I am not looking for price fixing, I am hoping for trainers of quality, first.
If a trainer would read, and follow these teaching ethics, we would have a higher quality program in Nebraska.
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NRA TRAINER’S ETHICS GUIDE
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
COMPETENCE
INTEGRITY
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
RESPECT OF PARTICIPANTS' RIGHTS AND DIGNITY
CONCERN FOR OTHERS' WELFARE
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY
ETHICAL STANDARDS
A. GENERAL STANDARDS
1. APPLICABILITY OF ETHICS GUIDE
2. BOUNDARIES OF COMPETENCE
3. MAINTAINING EXPERTISE
4. BASIS FOR PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENTS
5. DESCRIBING THE NATURE OF INSTRUCTING OR COACHING JUDGMENTS
6. RESPECTING OTHERS
7. DISCRIMINATION
8. SEXUAL HARASSMENT
9. AVOIDING HARM
10. MISUSE OF INFLUENCE
11. MULTIPLE RELATIONSHIPS
12. EXPLOITATIVE RELATIONSHIPS
13. DELEGATIONS TO AND SUPERVISION OF SUBORDINATES
14. HONORING COMMITMENTS
B. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
1. AVOIDANCE OF FALSE OR DECEPTIVE STATEMENTS
2. MEDIA PRESENTATIONS
3. TESTIMONIALS
4. REPRESENTING THE NRA
C. RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES
1. FAMILIARITY WITH ETHICS GUIDE
2. CONFRONTING ETHICAL ISSUES
3. CONFLICTS BETWEEN ETHICS AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEMANDS
4. INFORMAL RESOLUTION OF ETHICS VIOLATIONS
5. FORMAL REPORTING OF ETHICS VIOLATIONS
6. COOPERATING WITH ETHICS INVESTIGATIONS
7. IMPROPER COMPLAINTS
NRA TRAINER’S ETHICS GUIDE
INTRODUCTION
We are not immune from ethical problems in the shooting sports.
The intent of this guide is to provide both general principles and the decision rules to cover most
situations encountered by NRA trainers.
It has been designed with the purpose of establishing trainer ethics in order to protect the students,
athletes, trainers, volunteers, clubs, the NRA, and the public. These standards define (to the extent
possible) acceptable and unacceptable categories of behavior.
Whether a trainer has violated the Ethics Guide does not in itself determine if a contract or agreement is
enforceable or if legal consequences occur. These results are based on legal rather than ethical rules.
However, compliance with or violation of the Ethics Guide may be relevant as evidence in some legal
proceedings, depending upon the circumstances.
It is the individual responsibility of each trainer to aspire to the highest possible standards of conduct.
Trainers should respect and protect human civil rights, and should not knowingly participate in or
condone unfair discriminatory practices.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
COMPETENCE
Trainers strive to maintain high standards of excellence in their work. They recognize the
boundaries of their particular competencies and the limitations of their expertise. They provide
only those services and use only those techniques for which they are qualified by education,
training, or experience. Trainers exercise careful judgment and take appropriate precautions to
protect the welfare of those with whom they work. They maintain knowledge of relevant
educational information related to the services they render, and they recognize the need for
ongoing education. Trainers make appropriate use of scientific, professional, technical, and
administrative resources.
INTEGRITY
Trainers seek to promote integrity in the practice of instructing and coaching. Trainers are honest
and fair. In describing or reporting their qualifications, services, products, or fees, they do not
make statements that are false, misleading, or deceptive. Trainers strive to be aware of their own
belief systems, values, needs, and limitations, and the effect of these on their work. To the extent
feasible, they attempt to clarify, for relevant parties, the roles they are performing and to function
appropriately in accordance with those roles. Trainers avoid improper and potentially harmful
relationships.
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Trainers uphold professional standards of conduct, clarify their professional roles and obligations,
accept appropriate responsibility for their behavior, and adapt their methods to the needs of
different participants. Trainers consult with, refer to, or cooperate with other professionals and
institutes to the extent needed to serve the best interests of their students, or other recipients of
their services. Trainers' moral standards and conduct are personal matters to the same degree as is
true for any other person, except when trainers' conduct may compromise their responsibilities or
reduce the public's trust in shooting instruction or shooting instructors and/or coaches.
RESPECT OF PARTICIPANTS’* RIGHTS AND DIGNITY
Trainers respect the fundamental rights, dignity, and worth of all participants. Trainers are aware
of individual differences. Trainers try to eliminate the effect of biases on their work, and they do
not knowingly participate in or condone unlawful discriminatory practices.
CONCERN FOR OTHERS' WELFARE
Trainers seek to contribute to the welfare of those with whom they interact. In their actions,
trainers consider the welfare and rights of all participants. When conflicts occur among trainers'
obligations or concerns, they attempt to resolve these conflicts to perform their roles in a
responsible fashion that avoids or minimizes harm. Trainers are sensitive to differences in power
between themselves and others, and they do not exploit or mislead other people before, during or
after their instructional or coaching relationships.
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY
Trainers are aware of their ethical responsibilities to the community and the society in which they
work and live. They apply and make public their knowledge of shooting in order to contribute to
human welfare. Trainers try to avoid misuse of their work. Trainers comply with the law and
encourage the development of law and policies that serve the interest of shooting and responsible
gun ownership.
* Participants: Those taking part in shooting (shooters and their family members, instructors,
coaches, officials, volunteer, administrators, and spectators).
ETHICAL STANDARDS
A. GENERAL STANDARDS
These General Standards are applicable to the activities of all NRA trainers.
1. APPLICABILITY OF ETHICS GUIDE
While many aspects of personal behavior and private activities seem far
removed from official duties of teaching shooting, all trainers should be
sensitive to their position as role models for shooters and their
community. Private activities perceived as immoral or illegal can
influence the public’s perception of shooting instructors and coaches.
Trainers are encouraged to observe the standards of this Ethics Guide
consistently.
2. BOUNDARIES OF COMPETENCE
a. Trainers provide services only after first undertaking appropriate
study, training, supervision, and/or consultation from qualified members
of their respective credentialing association.
b. In those areas of the United States that require specified education or
certification for instructors or coaches, trainers take reasonable steps to
ensure that they are in compliance with the law.
3. MAINTAINING EXPERTISE
Trainers maintain a reasonable level of awareness of related educational
information and undertake ongoing efforts to maintain competence in the
skills they use.
4. BASIS FOR PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENTS
Trainers rely on scientifically and professionally derived knowledge
when making judgments or when engaging in instructional or coaching
endeavors.
5. DESCRIBING THE NATURE OF INSTRUCTION OR COACHING
When trainers provide services or information to an individual, a group,
or an organization, they use language that is reasonably understandable
and appropriate to the recipient of those services, and information that is
always updated and truthful.
6. RESPECTING OTHERS
a. Trainers respect the rights of others to hold values, attitudes, and
opinions that differ from their own.
b. When engaged in instructing or coaching, trainers recognize the power
they hold over participants, and therefore make reasonable efforts to
avoid engaging in conduct that is demeaning to participants.
7. DISCRIMINATION
Trainers do not engage in discrimination on any basis prescribed by law.
8. SEXUAL HARASSMENT
a. Trainers do not engage in sexual harassment.
b. Trainers will treat sexual harassment complainants and respondents
with dignity and respect.
9. AVOIDING HARM
Trainers take reasonable steps to avoid harming their participants.
10. MISUSE OF INFLUENCE
Because trainers' judgments and actions may affect the lives of others,
they are alert to guard against personal, financial, social, organizational,
or political factors that might lead to misuse of their influence.
11. MULTIPLE RELATIONSHIPS
a. In many communities and situations, it may not be feasible or
reasonable for trainers to avoid social or other non-training contacts with
students, athletes and other participants. Trainers must always be
sensitive to the potential harmful effects of other contacts on their work
and on those persons with whom they deal. A trainer refrains from
entering into or promising a personal, professional, financial, or other
type of relationship with such persons if it appears likely that such a
relationship might impair the trainer's objectivity or otherwise interfere
with the trainer effectively performing his or her function, or might harm
or exploit the other party.
b. Whenever feasible, a trainer refrains from taking on obligations when
preexisting relationships would create a risk of harm.
c. If a trainer finds that, due to unforeseen factors, a potentially harmful
multiple relationship has arisen, the trainer attempts to resolve it with due
regard for the best interests of the affected person and in maximum
compliance with this Ethics Guide.
12. EXPLOITATIVE RELATIONSHIPS
a. Trainers do not exploit participants over whom they have supervisory,
evaluative, or other authority.
b. Trainers do not engage in sexual/romantic relationships with
participants over whom the trainer has evaluative, direct, or indirect
authority whenever such relationships are likely to impair judgment or be
exploitative.
13. DELEGATIONS TO AND SUPERVISION OF SUBORDINATES
a. Trainers delegate to their assistants only the authority that such
persons can reasonably be expected to perform competently on the basis
of their education, training, experience, or certification.
b. Trainers provide proper training and supervision to their assistants or
substitutes, as well as take reasonable steps to see that such persons
perform services responsibly, competently, and ethically.
14. HONORING COMMITMENTS
Trainers take responsible measures to honor all commitments they have
made to participants.
A. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
1. AVOIDANCE OF FALSE OR DECEPTIVE STATEMENTS
Trainers do not make public statements that are false, deceptive,
misleading, or fraudulent (either due to what they state, convey, or
suggest, or because of what they omit) concerning their accomplishments
or activities or those of persons or organizations with which they are
affiliated. As examples (and not in limitation) of this standard, trainers
do not make false or deceptive statements concerning:
a. Their training, experience, competence, or services.
b. Their institutional or association affiliations.
c. Their academic degrees.
d. Their credentials.
a. The basis for, results of, or degree of success of their services.
f. Their shooting accomplishments
2. MEDIA PRESENTATIONS
When trainers provide advice or comment by means of public lectures,
demonstrations, radio or television programs, pre-recorded tapes, printed
articles, mailed material, or other media, they take reasonable
precautions to ensure that the statements are consistent with this Ethics
Guide.
3. TESTIMONIALS
Trainers do not solicit testimonials from current or prospective
participants who, because of their particular circumstances, are
vulnerable to undue influence.
4. REPRESENTING THE NRA
Trainers understand that their business relationship with the NRA is that
of an independent contractor who has been given credentials by the NRA
to teach specific NRA courses or perform other specified training
activities. Trainers understand they are not NRA employees and may not
represent the NRA on matters of NRA policy formulation or policy
interpretation nor may they make business commitments on behalf of the
NRA unless given specific written authorization to do so.
B. RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES
1. FAMILIARITY WITH ETHICS GUIDE
Trainers have an obligation to be familiar with this Ethics Guide (or as it
may be amended from time to time), other applicable ethics codes, and
their application to the trainer's work. Lack of awareness, or
misunderstanding of an ethical standard is not, in itself, a defense to a
charge of unethical conduct.
2. CONFRONTING ETHICAL ISSUES
When a trainer is uncertain whether a particular situation or course of
action would violate the Ethics Guide, the trainer ordinarily consults with
other trainers knowledgeable about ethical issues, or with the NRA
Training Department.
3. CONFLICTS BETWEEN ETHICS AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEMANDS
If the demands of an organization with which trainers are affiliated
conflict with this Ethics Guide, trainers clarify the nature of the conflict,
make known their commitment to this Ethics Guide, and to the extent
feasible, seek to resolve the conflict in a way that permits the fullest
adherence to the Ethics Guide.
4. INFORMAL RESOLUTION OF ETHICS VIOLATIONS
When participants believe that there may have been an ethics violation
by a trainer, they may attempt to resolve the issue by bringing it to the
attention of that individual in an informal manner.
5. FORMAL REPORTING OF ETHICS VIOLATIONS
If an apparent ethics violation is not appropriate for informal resolution
under this Ethics Guide, or is not resolved properly in that fashion,
participants and the NRA may take further action by:
a. Participant:
Any participant with first-hand knowledge may notify the NRA
Training Department in writing, identifying those involved and the
specific ethics violations and describing actions taken to resolve
the situation.
b. The NRA Training Department:
(1) Will review and investigate documented ethics
violation charges.
(2) If necessary, will review the ethics violation charge
with NRA counsel.
(3) If the charge is credible, will notify the accused of
the allegation in writing. The accused will be given the
opportunity to respond in writing.
(4) Will render a decision and notify the accused in
writing. The decision may result in exoneration or in
sanctions, including, but not limited to, suspension or
revocation of NRA training credentials.
(5) Will keep a written record on all reviews, responses,
and actions.
6. COOPERATING WITH ETHICS INVESTIGATIONS
Trainers cooperate in ethics investigations and proceedings. Failure to
cooperate is itself an ethics violation.
7. IMPROPER COMPLAINTS
Participants do not file or encourage the filing of ethics complaints that
are frivolous or are intended to harm the respondent rather than protect
the public.
