Editorial

Illinois Concealed Carry Instructors Redux

David A. Lombardo

In an editorial I wrote last September, I made a statement about how individuals were selected to become Illinois Concealed Carry instructors that garnered a strong, negative reaction from some people. When I reread what I'd written, I realized I wasn't very clear about the intention behind the words. What I wrote was: 

"Seriously, we're going to let people who got an NRA Basic Instructor rating two weeks prior, who have no teaching experience and no practical experience, teach inexperienced shooters to carry a concealed firearm when they've never done it themselves?" 

There was a lot of talk about hundreds of thousands of people wanting to get the Illinois Concealed Carry permit, and that equated to one heck of a lot of money for those who would do the training. A few folks accused me of wanting to corner the training market and a few other things relating to my mother and my relationship with the devil. A few others interpreted what I'd written to mean only prior military or law enforcement personnel should be allowed to be instructors. 

Given what has taken place with respect to instructors since the enactment of concealed carry training and the recent feature article in the Chicago Tribune about problems with a small number of Illinois Concealed Carry instructors, let me be a bit clearer about what I was thinking at the time and still believe.

Most of the many Illinois Concealed Carry instructors I know personally are doing a great job. Some are prior military, some prior or current law enforcement, and some have no military or law enforcement background, but they're still doing a good job. However, the one thing they have in common is they all have a history of teaching firearm safety that goes back well beyond Illinois Concealed Carry. My concern was, and still is, that it is very easy to become an Illinois Concealed Carry instructor, which has allowed a small number of people to get in the business for apparently no other reason than to make a buck.

The most notorious was the instructor who chopped the 16 hour requirement down to a few hours by having students do the NRA Basic Pistol course online-a major violation of the NRA's rules-and then provide them with what one of his students told me was "a few hours of nothing of any value at all." Once discovered, all of his pending student's applications were denied; his credentials were revoked; he was reported to law enforcement for possible prosecution; and apparently the state is taking a hard look at as many as 900 students he trained. This is exactly what bothered me from day one: someone with no track record-no respect for the industry.

It is worth noting that many of the instructors that have lost their credentials lost them over essentially administrative issues and not wrongdoing. Thankfully to date only a handful of instructors have been accused of outright fraud. Having said that, I still maintain that potential Illinois Concealed Carry instructors should not only have the basic credentials required for certification but also some pre-existing experience that shows a commitment to teaching firearm safety. It doesn't have to be military or law enforcement; it simply has to be an assurance that this is something they've been doing in a responsible manner for a while.   

Brady Bill namesake dies

SAFER USA &

AURORA SPORTSMEN'S CLUB

COURSE SCHEDULE

(Private group classes available)  

Unless noted, all classes meet at the SAFER USA facility

190 W. Lincoln St; Waterman, IL 60556. Call 815-744-5487 for further information.

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Sunday, September 21st, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

NRA BASIC INSTRUCTOR TRAINING (6 hours)

Saturday, September 13th, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

NRA INSTRUCTOR PISTOL (10 hours)

Sunday, September 14th, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

ILLINOIS CONCEALED CARRY I (16 hours)

Sat, Aug 23rd and Sun, Aug 24th 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 

Sat, Sep 6th and Sun, Sep 7th 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 

 ILLINOIS CONCEALED CARRY I (16 Hours)

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 ILLINOIS CONCEALED CARRY II (8 Hours)

Sun, August 17th 9:00 am - 5:00 pm  

Sat, September 13th 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 

NRA Basic Pistol (8 Hours) 

Sat, August 16th 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 

Register for a SAFER USA class 

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Firearms retailers off

'Operation Choke Point' watch list

In a matter closely watched by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) this week reported that firearms retailers are no longer on a watch list of businesses deemed "high risk," after withdrawing the list it had compiled of businesses that could be considered at higher risk for fraud without showing any actual violation of law as part of the Department of Justice's "Operation Choke Point." An FDIC spokesman publicly blamed "misunderstandings" and "misinterpretations" and said the agency never meant to prevent banks from conducting transactions or providing services to the types of businesses on its list. Importantly, the agency issued revised guidance that focused on third party payment processors but also noted more broadly that, "It is the FDIC's policy that insured institutions (banks) that properly manage customer relationships are neither prohibited nor discouraged from providing services to any customer operating in compliance with applicable law." As previously reported, NSSF has been closely monitoring U.S. House of Representatives investigations into "Operation Choke Point" and its effects on industry members. Financial Services Oversight Committee staff told NSSF this week that they will seek to ensure the revised FDIC guidance is followed, noting the vast majority of the regulatory workforce is based around the country, not in Washington, so Congress must continue its ongoing oversight. NSSF will continue to report on developments. [Source: NSSF]  

Winchester becomes

NSSF Rimfire Challenge Silver Sponsor

Winchester Ammunition has signed on as a Silver Sponsor of the NSSF Rimfire Challenge. With a company history of almost 150 years, Winchester Ammunition is a global supplier of firearms ammunition and is one of the most recognizable brands in the industry. The NSSF Rimfire Challenge, a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry, focuses on competition with .22-caliber rifles and pistols. The program was designed to introduce new shooters to the shooting sports in an exciting and family-friendly way. Open to shooters of all ages and abilities, Rimfire Challenge matches are conducted on a host of ranges nationwide, with a match format that emphasizes safety, fun and support for newcomers. "Being involved as a Silver Sponsor with the NSSF's Rimfire Challenge is something we're pleased to participate in," said Brett Flaugher, Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Strategy for Winchester Ammunition. "We are thoroughly committed to assisting individuals who are new to shooting and look forward to watching them develop and become part of the shooting sports."