Who provides the least expensive carry permit classes?

[Pezhead]

I've been carrying over 10 years and teaching it for over 7 and I continue to learn new information all the time. Just reading some recent posts from bstrawse tells me he has some good information and it would be valuable to be in one of his classes. In my experience is that it is about more than "move your trigger finger" and I'd like not to be in jail and have someone living min my house, drinking my beer and kicking my dog, because I did not know the law, or simply talked when it was time to shut up. This is America, YMWV Me we have a class on Saturday, I'm sure one of my students will teach me something I did not know or show me a better way to present what I do know to make it more relevant to them.

Thanks for the kind words. I only wish I had more time to teach - I don't get to do it very often. Maybe after grad school ends in 2014.

b

I still don't know how you find time to do waht you do. Do you ever get any sleep?

[Shorty_G]

Well, I wish I had seen this post before Saturday. My wife and I went to a low-cost training class. What a F'n joke! as has been said in this thread, nothing more than rambling against the Liberal portion of our society. Ok, everyone has their opinions, but...We tend to be middle of the road politics wise and we were pretty offended.

The bulk of the "class" was the story telling, and he would periodically flip through his slides. To be fair, the slides looked pretty good, with a lot of good information, and I was hoping they would be on the CD he gave out, but no. If he had stuck to the slides, the class would have been great.

There was about a total of about 30 minutes (out of 5 ENDLESS hours) of discussion regarding the law, when and how to carry and all the related information that needs to be known.

Now let's talk about the "range qualification"...We shot in his basement laundry room, aiming under the stairs at ??? when my wife walked away, she said she should have failed that portion. And she has been shooting now for a while, but he had her target at about knee level@11 feet. She did not shoot well (all 6 shots), as it was literally standing in a closet to shoot. Well worth his $10.00 "range fee" per person...LOL.

We decided that we need to spend the time and money to take a real class, as we don't feel prepared to carry at this point. And I have been shooting since I was about 10.

Not a good first post, but hey, we were REALLY disappointed. Live and learn...

[gunforhire]

Well, I wish I had seen this post before Saturday. My wife and I went to a low-cost training class. What a F'n joke! as has been said in this thread, nothing more than rambling against the Liberal portion of our society. Ok, everyone has their opinions, but...We tend to be middle of the road politics wise and we were pretty offended.

The bulk of the "class" was the story telling, and he would periodically flip through his slides. To be fair, the slides looked pretty good, with a lot of good information, and I was hoping they would be on the CD he gave out, but no. If he had stuck to the slides, the class would have been great.

There was about a total of about 30 minutes (out of 5 ENDLESS hours) of discussion regarding the law, when and how to carry and all the related information that needs to be known.

Now let's talk about the "range qualification"...We shot in his basement laundry room, aiming under the stairs at ??? when my wife walked away, she said she should have failed that portion. And she has been shooting now for a while, but he had her target at about knee level@11 feet. She did not shoot well (all 6 shots), as it was literally standing in a closet to shoot. Well worth his $10.00 "range fee" per person...LOL.

We decided that we need to spend the time and money to take a real class, as we don't feel prepared to carry at this point. And I have been shooting since I was about 10.

Not a good first post, but hey, we were REALLY disappointed. Live and learn...

damn, who was this instructor?

[TH3180]

Well, I wish I had seen this post before Saturday. My wife and I went to a low-cost training class. What a F'n joke! as has been said in this thread, nothing more than rambling against the Liberal portion of our society. Ok, everyone has their opinions, but...We tend to be middle of the road politics wise and we were pretty offended.

The bulk of the "class" was the story telling, and he would periodically flip through his slides. To be fair, the slides looked pretty good, with a lot of good information, and I was hoping they would be on the CD he gave out, but no. If he had stuck to the slides, the class would have been great.

There was about a total of about 30 minutes (out of 5 ENDLESS hours) of discussion regarding the law, when and how to carry and all the related information that needs to be known.

Now let's talk about the "range qualification"...We shot in his basement laundry room, aiming under the stairs at ??? when my wife walked away, she said she should have failed that portion. And she has been shooting now for a while, but he had her target at about knee level@11 feet. She did not shoot well (all 6 shots), as it was literally standing in a closet to shoot. Well worth his $10.00 "range fee" per person...LOL.

We decided that we need to spend the time and money to take a real class, as we don't feel prepared to carry at this point. And I have been shooting since I was about 10.

Not a good first post, but hey, we were REALLY disappointed. Live and learn...

damn, who was this instructor?

+1000

[Shorty_G]

Well, he made it VERY clear that he has sued people for slander, so I really don't want to say on an open forum. I'm just ready to move on and get some real training.

[TTS]

Well, he made it VERY clear that he has sued people for slander, so I really don't want to say on an open forum. I'm just ready to move on and get some real training.

I sent you an IM about a free class. No one should have to go through a class like that.

[gunforhire]

Well, he made it VERY clear that he has sued people for slander, so I really don't want to say on an open forum. I'm just ready to move on and get some real training.

He must really suck and know it then

[IDPA Shooter]

OK, that just told a number of us who it was and sorry you had that experience.

We stop at the end of every major sections and ask, is this making sense,
Is the pace okay, any issues or questions.

On breaks we talk to anyone who looks confused, bored, upset. Pretty easy to tell, did you address it during the class with him? I sure would have not sat by and been quiet, would have done it privately and let his response determine if I stayed.



Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[cobb]

OK, that just told a number of us who it was and sorry you had that experience.

Not sure.
Sounds similar to what I have heard from a few that have maybe taken maybe this course in years past from the same instructor, but I was under the impression things had changed. Maybe not, maybe no complaints have been aired so all seem good. Maybe another has been certified and doing an equally poor course, has been sued for slander under different circumstances and the info on complaints are being blended.

Shorty, if you ever have the occasion to be in the Mankato area on a weekend, maybe I can fill in a few voids of your prior training, let me know.

[IDPA Shooter]

Agree. Not proof, but a strong possibility, although I think is was libel, not slander

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[Shorty_G]

I didn't say anything, as I thought it might eventually get back on track. But....with over 35 people it just didn't seem to be the thing to do.

I'm just putting it behind me and will be contacting those that sent IM's. Thanks guys, I appreciate it. You are showing that you care about the carry community.

Shorty

[plblark]

Shorty: I suspect my classes are clear on the other side of the world from you but you and your wife are welcome to sit in. I don't want anyone to leave with that as their impression of carry in MN.

There are a ton of GREAT instructors here. Even though they're the competition , we refer to those we trust all the time. In essence, education is activism.

If you'd like to take me up on the offer, PM me for scheduling. If not, please take one of the fine instructors in this thread up on their offer!

Paul Blincow

[Don L]

PM sent.

[goaliemn]

Also sent a PM. I have classes this weekend they are more than welcome to sit in.

[ijosef]

A friend & coworker of mine was able to get a good deal with a decent instructor. He's a member of BESA, and was able to use their facilities. He got approximately a dozen people together(other coworkers and family members), so all the instructor had to do was show up at the range, test the folks and give the class. Since the teacher didn't have to put the class together or find & pay for a facility, he cut everyone a great deal (I think it was $60 new, $50 renewal or something like that). Obviously that's an exception, but you can get good instruction without having to pay an arm or a leg for it. If you're a member of a local gun club, check it's bulletin board or newsletter for instructors who give classes there.

I will say that I have no problem paying $150 for a quality class. Considering how much we spend on firearms, accessories, reloading equipment/supplies and ammunition, less than $200 for a class is peanuts compared to the hobby as a whole. I've noticed that prices have come down overall since the implementation of the shall issue PTC law, especially once the number of instructors began increasing. At first it wasn't uncommon to see classes being offered for north of $300.