Well guys I went Saturday and got my CCDW Certificate, the class was 12 hours long to be exact 8 was classroom and 4 were firing range. I have to say it was WELL WORTH IT!!!! I encourage anyone to go thru the class even if you are not going to conceal a weapon is worth it. The instructor is a former SWAT Sniper member and he was great a lot of info, tons of knowledge and precise training, I was surprise to see the different ages in the classroom there was a granny I would guess in her late 70s and she was packing Colt 1911... NICE!!. Some who never handle a handgun did great too. plus we all got an awesome deal joining the shooting range....

Kudos.....It does depend on which instructor you happen to acquire. BTW, which state are you from? I obtained mine in New Mexico and it was a 15 hr. course spread over two dates....

Im in NC and we didnt take long breaks and a 30 min lunch.....lol maybe thats why it took us 12 hrs to complete and we had 6 students in the class too.

How do you spell sigma?

S= Super
I= Ingenious
G= Great
M= Marvelous
A= Amazing

LOL! Just having some fun! Congrats on the CCW class!

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SD9VE, American perfection!

I'm ashamed at the State of Florida for not having more control over CCW classes. Particulary since many states honor Florida permits. Many classes are three hours long, and "range time" is 2-3 rounds fired into a bucket of sand outside the classroom door. Typical of gun show classes.

That is to bad Roy W.,
In the end it is only the client that loses, and usually in more than one way. I am also in N.C. and our companies CCH classes, that we have taught since the N.C. CCH inception in 1995, have always been a minimum of 11 hrs. long, but we only offer private and semi-private instruction. We also incorporate many tactics that we used in law enforcement such as; plus one, threat assessment, observation drills, color codes, large muscle movement drills, as well as a myriad of other info. Our company philosophy is: "Survival through observation, creating distance, and as a last resort, being defensively aggressive to stop the threat".
You are correct, there are to many companies that are only interested in selling certificates instead of training. Hopefully, it will catch up to them (the companies) and not their unknowing clients. Stay safe and check six.

Scott Jens
Check Six Training LLC
Home_Page
C.H.P.D. (ret.)

Hey Scott im glad NC requires a long class and as detailed as it is, the class was awesome and im glad it was 12 hrs.... i learned ALOT!!!!!!!!!

http://proshotsrange.com/

Personally I'm glad that Virginia doesn't require any shooting at all. A basic NRA gun safety course, or a hunter safety course, are all you really need. There are other things accepted of course, but those two are all you NEED.

Anybody who wants more of course is welcome to take it.

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John 3:16 .

Ohio requires 12 hours. Our range offers it split into three 4 hour evenings, two 6 hour weekend days or one 12 hour Sunday. The wife and I opted for the two day course.
This ain't going to make me popular around here but I think everyone should be required to take a safety course prior to being able to purchase. The same idea as being able to buy and license a car. It won't get rid of the idiots but it may reduce their numbers.
There, I said it!

I am a Kentucky Instructor, ours is 8 hours of classroom, followed by going to the range, and it takes as long as needed. two hours is legal provided by the state training academy attorneys.

I agree with you 110% alot of idiots are not familiar with their own handguns and thats when accidents happen all they know is what they see on TV, and alot dont know the law and think they can carry a handgun anytime, anywhere until they get arrested then the first thing that say " noone told me" lol IMO i think it should be a must...

As an NRA and CHL instructor I am a HUGE advocate of training.
That said, I am STRONGLY opposed to Government-mandated qualifications for owning a gun. If you think that is such a great idea, go live in New York City for awhile and see how bad Nanny laws can get.

Personal responsibility cannot be mandated by government.
Ironically, the states with the least mandated training requirements also have the LOWEST rate of CHL violations. Take Utah, for example.

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Science plus Art

As an NRA Instructor and Law enforcement Instructor, I teach the Certified NRA First Steps intro to Pistol Course which is ( 3 hours) and the Basic Pistol Course which is 8 hours. The Florida minimum standards is at least one round discharged from your gun on the range. My standards, the intro to pistol, the student will fire 25 to 50 rounds on the range to at least familiarize them with the gun they will carry. The applicant should be able to safely load, unload and hit the target with that course. The next progressive course would be the eight hourse course on Basic Pistol. Each step is a progression on executing a hit and the proper fundamental of shooting. the so called $45 to $55 courses at the gun shows and some of the local ranges is a joke. They take your money and the student is less knowledgable when it comes to proper safety and handling of his or her gun. I may charge more but the experience and knowledge that I instill to the applicants is of the latest technique and fundamentals. You know the old saying, "You get what you pay for".
Nick

lol True but we are talking about caring a concealed hand gun anyone can own and buy a gun but being armed out in public is where we strongly suggest the training, OH yeah!!! also NYC is not that bad i grew up in the SOUTH BRONX....now that "was" "is" and "will" be bad....

Mine took 2 hours....I've seen some that take 12+ and cost three times as much as what I paid for mine (NRA cost was 100 bucks). Granted, it was a class designed for people who simply had to renew their permit, and not for first time carriers who get taught "philosophy of carrying" in the regular length ones.

OK, I'll satisfy the guy who didn't think he'd be popular. Last time I looked driving a car wasn't anywhere in the Constitution.

And what makes you folks think that just because someone hasn't taken a 'course' from some instructor that they're ignorant of firearms. Some of us have been thru more than enough training thru time, without the blessing, guidance, and cost of some bureaucratic BS. All of which, infringe on the right to keep and bear arms. Just like the poll tax, or property owner requirement to vote or any number of other govenment abuses.

While I do think people should know the right way to handle a firearm. I don't need the government to tell me how much or what kind I need.

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Pete.

Driving is a privilege, keeping and bearing arms is NOT. If driving was a inalienable right, codified and forever protected by it's own amendment in our Bill of Rights, then I dare say that more than a few of us would be against any kind of infringements on it whatsoever.

Missouri requires a minimum of 8 hours training for those who want to apply for a CCW endorsement. No training at all is required for open carry. The state has mandated the required CCW course curriculum that we must teach. It includes:

Handgun safety in the classroom, at home, on the firing range and while carrying the firearm; a physical demonstration performed by the applicant that demonstrated his or her ability to safely load and unload a revolver and a semiautomatic pistol and demonstrated his or her marksmanship with both; the basic principles of marksmanship; care and cleaning of concealable firearms; safe storage of firearms at home; the requirements of the state of Missouri for obtaining a certificate of qualification for a concealed carry endorsement from the sheriff of the individual's county of residence and a concealed carry endorsement issued by the department of revenue; the laws relating to firearms as prescribed in chapter 571 of the revised statutes of Missouri; the laws relating to the justifiable use of force as prescribed in chapter 563; a live firing exercise of sufficient duration for each applicant to fire a handgun, from a standing position or its equivalent, a minimum of fifty rounds at a distance of seven yards from a B-27 silhouette target or an equivalent target; and a live fire test administered to the applicant while the instructor was present of twenty rounds from a standing position or its equivalent at a distance from a B-27 silhouette target, or an equivalent target, of seven yards.

The students must place at least 15 out of the 20 rounds in the silhouette portion of the target during the live-fire test in order to qualify.

Our course usually takes us about 8.5 - 9 hours to complete, depending on the number of students we have and what their skill level is. It's a very informative class, if I do say so myself.

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NRA Pistol,PPITH,PPOTH&TASER

I have no illusions that I can change anyone's mindset. And I seriously doubt that mine can be changed by anything I read here. Not the point and not my intent.
Interestingly enough, if I were to walk down the street in several states with a gun in plain sight there are no rules but the minute I put it in my pocket I have to complete several hours or days of training. Training most here agree is fitting and proper.
If gun owners agree that safety courses are fitting and proper, what's the beef? Is it "the government"? You do mean "our government" don't you? I've said too much and gone too far. I will retreat quietly and apologize for disturbing you all.

your opinion is just as valid blujax. Some may not agree with it..oh well.
My learning came from 7 years of active duty, scoring "expert" with the M-14 and M-16 the entire time, and carried the old .38 at times. I know I shoot more than any LEO in our county, so I guess I'm saying, be comfortable with yourself and know your limitations.

Medevack, Congrats on your CCW, shoot and shoot often practice practice and practice.

Bill

New York City residents who want to own a gun may soon be denied permits if they are litterbugs, if they are bad drivers, or if they have fallen behind on a few bills.

Bad Driver? In Debt? Proposed NYC Law Would Ban You From Owning a Gun - FoxNews.com

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Science plus Art

Here in Alabama there is no training requirement. I have mixed feelings about that.

If you feel the law(s) don't apply to you, if you're irresponsible, and/or if you're a financial deadbeat you shouldn't have a gun.

Be safe.

"So now the city can deny a permit for a building code violation, a sanitation ticket for failing to sweep the sidewalk … an array of non-criminal acts,"

Councilmember Dan Halloran says those revisions are intended to give the police more power to deny licenses, which could counter a possible spike in gun ownership (related to SCOTUS ruling)

Can't find where the 2nd Amendment autorizes Government to limit gun ownership to a certain number of people. However, that was the law in Nazi Germany; only Nazi Party members were "responsible" enough to own guns.

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Science plus Art

We should always be mindful that the original "gun control" laws were enacted to try to keep guns out of the hands of freed slaves. You know, those irresponsible financial deadbeats. Pretty much everywhere, it was white people who assumed that the laws didn't apply to them. As a practical matter, they were correct for generations. The Second Amendment has no clause limiting its rights to the elite. If we forget that, we play directly into the hands of the fascist, elitist antis.

medevack,
Congratulations!! Every citizen should have the right of self-defense.
The more CCDW permits the better.
TACC1

I live in connecticut and the pistol permit class says 8 hrs. I was the only one in the class so we finished in 6. I'm taking a home defense class in november.

Im not a big fan of long courses. Texas was 11 hours and it could have been done in 3, with a 50 rnd qualification lasting 15 minutes. It was boring, it was pointless and well what else can I say. I took the Utah class at home and it was done in four hours and the class was excellent and did not require shooting...We are citizens not cops and we need not train to the same standards LEO's train too. I mean who in the heck trained Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, or John Adams? Guns are not rocket science. After one gets past the legal requirements, when one can and can not shoot (hell the law alone could take a lifetime of study) and the safety on gun handling, not much is left....Four hours on the range...good for cops and military, rather pointless for citizens who want to learn to defend themselves...

For a brief introduction to firearms safety, I agree that it wouldn't require 4 hours of range time. On the other hand, 4 hours would barely scratch the surface of the various defensive shooting techniques and skills that could be essential in saving your life some day. Simply shooting a gun in a safe manner is not rocket science. Along those same lines, actually using a gun effectively and efficiently for self defense isn't the same as target shooting either.

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NRA Pistol,PPITH,PPOTH&TASER

IMPO there are a lot of people who either try to imitate gunhoes on TV or have bad habits from previous handguns and they end up hurting themselves or others, I believe that if you want to get better and be safe about it! go and learn about the do's and don’ts, save your money, make time and take the class, is worth every penny..... I learned a lot.

I have to disagree with you on that. you say "We are citizens not cops and we need not train to the same standards LEO's train too"
ok then why would you carry a conceal handgun? the training is for defending your self ie shoot someone or something, last time i checked is the same thing as for LEO and for citizens, Also if you carry for safety? same thing, the shooting is the same anyway you put it, then why wouldn’t you have the training? IMO lets say someone panics and shoot an innocent by standard for lack of training, the 1st thing the DA will ask you in court is were you properly trained with that handgun and by who? Trust me i know, been there done that. Even when LEO are involved in a shooting they are question on the training they received. Who?, how often? and did the officer pass?.
The Law is for the crooks not for the law abiding citizen.

"Four Hours of range rather pointless for citizens who want to learn to defend themselves"
Again w/o training a handgun is useless anyone can point and shoot a gun, But a trained person can shoot a gun with accuracy and hit the intended target.
Its cool tho you are entitle to your own opinion and that’s ok

I haven't seen any arguments or posts that say firearms training isn't valuable. Whether that's guns safety, legal options, or defensive techniques.

The point is that the government should not be the one to decide or require specific tasks to complete before you can exercise a constitutional right. And 'bear' is also an operative verb in the 2nd amendment. There is no limiting clause the describes how or where 'bear' is applicable.

I think that everyone should train and practice with firearms as much as possible.

Although on a side issue, I might be in favor of an intelligence test before you were allowed to vote.

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Pete.

I kinda thought that my comment may generate some oposition. That's fine. Cops make mistakes all the time and they are trained. Witness the guy in SFO who thought he was using his taser and instead shot someone to death. My own department was not without its own accidents. I think we were as well trained as any LEO agency. Sure there are tons of techniques that one could employ in defensive shooting. My point is that IM not sure that the average citizen needs or will ever remember all those techniques and if not practiced constantly they go to waste. The anti gun nuts use training as a reason the average citizen should not carry or even own guns. I dont want someone of that ilk telling you that You must spend 4 hrs per quarter shooting to 85% accuracy or they will take your gun. Our Department required 85% while the State mandated 70%, so I hope those of you who disagree at least understand my reasons...Again who trained the early settlers.....Their Dads on the back 40.....

Oh is not an argument!!!! i was just putting my 2 cents...lol ( 1st amendment) i agree is not about if you are a LEO or a citizen we are all human it doesn’t matter if you are trained or not mistakes will be made but if you train mistakes can be prevented and "for legal reason" is always good to have that training. as far as who trained the early settlers? WOW back then they didn’t have kids shooting people for the fun of it (gang related) they didn’t have to have a conceal permit or even a permit to buy a gun there wasn’t a wait time or background checks weapons were respected and were used for a purpose, everyone had a gun strapped to their side and was not questioned, Now! go to Wal mart and exercise your 2nd amendment and see if you don’t get stopped, get the police called on you, questioned or even asked to leave. Times have changed, and so has the Law. I think is a good conversation to see the different points from everyone’s perspective.

I think the big difference is between what the goverment mandates and what you set as your own personal standard. I know that I have the right to keep and bear arms. I also don't have a problem demonstrating that I'm not going to shoot myself in the foot or my neighbor in the backside before I purchase a handgun. The standard I've set for myself; basic techniques practiced regularly.

I certainly agree that times have changed. I see that you and I share a similar background in LE.....I do still have a problem about all this regulation, since the Constitution doesnt say a thing about training.. Unless you want to take the ...."a well regulated militia..." statement and say that statement allows all kinds of regulations....Dont get me wrong I think training is good. i still go to the range monthly or more. I also favor license for cc...I do not believe that one is necessary for open carry and surprisingly I really dont favor open carry on our streets. The woods is fine.....but if open carry became the law I would not panic...