Mbw722 hit the nail on the head with Instructor’s; A LOT of people are misrepresenting themselves as trainers/instructors out there. Just b/c they have a certification/license, does not mean they know how to teach or that they are any good at it.
This is not just for you Dame, but the entire moms/dads who are out there reading.
On the issue of children, they should always be supervised and any firearms in the home should be secured properly. Gun lock, trigger lock, gun safe, ect. Too many children have died due to lack of supervision and lack of security of a firearm. However, I will say that proper education eliminates a majority of the concerns (not all, but a lot of them). If my 3 year old daughter can be safe with a firearm than I am pretty sure anyone can. Proper training is the key!
Most NRA instructors are closely scrutinized prior to receiving an instructor endorsement from the NRA regional training counselor. That does not mean they are all good at it, but most of them get the safety stuff down pretty good. Some basic things to look for in an instructor/trainer:
· NRA firearm safety Instructor cert + 2-3 years of verifiable instruction experience through the NRA.
· USPSA/IDPA/IPSC certified range safety officer, those guys get safety.
· Stay away from individuals who cannot provide prior class history (sign in roster, test results ect).
· Stay away from the “I was a cop/service member” types unless they can provide proof of instructor/training experience. Just b/c they wore/carried a firearm does not mean they know what they are doing, much less know how to teach what’s right. And that goes for the people claiming SOF backgrounds as well, vet them and think it through, just b/c they were an PV2 Ranger for all of 4 months does not mean they know shit (look for someone with roughly 8 consecutive years in combat arms/SOF with time as a trainer).
· Competitive shooters are normally the best skilled in performance and instruction, but that doesn’t mean just any competitor. Look for people who have been a competitor in the top 10 level consistently over several years.
· If they do not carry general liability insurance, STAY AWAY! There is probably a really good reason why they don’t (not qualified, or proof of being negligent).
· Look for classes with a 1 to 4 instructors to student ratio, some instructors can handle class sizes of 10 but most cannot. If the class is bigger than 6 students, they should have an assistant (if they know what they are doing and understand liability).
Lastly for you Dame, I will gladly come teach your sons, you or anyone else in your family free of charge when I have the ability to do so. I owe you and would consider it an honor to repay that debt in such a manner.
