*SUPPLEMENTAL CCW TRAINING*

In July of 2020, there were 14,000 active concealed carry permits issued by  the Maryland State Police. In July of 2021, that number more than doubled to 33,000. By July of 2022 the number of active issued permits had grown to 114,000. In 2025, there are now close to 250,000 active permits issued in the State . Our concern is  how many new permit holders actually know what they are doing. Too many "instructors" we see on local ranges are new, usually less than three years experience handling any firearm. They're actually part time insurance salespersons,with their teaching credentials  purchased from the insurance company they represent.  They're paid a 50%  commission on every,"membership"  and every, " carry permit insurance"' policy they sell before they let you out of the classroom.  "Special reduced pricing, TODAY ONLY."   Sound familiar ?

Now that you've survived sixteen hours along with the other ninety-nine potential policy holders who joined you to listen to the "expert" in camo cargo pants and the requisite black t-shirt and cap, did you actually learn to shoot a handgun ?  How many different handguns did you get to hold, much less shoot in different calibers? How many shots did you actually fire?  At what distance(s) was that ? If you didn't put 25 shots inside the eight ring, see if your instructor can do it at 25 feet. If he can't (or won't),  ask for a refund. 

Were you taught  how to safely load and unload any handgun..?  (Did you use, "Snap Caps"? )  How many different type and size "Blue Guns" were available for each student in your class ? Did you receive enough guidance to know which handguns to consider purchasing and were they available for  inspection in your classroom ? 

At least twice a week, we're teaching remedial classes to new permit holders who've realized they don't know enough to be safe carrying a concealed handgun. Their needs dictate the curriculum. In short, we will bring you up to speed to help you avoid hurting yourself, or someone else. We're not here to criticize any specific instructor or instructors. But, the facts are hard to ignore. The overwhelming majority of  "instructors"  we see on local ranges are at best, incompetent and at worst, dangerous. A lady taking a class from one of these insurance salesmen was shot in the leg by him recently in Baltimore City. On a Baltimore County range, a saleried "instructor", accidentially shot a round off in his classroom, narrowly missing an understandably startled student.

There's no substitute for experience. Knowledgeable instructors teaching and applying safety and skill sets from years of real world experience, produce the safest and most competent new shooters. This is no space for part-time amateurs.