Classes

Classes are taught in a public, well lit, professional classroom with multimedia equipment, comfortable chairs and refreshments. Fees are all inclusive, including range time - no surprises. Read what other students have said.

Refuse to be a Victim®
First Step Pistol Course
Basic Pistol
Personal Protection in the Home
Firearms Law Course

Refuse to be a Victim®

Non-firing
3 hours (NRA Certified)

Overview: This course was developed by the women of the NRA in response to a nationwide request for crime prevention and personal safety information. Recognizing the program's relevance to both men and women, the NRA Board of Directors voted in 1997 to make the course co-ed. See prices.

Goal: "Provide quality crime prevention and personal safety training to all interested participants and foster the development of responsibility, confidence and self-reliance regarding crime prevention and personal safety issues."

Prerequisites: An interest in crime-prevention.

Materials Given to Student: Program brochure and Refuse To Be A Victim® Student Handbook.

Required Equipment: None. If the firearms element is included, students should bring their owner's manual and 30 rounds of ammunition. School pistols and ammunition are available without charge.

Lessons:

Handgun ownership and the law (taught by a Lawyer)
Psychology of Mental Preparedness – with film
Home Security - with film
Physical Security*
Automobile Security*
Out-of-Town Travel Security*
Technological Security*
Self-Defense Physical Training
Personal Protection Devices
Special Modules as appropriate
- In the Workplace
- Parents & Children
- Senior Citizens and Persons with Physical Disabilities
- Domestic Violence and Stalking

*Customized based on the needs of a particular class.

First Step Pistol Course

Qualifies for a concealed handgun permit
4 hours (NRA Certified)

Overview: FIRST (Firearm Instruction, Responsibility and Safety Training) Steps is one of the latest additions to the NRA's training programs for new shooters. It provides hands-on orientation for one specific pistol. Teaching only the most basic shooting skills, this is an excellent introductory course for youth and adults. This course meets the education prerequisite for a concealed handgun permit. See prices.

Goal: "To provide beginning shooters with an introduction to the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to own and use a specific pistol model safely."

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for taking this course and the material is available to appropriately supervised, mature children. Students will be asked to sign a waiver and indemnification contract.

Course Completion: Students will receive feedback on their shooting exercise and an NRA course certificate upon successful completion of the lessons. Students will also receive a "Basic Practical" rocker patch upon successful demonstration of firing a qualifying "group," which is three 5-shot groups from 15 feet that can be covered by a 9 inch plate.

Materials Given to Student: Basic Pistol Shooting Handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules Brochure, Basic Firearm Training Program Brochure, Course Completion Certificate, Basic Practical Rocker Patch and Flyer and Marksmanship Qualification Program Booklet. Includes targets, range fee and loaner ear and eye protection. School pistols and ammunition are available without charge.

Required Equipment: Students may bring their own handgun, owner's manual and 30 rounds of ammunition. Targets, hearing and eye protection are provided. Your prescription polycarbonate glasses can also serve as eye protection.

Lessons: This course, because of its narrow focus, can be completed in three to four hours. Students will receive practical lessons on the safe use, cleaning, and storage of their pistol. The firing exercise covers a single pistol. If the number of participants or pistol types present increases, the course will take proportionally longer.

Introduction to Pistol Safety, Parts and Operation
Introduction to Ammunition and the Fundamentals of Pistol Shooting
Introduction to Pistol Cleaning, Storage and Training Opportunities
Introduction to Pistol Shooting from the Benchrest Position

Basic Pistol

Qualifies for a concealed handgun permit
8 hours (NRA Certified)

Overview: For beginning and intermediate pistol shooters. The comprehensive NRA Basic Pistol course emphasizes the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to safely handle a pistol. The course emphasizes safety and the fundamentals of shooting - including position, grip, breathing, sight alignment, trigger control and follow through. Students will learn how to identify different types of handguns and how each type functions. This course meets the education prerequisite for a concealed handgun permit. See prices.

Goal: "To teach the basic knowledge, skills and attitude for owning and using a pistol safely."

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for taking this course and the material is available for appropriately supervised mature children. Students will be asked to sign a waiver and indemnification contract.

Course Completion: Students will receive feedback on their coached shooting exercise and an NRA course certificate upon successful completion of the lessons. Students will also receive a "Basic Practical" rocker patch upon successful demonstration of firing a qualifying "group". (See FIRST Steps). There is a short written examination at the end of the course.

Materials Given to Student: Basic Pistol Shooting Handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules Brochure, Student Exam, Basic Firearm Training Program Brochure, Course Completion Certificate, Basic Practical Rocker Patch and Flyer and Marksmanship Qualification Booklet. Includes targets, range fee and loaner ear and eye protection. School pistols and ammunition are available without charge.

Required Equipment: Students should bring their own handgun, owner's manual and at least 30 rounds of ammunition. Rental pistols are available. Targets, hearing and eye protection are provided. Your prescription polycarbonate glasses can also serve as eye protection.

Lessons: This is a more comprehensive one-day course than FIRST Steps and covers:

Safe firearm handling
Introduction to single and double action revolvers and semi-automatic pistols
Firearm parts and operation
Ammunition and its function
Shooting fundamentals and an opportunity to develop them on the range
How to select, clean and store a firearm - and film
Review of various activities to help participants develop and improve their pistol shooting skills

Personal Protection in the Home

Prerequisites: First Steps Pistol or Basic Pistol Course
10 hours (NRA Certified)

Goal: "To develop the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude essential to the safe and efficient use of a handgun for protection of self and family, and to provide information on the law-abiding citizen's right to self-defense."

Prerequisites: Designed for mature adults with sufficient maturity and life experiences to be able to assess various situations and make mature decisions. Based on a series of building blocks, students must be experienced shooters who posses one of the following: NRA FIRST Steps or Basic Pistol Certificate, an NRA Marksmanship Pistol Qualification Certificate, a Pistol qualification card, a DD 214 card with pistol qualification or a Concealed Carry Permit. Students will be asked to sign a waiver and indemnification contract.

Course Completion: Students will be given feedback on their coached shooting exercises and an NRA certificate upon successful completion of the lessons.

Materials Given to Student: Personal Protection in the Home Handbook, Basic Firearm Training Program Brochure, Course Completion Certificate, NRA Gun Safety Rules Brochure, Student Exam and Marksmanship Qualification Program Booklet. Includes targets, range fee and loaner ear and eye protection.

Required Equipment: Students should bring their own handgun, owner's manual and 100 rounds of ammunition. Extra magazines and/or revolver speed loader are helpful but not required. Targets, hearing and eye protection are provided. Your prescription polycarbonate glasses can also serve as eye protection.

Lessons:

Introduction to Defensive Shooting - with film

Basic Defensive Handgun Skills - with film

Firearms and the Law: Possession, Ownership and the Use of Deadly Force

Strategies for Home Safety and Responding to a Violent Confrontation

Selecting a Handgun for Personal Defense

Sport Shooting Activities and Training Opportunities

Course Review and Written Examination

Firearms Law Course

Prerequisites: None.
2 hours (Not NRA Certified)

Overview: This unique class offers just the legal portion of the Personal Protection in the Home course. Because the content of this class is so important to your safety, we have rearranged the schedule of the Personal Protection class so that students may attend only the legal portion if they so desire. The information contained in this course is not offered with issuance of a concealed handgun permit or firearm purchase. Course topics include: Making official statements and the Miranda Warning; the use of deadly force; purchase and possession of a firearm (State and Federal laws); legal considerations of owning and keeping a gun in your home and concealed carry versus brandishing. All statements reference current Virginia case law and numerous real-life examples of court cases are discussed. The instructor-Richard Gardiner, Esq., served as Chief Counsel for the NRA for 16 years and has participated in District of Columbia v. Heller second amendment rights litigation. Richard is a practicing Virginia lawyer and one of the most experienced firearms lawyers in the country. See prices.

Goal: To develop an awareness of the law with regard to the use of deadly force, firearms ownership and concealed carry.

Prerequisites: None.

Course Completion: Students are provided handouts on case law and relevant articles about citizen concealed carry. This class is taught from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on those days when the Personal Protection in the Home class is offered.

Required Equipment: None.