If you had 1 piece of advice for someone before they attend a CHP class, what wo

[Range Mom]

Hi everyone
I'm putting together an informational session on best practices/ Lessons Learned for people interested in getting their CHP to help them preprare beforehand.

So if you have your CHP or are an instructor what advice would you give someone to help them prepare before they attend a class?

If you'd like to be quoted,  happy to give credit where credit is due. Happy to include your company name if you have one. 

And if you share your contact information I'll share that with attendees too.

If you want to share but not on here, message me privately.

Thank you in advance!

[gsd]

1) Be safe.
2) Have a firearm. You would think it a given, but people have shown up expecting instructors to furnish them with a firearm and gear.
3) Choose a proper holster, preferably outside the waistband, made for the firearm you are using. (Or a universal made to fit that style.)
4) KNOW your firearm. Know the operation and mechanics of it, please don't just go buy one and show up.
5) Take a Basic Pistol class. Practice with your firearm. (Someone actually showed up to a class having NEVER fired a handgun.)

These are observations from someone who is a hobbyist, I'm not a certified instructor, master level trigger spanker, or national champion match wunderkind with an NFA finger. This is just common sense that I have seen firsthand being ignored when I have helped other instructors, and things I have heard while introducing someone to the joy of firearms.

[ILoveCats]

Gsd got it right. Fortunately everyone in my class knew the fundamentals to say the least. Many had grown up with guns. I can't imagine how aggravating it would be to take a class with total novices. It would really ruin the experience honestly.

It is highly likely the above post may offend you. I'm fine with that.

You really should revise your sig file. All these years and you still haven't posted anything that offends me.

Unless you say something totally blasphemous like supporting Bernie Sanders, or suggesting that a martini should be shaken rather than stirred, you aren't going to offend me.

[SemperFiGuy]

sfg is away off somewheres.   In the meantime, I am using his Forum space to respond to this current issue.

Here we go:
===========================
1.    Have read Title 272, Chapter 21 of the Nebraska Administrative Code in its entirety.   And studied it thoroughly prior to coming to class.   No real burden here.   It’s only 24 pages long, perhaps less than the daily sports pages.   Lots of good information therein, especially all the tidbits that will keep a CHP-holder from going to jail for exercising his 2nd amendment rights.   But then, it must be against some folks’ religion to come to class prepared.

2.   Not have brought a stinking Ruger Single-six or any 5-shot revolver to the class to use as the qualification handgun.  (Or, alternatively, to know which direction the 5-shot revolver cylinder rotates when the trigger is pulled.)

3.   Not have brought any kind of .44Rem Magnum or similar showoff non-carry-type blunderbuss, either.

4.   Not to point their loaded handgun at themselves, the instructor, or the other class members more than a couple of times during the range qualification portion of the class.

5.   Not to load the cartridges into the magazines backwards.

6.   Not to show up at the range wanting to borrow eyes, ears, or holsters.   Or handguns.  Or ammo.

7.   Not to show up at the range with a great big smile on face and a “Brannew handgun I’ve never ever shot before!!!!”

8.   Not to shake like a leafy aspen the entire time while on the firing line.   Nervousness is contagious.   Especially for the Instructor, who is already nervous.

9.   Know the difference between .45ACP and .45GAP before leaving Cabelas.

10.   Be fully aware of the substantial responsibility that accompanies packing heat in public locations and be ready to do the study, preparation, and state of mind that is necessary to meet that responsibility.
===========================

cranky old CHP instructor that nobody should listen to anyhow/b]

[Range Mom]

Thank you everyone!  Appreciate the insight and expertise!

[OnTheFly]

gsd's list is great. One thing I would add is that you need to realize that you are NOT going to learn...

1) How to draw
2) The four basic rules of safe firearm handling
3) How to shoot your firearm
4) How to react in a self defense situation

You should show up with at least 1-3 of this already learned. I had a guy in my class that pointed his firearm at me because he didn't know how to load/unload it. He was right handed and I was to his left. I stepped off the line and the instructor came over. I support everyone's right to carry a firearm, but I don't support people who are ignorant and lazy when it comes to such a serious subject as owning/carrying a firearm.

Fly

[Lorimor]

gsd's list is great. One thing I would add is that you need to realize that you are NOT going to learn...

1) How to draw
2) The four basic rules of safe firearm handling
3) How to shoot your firearm
4) How to react in a self defense situation

You should show up with at least 1-3 of this already learned. I had a guy in my class that pointed his firearm at me because he didn't know how to load/unload it. He was right handed and I was to his left. I stepped off the line and the instructor came over. I support everyone's right to carry a firearm, but I don't support people who are ignorant and lazy when it comes to such a serious subject as owning/carrying a firearm.

Fly

+1

In a perfect world, a complete newbie wishing to get a CCW permit would first attend an NRA basic pistol class at the minimum.   And then ALL candidates would go to some kind of basic defensive handgun class at Gunsite or Thunder Ranch, a Givens class or Ayoob MAG 20/40 or some such.  There they would learn some practical knowledge about carrying a firearm for defensive purposes, like how far down the list of options a firearm is and why it's a weapon of last resort, for a wide variety of reasons.

[Lorimor]

sfg is away off somewheres.   In the meantime, I am using his Forum space to respond to this current issue.

Here we go:
===========================
1.    Have read Title 272, Chapter 21 of the Nebraska Administrative Code in its entirety.   And studied it thoroughly prior to coming to class.   No real burden here.   It’s only 24 pages long, perhaps less than the daily sports pages.   Lots of good information therein, especially all the tidbits that will keep a CHP-holder from going to jail for exercising his 2nd amendment rights.   But then, it must be against some folks’ religion to come to class prepared.

2.   Not have brought a stinking Ruger Single-six or any 5-shot revolver to the class to use as the qualification handgun.  (Or, alternatively, to know which direction the 5-shot revolver cylinder rotates when the trigger is pulled.)

3.   Not have brought any kind of .44Rem Magnum or similar showoff non-carry-type blunderbuss, either.

4.   Not to point their loaded handgun at themselves, the instructor, or the other class members more than a couple of times during the range qualification portion of the class.

5.   Not to load the cartridges into the magazines backwards.

6.   Not to show up at the range wanting to borrow eyes, ears, or holsters.   Or handguns.  Or ammo.

7.   Not to show up at the range with a great big smile on face and a “Brannew handgun I’ve never ever shot before!!!!”

8.   Not to shake like a leafy aspen the entire time while on the firing line.   Nervousness is contagious.   Especially for the Instructor, who is already nervous.

9.   Know the difference between .45ACP and .45GAP before leaving Cabelas.

10.   Be fully aware of the substantial responsibility that accompanies packing heat in public locations and be ready to do the study, preparation, and state of mind that is necessary to meet that responsibility.
===========================

cranky old CHP instructor that nobody should listen to anyhow/b]

Pretty good list, except how about not pointing ANY gun at anyone, regardless of how "unloaded" it is? 

[Lorimor]

Because I think it's pertinent to the theme of this thread, I'll post a link to this again:

https://revolverscience.com/tag/massad-ayoob/

[SemperFiGuy]

Pretty good list, except how about not pointing ANY gun at anyone, regardless of how "unloaded" it is?

Well, we wuz talking CHP classes.   But I guess then we can expand the post to include that counter clerk at a well-known Omaha gun store who was pointing the Ruger GP100 directly at me.   At which point I moved to the side.   At which point he then re-aimed the handgun directly at me.   Pointblank boresighted.

At which point I recalled some military language combined from several experienced platoon sergeants and delivered it to him directly, clearly, and loudly.

Which seemed to annoy him no end.

But this wasn't a bunch of CHP newbies; it was a very experienced local Omaha gun counter clerk.  Probably already has his CHP.   Kinda glad he wuzn't in any of my classes.

FWIW,

sfg

[Kendahl]

At which point I recalled some military language combined from several experienced platoon sergeants and delivered it to him directly, clearly, and loudly.

I can understand your response but it might have been more effective to notify the owner of the incident with emphasis on the magnitude of the salesman's transgression and the impression it makes on knowledgeable customers.

[SemperFiGuy]

I can understand your response but it might have been more effective to notify the owner of the incident with emphasis on the magnitude of the salesman's transgression and the impression it makes on knowledgeable customers.

Yes...........

I did indeed consider that approach.

However, I'm in that store a lot.   Have always had a good relationship with the store staff and the management.   Thought rather than raising general hell, I'd go direct to the source for just this one incident.   I've learned to spend only so much energy per spitstorm.

Should it happen again, either same or different person, then we go straight to the top, because when it's recurring, then the top level must get involved.   Top level may even be the cause.

And back to the Lorimor's post:   Yes.   All guns are always loaded.

sfg
Why am I up posting on the Forum at 3:58am on a Sunday morning?

[jschenck]

One more advice from a relatively new shooter - dress for the weather.  It was a nice sunny day when our class went to the outdoor shooting range for the qual. shooting - but 30 mph winds and about 20 deg F.  We froze our collective butts. and it was muddy.  Still had a pretty good time.

For sure, know the pistol you are going to take to the class.  I'd suggest spending time doing some dry fire exercises (safely of course, no ammo any where near you when doing that) - and field stripping it, generally getting comfortable using and handling it.  I was comfortable with the pistols I brought.  It was obvious not everyone was comfortable with their pistols.

ALWAYS treat it as loaded.  ALWAYS point it at the paper or it's in your holster at the qual. shooting.  And be aware of what the other folks on the line are doing. 

[Kilroy]

I would explain how to properly carry a handgun, the actual logistics of it. How to select a good belt and holster combination. I'd steer them away from universal nylon junk and recommend quality holsters like Stealth Gear, Comp-tac, etc. I'd teach them about clothing selections, and how to pick clothes that are compatible with CCW but still look good.
Also: How to use a public restroom when you have a handgun on you.