Compiled by Gila Hayes
Business is booming in Las Vegas, NV, and that is without even considering the recent influx of SHOT Show conventioneers to that fair city. Our Affiliated Instructor Eric Loden, of ADAPT – Academy of Defensive and Protective Training recently asked if we could double his supplies of our educational foundation’s booklet What Every Gun Owner Needs to Know About Self-Defense Law, having “passed out the last of the pamphlets at the NSSF First Shots event that we hosted with the Nevada Firearms Coalition.” He added that ADAPT has even more special events coming up, at which he plans to give out this publication.
A quick cruise through his website at http://www.adaptacademy.com shows an extremely full February calendar of NV and UT CCW permit classes, advanced concealed carry courses, three gun programs and more. In addition, training in a mobile combat simulator is available, as are close contact combat programs and programs just for women, including a 40-hour close contact combat course focused on “the most probably scenarios or threat situations that the applicant might encounter in their professional careers, and day to day life.” This is some good stuff! Learn more at http://adaptacademy.com/store/category/2-courses/.
We were pleased recently to renew our acquaintance with Kevin Collins, our affiliated instructor at Be Safe With Guns, in southeastern MN. With a focus on getting concealed carry licensee applicants off to the right start in their CCW classes, Collins also teaches the Combat Focus Shooting program, is a lifetime NRA member and certified instructor, and comes to the discipline from a rich history in competitive shooting. He is the handgun director at Pine Island White Pines Sportsman’s Club. Learn more about Kevin’s classes at https://www.besafewithguns.com/class-info.html.
Network member Ron Kauffman has been quietly building up his concealed carry training business over the past three years, until just a few days ago, he explained that he is on track to teach two sold-out classes per month for the foreseeable future. He asked how he could participate as a Network Affiliated Instructor, and in that discussion, I found that he focuses his efforts on training men and women of all ages in a two day program that culminates in the NC state required firing range qualification. Ron is introducing a lot of new concealed carriers to the Network! Learn more about him at http://www.concealedcarrywnc.com, or email
Another long-time Network member recently requesting affiliation for his instructional enterprise is Eric Lamberson of Sensible Self Defense, Inc. in San Antonio, TX. “Our classes strive to prepare you for the real world and what you may face there,” writes this retired military officer. Eric is a grad of Massad Ayoob’s Use of Deadly Force Instructor course and is a training associate with the Massad Ayoob Group, Suarez International affiliate instructor, certified in Force Science Analysis, Gunsite grad, Defense Training International grad, one of Andrew Branca’s Law of Self Defense Instructor Program grads, to identify only a few credentials. Learn more about Eric at http://www.sensibleselfdefense.com/Articles.asp?ID=253 then look through his course offerings and get into one of his training courses. He’s the real thing.
We recently heard from our affiliated instructor, David Faust, in Grayslake, IL, who reports that he sees a lot of repeat students in his training courses, starting with gun safety and CCW training for IL, and going forward with him into more advanced level skills. If you're looking for a certified NRA Instructor and Range Safety Officer, Glock Armorer and ILCCFI Instructor, contact him at
Our affiliated instructor Joe Faletra has recently relocated to the warmer climes of Arizona. In addition to permit classes for both the AZ and the UT concealed carry permits (with their considerable reciprocity), Faletra offers coaching in gun safety and use for families with children, as well as adult level classes based on NRA First Steps, Basic Pistol, Personal Protection Inside the Home, Personal Protection Outside the Home and several NRA rifle courses. Reach out to JTF Firearms training at its new home, 15015 N 63rd St., Scottsdale, AZ 85254, http://www.jtffirearms.com,
We recently visited by email briefly with Chuck Cabaniss, about the state of training in Maine. He commented, “The training has fallen off sharply since Maine went to constitutional carry but I am still providing booklets.” We appreciate Chuck’s continuing efforts, even during the lean times. Really, more gun owners should be reaching out and taking advantage of this instructor’s life time experience with firearms and defense issues. His interesting history starts back in 1976 when he was the first student working campus security at his college to be sworn in as a law enforcement officer and authorized to carry a firearm. He went on to serve as a law enforcement officer, where he was involved in training. Now he operates his training and gun shop businesses in Vassalboro, ME, is active in his church and community and is a high-producing NRA Recruiter, as well as a valued affiliate with the Network.
In light of his extensive background, you can see why I encourage members, even if ME has changed its concealed carry laws, to get to know Chuck and enjoy some training with him–perhaps to obtain a UT carry license for out of state travel. You can read more about him and his gun shop/training facility at http://www.foxfirearmstraining.pro, reach him by phone at 207-622-3686 or email
We recently resupplied MI firearms instructor and author Skip Coryell, so all of his students are getting copies of our educational foundation’s booklet What Every Gun Owner Needs to Know About Self-Defense Law. Skip is an interesting instructor who loves to hunt and be outdoors. He is a USMC veteran, and formerly served as MI director for Ted Nugent’s United Sportsmen of America. Skip is also author of numerous books, and the publisher at White Feather Press, providing a large number of other titles on various topics, both fiction and educational. See http://www.whitefeatherpress.com/our-story.html.
In addition to teaching the MI concealed pistol permit class, Coryell offers advanced concealed carry classes for students of higher skill levels through Midwest Tactical Training. Learn more about Skip’s classes at http://www.mwtac.com/course-descriptions.html, email him at
Network members who have joined our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/221594457860509/) are probably familiar with the questions posed by affiliated instructor Thomas Kral of Chicago, IL. He is an active participant in the many self-defense legal issues discussed there and people in his own part of Illinois can learn from Kral through his defensive pistol, concealed carry and NRA basic pistol classes. He offers both private group classes, or students can join one of his publicly scheduled course. In addition, Kral blogs at http://www.alphakoncepts.com with topics including best guns for concealed carry, details about reciprocity with the Illinois Concealed Carry license and more.
Networking our members, affiliates and attorneys is the goal of this column, so we’re always pleased to get an announcement like the one recently coming in from Will Parker, of Freddie Merc’s Gun Wercs in Kalispell, MT. “Andrew Branca [Law of Self Defense] is coming to my classroom to teach his LOSD Seminar on March 19, 2016. My goal is to have Andrew come out every year to offer this seminar,” Parker told me, asking if MT Network members might be interested. Gun law education with Andrew comes highly recommended from the Network, so if you are in MT, check out http://lawofselfdefense.com/events/category/montana/ and members from other states would do well to check Andrew’s website for Law of Self Defense seminars closer to home!
For additional lawyerly instruction and commentary, I recommend that Network members put Affiliated Attorney Manasseh Lapin’s blog (http://www.armeddefenselaw.com/blog/armed-defense-law-news-special-texas-open-carry-edition) in their favorites file. Several days after release of our January journal, Attorney Lapin directed my attention to his post questioning the TX state constitution and local law enforcement’s detention of TX citizens carrying guns openly. It is an interesting analysis, and it led me into several hours worth of interesting reading on his other blogs and recommended reading linked on the same web page.
Affiliates, please send me an email if you have any special events like open houses, seminars, classes or other interesting tidbits that we can announce in this column. If announcing an event, about 60 days advance notice is best since we publish only once a month.
Also, please let me know when you need more copies of the Armed Citizens’ Educational Foundation’s booklet What Every Gun Owner Needs to Know About Self-Defense Law and our tri-fold brochures by emailing me at
We’re all in this together, so let’s work as a team to get the word out so armed citizens in your community have a better understanding of lawful, judicious use of deadly force and what to expect in the aftermath.
Click here to return to February 2016 Journal to read more.