Hall of Shame: Unscrupulous instructors jeopardize NRA course accreditation

[templar223]

While NRA accreditation isn't mentioned directly in this article, I guarantee you the aim of the people raising (valid!) criticisms of these shoddy instructors using airsoft guns and 3-hour CCW classes, likely with a "NRA Basic Pistol" certificate of completion is to discredit the validity of NRA courses with regard to training prerequisites for some states' RTC licenses.

 

Rest assured that if this sloppy and unethical teaching of "NRA Courses" isn't stopped, the next step will be legislating that everyone who wants a license (and perhaps many who already have licenses being forced to "retrain") facing requirements to attend expensive state-provided courses put on by state employees. Of course, there will be long waits to get into these handful of classes, which - like the FFDO program - might have training in out-of-the-way locations accessible only by hoof. And, to add insult to injury, anti-gun state employees and politicians will really be sad to hear that funding difficulties limited the number of courses available.

 

So, if you see some yahoo offering a 3-hour NRA Basic Pistol or Personal Protection course, or any length course using airsoft guns or toy guns, do everyone a favor and call the NRA so creds can be revoked.

 

John

 

 

 

Some got Florida concealed weapon permits training on toy guns

 

Sentinel

April 30, 2008

 

Some of the 500,000 people holding concealed-weapons permits in Florida qualified by using toy guns.

 

Recent complaints to state officials pointed out that almost anyone who wants to carry a handgun to the movies, mall or church can do so. The shortcomings they cited include training that allows firing bullets without gunpowder, and passing students for merely pulling the trigger once or twice without ever loading or unloading a handgun.

 

Quickie permit classes had become so common, the National Rifle Association threatened this month to fire any NRA-certified instructor who didn't use real guns to teach students in Florida.

 

Though carrying a concealed weapon requires a state permit, gun owners need only take a gun-safety course and show they know how to safely fire a real bullet. That's not the case in at least eight states -- where applicants must be able to hit a bulls-eye repeatedly.

 

"Unlike Texas, we do not have to have so many rounds at 10 feet or so many rounds at 15 feet. Florida just doesn't have that," said Buddy Bevis, director of licensing for the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The concealed-weapon statute "just says you have to be able to fire and handle a firearm safely," he said. "It doesn't say if it takes one [shot] or 100."

 

Shoddy training became an issue this month, more than a year after a retired military officer first complained to Gov. Charlie Crist about classes at gun shows.

 

"You can only train a corpse in 3 hours," Col. James K. Otto Sr., an NRA instructor from North Florida, wrote to the governor. "Our NRA certified instructors take 3 days to a week to make sure their students not only know the law but also know how to handle firearms and ammunition safely with at least a half day firing at a local range."

 

The letter started a sputtering chain reaction after landing on Bevis' desk with the added detail that some students at these classes trained with toy guns. Bevis called the voice of the NRA in Florida to complain.

 

"I did call Marion Hammer and say, 'I don't know what you've got going on down there, but you better tighten it up,' " Bevis said in a telephone interview. "And that's it."

 

Hammer, a former NRA president and one of the state's most powerful lobbyists, alerted NRA national headquarters. Within days, every NRA-certified instructor in Florida was warned they would lose their credentials for not using real guns with real bullets in class.

 

"Specifically, Air Soft or other air-driven guns are not acceptable," stated the April 14 memo. "Florida law requires that you maintain records certifying that you 'observed the student safely handle and discharge the firearm.' "

 

Air Soft guns are plastic replicas of firearms, which cost as little as $5 to more than $300. Many are sold as toys equipped with orange muzzles to distinguish them from real guns.

 

Hammer said the NRA issued the warning to make sure every class it certifies complies with state law. She finds nothing wrong with not requiring concealed-weapon permit holders to demonstrate a minimum level of shooting ability.

 

"In the 21 years that this program has been in effect, I know of no incident or accident that occurred as a result of lack of training," Hammer said by phone from Tallahassee.

 

The law "was never intended to make target shooters out of people. It was never intended to make street cops out of them," she said. "This is merely to show that individuals know how to load, unload and safely use a firearm for lawful self-defense."

 

Florida permit holders can carry their concealed weapons in 32 other states. Fifteen other states do not grant such reciprocity. One of them, South Carolina, cites Florida's low standards as the reason.

 

...Tighter restrictions on toy guns still don't mean all applicants must show they know how to shoot a pistol.

 

Concealed-weapon permits are available to graduates of classes taught by state-certified instructors and hunter-safety courses as well as NRA-certified classes. Graduates of the state's 12-hour hunter-safety course fire a .22-caliber rifle, a 20-gauge shotgun and a bow and arrow, but not a pistol, according to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

[anonymous too]

A one-on-one First Steps class can be completed in 3-4 hrs. It takes us 5-5 1/2 hrs to teach a First Steps class with 4-6 students.

[templar223]

I don't think First Steps satisfies FL's training requirement, does it?

 

John

[hardtarget]

Templar,

 

this is the kind of thing that can really screw things up for professionals and citizens who desire and absolutely NEED quality training. As you point out, some legislators are going to hop all over this.

 

This is why, when any of the instructors at PTI complete Utah CCW training, or any training for that matter, we ask all of our students to fill out the instructor critique sheet so we get as much feedback as possible. It does two things: allows us to assess our training and allows BCI to see how well we are doing. This allows the instructor to gain credit through an established system and allows for better assessment if charges are filed. If an instructor with no experience who is just trying to make a buck get bad reviews frequently then the NRA or state can take steps immediately to correct the problem. Otherwise, they have excellent feedback to support the instructor if need be.

 

If every state mandated and if the NRA mandated some type of critique sheet for firearms training, it might help. Don't get me wrong, I realize some people will lie like heck simply because they want a certificate or permit. but it could help.....

 

......your thoughts?

[anonymous too]

I don't think First Steps satisfies FL's training requirement, does it?

 

John

 

Any NRA course satisfies FL's training requirement. Doesn't even have to be a pistol class. FL will accept a hunter education card too as proof of training.

[templar223]

Part of the NRA's student packet is a 'rate the class' form that provides valuable feedback.

 

As far as ANY NRA class, that pretty much settles it.

 

John