I have been offering firearms and permit training now for years. I have been incredibly fortunate to be at the right place at the right time to have hooked up with great people that have helped me immensely in organizing and promoting classes. Today and tomorrow I am doing my 15th "last class" for NRA instructor certification (now living in Sun City West, AZ), and that is now over 1000+ students over the years. Also, with my MN, NE, UT, AZ, ND and FL permit classes, I have had over 10000 students. Many were done for $-0-, some for minor amounts (i.e., I am not cash rich from this). In all those years and classes, I have met only three bad apples. One instructor candidate gave me a bad check; one permit applicant walked out in a huff; and one permit applicant scared me so much that I refused to continue his class. (And, I am not counting the time I was sued!). Now, yesterday, I met the ultimate nut.
Here in AZ, like in MN, there are sources to post upcoming classes. I did post an AZ permit class, and the lady replied to the post that "GUNS KILL" and she would never ever support such a class. I sent her a private note, very professional and cordial, stating that I understood firearms can engender many feelings, and that my hope was that she was basing her comments on facts, not emotions. I invited her to my next class, at $0, so she could see for herself that instructors (well, all that I know) are not gun nuts and we have the utmost respect for the law and safe/responsible gun ownership. She replies "thanks, but I never want to meet you because GUNS KILL".
I replied that the offer was open ended, and I would be happy to have her attend at this or any future class. To which she replied "GUNS KILL. I have no intention of EVER being in the same room with you, and if you try to come to my house, I'LL KILL YOU."
At that point, it was obviously fruitless to try to rationally discuss anything, so I just sent her a note and could not resist adding the comment that "it is just as well that you do not attend, as clearly your application would be denied due to mental instability."
I probably should not have said that, but it felt so good.
NOTE: I am not posting this in the AZ forums, as I really don't have many instructor friends here (much more business cut-throat), but thought my many good friends in MN might get a chuckle So, I have met the enemy...and she is bonkers.