I took my cwp class this weekend

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

sig87

Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2008
Messages
32
Location
Spartanburg sc
I took my cwp class this weekend. I passed but fill like I know less now then be for I took the class. First off she did not go over any carry styles. She did not go over all the legal sings. Another thing is we had to shoot 150 rounds. She was a cop and did not know the answers to a lot of or ?'s. She had a helper on the day we shoot. Hey was talking crap about Sig. He was also a cop. Hey said the best thing to do with one is tie a rope to it and pitch it out a boat and use it as a anchor. I told him he was stupid in not such nice words. He was a Glock man. Do not get me wrong glocks are good guns but dont bash my sig. I just fill like I wasted my money.
 
I took my SC CWP class back in February (sent info in in late March once I turned 21), down to the south of you.

150 rounds? My class shot only 50 rds. They did go over all the legal issues...

We spent half the day on the laws and test, the other half at the range. Two shooters per RO. 10 rounds at 3, 5, 7, 12, 15 yards IIRC.

We would have been on the range for much, much longer if each shooter had to fire 150 rds.

This is dot the i's and cross the t's procedure to get your CWP, not actual training. Check out a handgun course given by a respectable instructor for some better help.
 
Sounds like a bum deal, hope you didn't pay to much for the class. Try looking up your states local carry laws for some answers. Remember that ignorance isn't an excuse and laws can change frequently.
Also, try running your CWP class through a spell checker....
 
It pays to check out your class and state requirements ahead of time. I waited 3 months and paid 50 more than I needed to for range time that was not required by Colorado law. Although range time is a good thing in this class it merely showed you how to make the gun go bang. And for my instructor also it was Glock or nothing.
 
Well... ahem... that does not sound very good class to me.

My experience was about 7 hours sitting with 30 others going over the laws, carry methods, getting to know one another, several videos illustrating home defense and other things, talking about a little bit of spiritual/mental/physical touch briefly about why you are there in the first place. Followed by a carefully controlled range quals in groups until everyone is complete.

Then the paper work starts. The laws, various state laws, CCW List that is honored by other states as of this year (More or less... always take with grain of salt, need either check for yourself prior to travel) and various weapons plus the basics for each type of weapons. We spent an hour on the revolver and semi fundenmentals.

We didnt care who had what gun, which gun was good or bad. Everyone had different guns and we all got along. There was a brief sorting out when Glock talk turned to S&W's M&P that I brought to the class and I defended S&W by stating that they put together a list of wants and built the gun around those wants. The result happened to resemble a Glock.

Then we had some fun with coffee and doughnuts, a little time to mingle and get to know one another. A alot of time for questions and answers. Some of which were... the kind you will have to determine for yourself if the law did not spell out a path.

The whole class was well done and the young instructor gained alot of my respect for his good bearing, conduct and tried hard to keep everything moving more or less in one direction all together all the day.

I had some special issues due to deafness and made sure that it was sorted with instructor before we went into the range. He was also RO and other functions when not teaching class there.

I have been in a sickening amount of training classes related to trucking all my life and some were damn good, some a waste of time and half and half on others. Heck I have been placed into a postion from time to time to take these students out briefly and either pass/hire or Fail/FIRE them on road tests. Thier own conduct and professionalism determined thier own future. Not my own feelings.

It was a very good class and I think when you leave a class with some things settled, some questions answered and are better off for it, GREAT!

If not and leave with questions, problems or overall... schmit and stink? A dirty feeling of wasting money and time?

I think it's awful.

Carry and conceal is a great and awesome responsibility, nothing to be fooled with. You can lose your permit so easily for several things. And I hope that you find a class where you can get your learning and feed on meat and taters and feel as if you are maturing before actually having to use that carry permit and find out that your class did not do thier job.

I say to you, take another class. See if you can find a better quality class and go from there. The good ones will touch briefly on weapons and the differences but move along into everything else and then some. Not sit around saying such a such a gun is a POS or whatever.
 
My class, also in SC, also taught by two former LEO's (one SC State and one FBI) was a much better and more complete class than the OP's. 2/3 day of class time (in which we went over the laws of the state of SC), 50 rounds at the range.

We didn't go over any of the multitude of carry options, as that isn't the purpose of the introductory CCW sign off class.

So long as you got your forms signed off, you got what you came for. You are left wanting more training ... which is a GOOD thing. Go forth and get it.
 
So long as you got your forms signed off, you got what you came for.
Click to expand...

Exactly right.

Imagine that schoolteacher/nurse/receptionist/cashier Jane Doe has been attacked and wants to carry a gun for protection. She doesn't care about brands, calibers, carry styles, accessories or anything else. She just wants to be able to stop another attack and not be a victim again. IMHO the class is designed to give those like her who've never fired a gun before some minimum training on how/when to use it safely.

It's not intended to train you in tactics, techniques, tools, or anything else. All it does is make sure that those who carry guns in SC have fired a gun at least 50 times, and hit what they were aiming for 35 times. It also covers the basics of where you can carry, and when you're legally allowed to use it.

Anything beyond that you'll have to find elsewhere.
 
sig87 said:
The class was cheap. We only paid $25. I am just upset about felling like I left not knowing the laws.
Click to expand...

Cliff notes version:

SC is a "Castle Doctrine" state, and a "stand your ground" state. That is, you have no duty to retreat from -any- place you have a legal right to be.

To justify the use of deadly force, you must be in fear of your life or serious bodily injury. Or, you must be acting in defense of an innocent who is in fear of their life or serious bodily injury.

In your home ... if someone breaks in while you are there, THAT alone is sufficient to put you in fear of your life or serious bodily injury.

You can not carry where prohibited by "proper" signage, or in any establishment that serves alcohol, regardless if you are drinking or not.

You are protected from any civil suits in a self defense shooting that meets the above criteria.

You are shooting to "stop the threat". Once the threat has been eliminated, you must stop.

Any form of "mutual combat" is -not- a self defense shooting. If you are prone to getting in fights ... don't carry.

There is more detail, but that is pretty much the "cliff notes".

PS ... I paid -nothing- (covered in my gun club dues) and it sounds like I got a much better class than yours. I wonder if yours actually met the minimum state requirements for the class. If any/all of the above is "news to you", then I'm pretty sure it didn't.
 
Last edited:
mgkdrgn, that's exactly what was covered in my class, leavened with scenarios and real life case examples.
 
CHL courses in Oregon are a joke. At mine I just sat in some redneck's living room (no offense) and talked about stuff we heard on the Lars Larson radio show. I paid him $40 then he signed me off at the local sheriff's office the next day. If you want to learn about firearms tactics there are lots of good videos and practice practice practice. Also look around and see if there are any advanced courses you can take locally. As far as laws go just read up. There are lots of good sources on the internet and most gun shops have a paper back book that covers all laws state by state for about $15.
 
My (semi-retired LEO) instructor gave us the legal-stuff on a DVD a week before the class, and told us to "drink lots of coffee before viewing, it's dry and boring, but important..." He started the half-day class with weapon-choice opinions, caliber-effectiveness and carry-options. Then he hit the high-points of the legal stuff, then gave us the written test. After that it was defense strategies and tactics for about an hour and then to the range for the shooting. 40 rounds or thereabout each. I thought it was a well done class and $75 bucks per person well spent.

Les
 
definitely look into "Regular" shooting classes if you're interested in knowing the finer points of carrying, shooting, defense, etc... I was fortunate. Our state; and probably others; don't require CCW classes for anyone who is active or retired military or law enforcement. Show proof and you're good to go. But I still recommend shooting and more so defensive classes. While a gun is a fantastic TOOL; that's exactly what it is, a TOOL. Many times, a gun can be a sense of "FALSE SECURITY". Taking defensive classes which include weapons and unarmed defense is very important. There WILL be times when your gun isn't available or you can't get to it immediately.
 
I shoot Glocks much better than Sigs.... but he was an idiot to knock on Sig. They are extremely reliable well built guns - just a different design than Glock. I prefer Glock, but I wouldn't feel ill-equipped at all with a Sig, especially in .357 sig.

The SIG is the choice for the Navy Seals, and it would have won the military M9 contract if it was cheaper (Beretta was lowest bidder).
 
Sounds like a bunch of BS, but if you got your CWP, just move on.

At least you got it.

I am a little surprised though that SC LEO would have such a attitude ma'sir.
 
OP, at least you had range time as a license requirement.

I'm ashamed to admit that here in Washington State there are no classes, no gun skill demonstrations needed. Washington is a "Shall Issue" state.

I walked into the State Police office. Filled out the form, had my fingerprints taken. I left the office to wait at home. The license came in the mail a week later. Of course it cost me $$, but any license does.

Go figure.

I've since taken the Front Sight Handgun Defense Course in Pahrump, NV. There I got the needed training in law, ethics, and "handgun-manship", (I know, it isn't a real word).

Now I spend a half-hour a day doing "Dry-Practice" to maintain and enhance my motor skills.

Ralph
 
RDF said:
I'm ashamed to admit that here in Washington State there are no classes, no gun skill demonstrations needed. Washington is a "Shall Issue" state.
Click to expand...

Why be ashamed? That's the way it SHOULD be. Except for the $55.00 fee. My understanding of "shall not be infringed" means no training, no fees, and for that matter, no license. All Americans should have some means of carrying a loaded self defense firearm for which no license is required - such as Washington's open carry.
 
I'm ashamed to admit that here in Washington State there are no classes, no gun skill demonstrations needed. Washington is a "Shall Issue" state.
Click to expand...

You know, I'm getting old, so my memory may be going bad. That said, I don't remember the Constitution saying anything about a certain round count, a certain number of hours in a classroom, or a minimum caliber.

Seems to work out okay for Alaska and New Hampshire, and a few others. :rolleyes:

There's a difference between "qualification" and "training".

You can get a license to drive a car without ever having heard of Ayrton Senna.
You can get a license to carry without knowing who Jeff Cooper is (was).
 
I think we could all have a joke for a class, but it is in forums like this, SF and the range we can really learn how to be responsible and defend our loved one and our selves.
 
For 25 bucks, you got a smoking deal. If you got the instructor's info to fill out the SLED form (it's online now) and a basic overview, your way ahead of the game.

In the Upstate, there is a bunch of guys teaching what appears to be a decent basic class for handguns and rifles. It's Presidio (?) Defense or something like that. I'd suggest going there for your skill training.

I've had three CWP classes (long story), helped teach 6 or so and have lots of contact with folks who have taken classes here in Columbia.

Everyone of them had good things and bad. I have heard some horrible information dispensed, but frankly it's your responsibility to get up to speed on the important details. Things change and it helps to stay on top of the changes. :)

There's a good yahoo newsgroup sponsered by Grassroots SC that can help.

http://www.scfirearms.org/
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
VERY proud of my wife.
Replies
14
Views
1K
tbtrout
T
K
  • Locked
Soon to Add Two More to the List of "Those Who Carry"
Replies
4
Views
444
Kramer Krazy
K
M
  • Locked
Florida CCW/F Licensees, how was your carry class?
Replies
20
Views
652
harmon rabb
H
T
  • Locked
Took The Wife Shooting: A Training Tale
Replies
14
Views
910
The Rabbi
T
O
  • Locked
Pistol for the wife to use
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
TexasBill
TexasBill
Back
Top