TexasCHLforum.com

FAST Inc wrote:Its a credibility thing - if a novice wants to get some basic firearms instruction, be should look for somebody that is certified by somebody - NRA is a great start. next would be to go to a well known school with good reviews (Gunsite, TigerSwan, Viking Tactics, etc) that hires Instructors that can teach AND demo. i have been teaching and advising for years but it is based on my experience ( retired SOF) not because sombody certified me. Thats where the difficulty lies - how do you sort out who is a good teacher and who is posing next to some certificates?

I've met several SOF guys that couldn't teach somebody how to make a peanut butter sandwich. I have met a lot more that are top-notch, so I'm not dinging SOF people in general. I think the key lies in instructional ability, not in gobs of tacticool smarts.

I definitely agree that it's hard, especially for novices, to sort the wheat from the chaff. Too bad there's nothing like Yelp for firearms instructors :)

radioflyer wrote:Pretty close.

Perhaps what I'm trying to say is, When you become certified (in any of the NRA, FBI etc schools) What are you now legally allowed to do as far as teaching that you couldn't legally do before?

Short answer: Nothing, really.

You can teach people how to safely own and operate firearms. Which, technically, you can do withOUT an NRA certification as well. In some states (Ohio, and I think Florida), you must be an NRA Certified Instructor before you can teach concealed carry courses.

There are many people (and organizations that have "group" shooting classes, like churches) that find comfort in the fact that somebody has invested the money and time to be a certified instructor, and I (for many reasons beside the obvious) encourage people to take courses backed by a certified instructor.

So, an NRA Certified instructor gains the benefit of having had training in _how_ to teach students, access to training materials, and a structured outline to ensure students can move forward at a pace that leaves nobody behind. Just like the best football player doesn't make the best coach, the fastest/best shooter/most-killer-of-bad-guys doesn't make the best instructor. Good instructors have patience, know how to recognize a host of trigger press/sight picture issues, and SHOULD be able to show a lefty (or righty, if they're a lefty) how to manipulate a pistol properly and maintain good shooting posture. They know how to spot the "Wyatt Earps" in the class and know how to control the classroom conversation to stay on topic (even if they themselves want to jump in and talk about the merits of the 10mm vs the .45 ACP), and can engage even the most timid shooter in a way that instills confidence. These are generally NOT things you see in your average "experienced shooter."

So, no, you gain nothing from a legal stance (other than the added glory of being required to carry liability insurance if you teach ). I'd daresay that a certified instructor might even have less legal footing in some courtrooms if you have a hostile DA.