Teaching a CCW course May 30

[HayesGreener]

I have been a firearms instructor for 55 years and have trained countless military, LE, and civilians. Have attended many instructor courses over the years.

I retired from two agencies, then retired from the hay business to start a firearms training company, mostly focusing on security and investigation agencies for their state license training. I did that for 8 years and ran about 850 students through my program. COVID killed that business when security and investigation firms stopped sending people for training, and we couldn't get ammo, so I closed the business and focused on building furniture and cabinets in my wood shop.

I kept my instructor tickets up and did a few CCW and basic pistol and shotgun classes for family and friends. Recently though, I have been getting more requests from young people for CCW training. I see it as a sign of the times, as young folks, especially young women, become more concerned with safety and security.

The fundamentals of shooting have not changed since about 1100 A.D., but training techniques and gun technology, and what we know of how people learn, have evolved continuously. Every time I do a class, I learn something new. I am open to thoughts and suggestions from the collective.

I have a CCW course of 6 college age young women scheduled for May 30. We're going to use SIG P365's, P320's, and Glock 9mm pistols for the course and maybe a Hellcat if I can lay hands on one

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Good for you! Keeping the young folk involved is a great thing.

I'm sure you touch on other things besides the mechanics of shooting. Tell them about situational awareness, recognizing a threat, avoidance, don't look like a victim, eyes up and not on the phone, etc.

Sounds like fun! I'm sure the ladies will be amazed.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Jester560]

A P320? Sheesh!

Just kidding!

Teach a proper grip! If the grip is wrong, everything else falls apart. Im sure you know that already.

 

[mikep]

@HayesGreener You have 55 years of experience… i have nothing to offer.
That is great that more young women (and men) are seeking out their CCW.
Good luck with the course. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Jester560]

@HayesGreener You have 55 years of experience… i have nothing to offer.

Ain't that the truth! He has more years experience than I've had birthdays

 

[mikep]

@HayesGreener Actually, i may be able to add something since your class is with college aged students. I work at a university and most students i see on campus are buried in their phones or wear headphones (everywhere). They have no idea what is going on around them. Situational awareness is out the window. Maybe you can stress the importance of being aware of what’s going on around them. It’s not shooting advice but i’m around college students all day and most of them would be easy targets. The best way to stay safe is to avoid a situation that is, well, trouble. Just my 2 cents.

 

[HayesGreener]

@HayesGreener Actually, i may be able to add something since your class is with college aged students. I work at a university and most students i see on campus are buried in their phones or wear headphones (everywhere). They have no idea what is going on around them. Situational awareness is out the window. Maybe you can stress the importance of being aware of what’s going on around them. It’s not shooting advice but i’m around college students all day and most of them would be easy targets. The best way to stay safe is to avoid a situation that is, well, trouble. Just my 2 cents.

Great point, thank you!

 

[Shibadog]

Ain't that the truth! He has more years experience than I've had birthdays

I wish I could say that, but I’m 20 years too late…

 

[Shibadog]

@HayesGreener Actually, i may be able to add something since your class is with college aged students. I work at a university and most students i see on campus are buried in their phones or wear headphones (everywhere). They have no idea what is going on around them. Situational awareness is out the window. Maybe you can stress the importance of being aware of what’s going on around them. It’s not shooting advice but i’m around college students all day and most of them would be easy targets. The best way to stay safe is to avoid a situation that is, well, trouble. Just my 2 cents.

This. As Mike said, way too many today are so caught up in their electronic toys they are clueless as to their surroundings. Getting them to put down the phone/remove the earbuds and actually observe their environment will do as much to protect them as anything else.

 

[HayesGreener]

This. As Mike said, way too many today are so caught up in their electronic toys they are clueless as to their surroundings. Getting them to put down the phone/remove the earbuds and actually observe their environment will do as much to protect them as anything else.

Good advice from both of you. I am writing this into my lesson plan

 

[KillerFord1977]

@HayesGreener Actually, i may be able to add something since your class is with college aged students. I work at a university and most students i see on campus are buried in their phones or wear headphones (everywhere). They have no idea what is going on around them. Situational awareness is out the window. Maybe you can stress the importance of being aware of what’s going on around them. It’s not shooting advice but i’m around college students all day and most of them would be easy targets. The best way to stay safe is to avoid a situation that is, well, trouble. Just my 2 cents.

This! Great suggestion

 

[KillerFord1977]

Good advice from both of you. I am writing this into my lesson plan

Ask a woman to start reading and using her phone head down like normal.
Have one of the others do something obvious around her and see what she notices, or you as instructor come up behind her. Many ways to prove a point.

 

[Jsimon78]

Ask a woman to start reading and using her phone head down like normal.
Have one of the others do something obvious around her and see what she notices, or you as instructor come up behind her. Many ways to prove a point.

That is a good point.

 

[Retired Bum]

It's not just the ladies that do this activity, I've seen many people of both genders have their face buried in the phone while crossing the street. They couldn't get out of the way of a car if their lives depended on it.

 

[Jsimon78]

It's not just the ladies that do this activity, I've seen many people of both genders have their face buried in the phone while crossing the street. They couldn't get out of the way of a car if their lives depended on it.

I agree. Situation awareness away from the phone should be a trend