seen great gun trainers & programs. I've also seen range cadre or licensed instructors I wouldn't trust with a TV remote or a bag of marshmellows. :uhoh:
Click to expand...

I don't doubt any of that.

Doesn't change the fact that he doesn't tell the joke properly. It isn't what mushrooms are "full of" (ever cut open a mushroom and found it full of feces? Me either), it is what mushrooms are "fed".
 
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