Congratulations on taking the next step in your personal protection journey with the decision to carry concealed. Whether you are a new gun owner or an experienced marksman, exploring the multitude of training options from the National Rifle Association (NRA) should be your first stop on your path to this goal. As America’s firearm safety and education leader, the NRA training classes enaure you are prepared to exercise your Second Amendment rights to their fullest.
Why NRA? For one, the NRA is nationally recognized as the “gold standard” for safe firearm training, developing hundreds of thousands of safe, ethical and responsible shooters since 1871. And it is NRA Certified Instructors who offer an invaluable service to the firearms community.
NRA Instructors teach the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to safely handle and operate a firearm. This training teaches you the safe and proper use of a firearm every time you handle one, while other training, such as for self-defense, is training you hope you will never have to use. NRA-trained gun owners are among the safest and most-qualified, and are an asset to their communities.
NRA Basic Pistol Course
The first step along your journey to be a responsible gun owner is to enroll in an NRA Basic Pistol course. In this class you will learn the proper terminology, handgun action types (pistols and revolvers), choosing the correct ammunition, safe and proper handling, operations, safe storage, shooting fundamentals, cleaning and maintenance. You will learn the NRA Rules For Safe Gun Handling:
- Always Keep the Gun Pointed in a Safe Direction.
- Always Keep your Finger off the Trigger Until Ready to Shoot.
- Always Keep the Gun Unloaded Until Ready to Use.
If you are a new shooter, NRA training courses also provide you with a sturdy foundation and the tools to become proficient with firearms, leading to a feeling of safety, security and peace of mind. As you progress through the different lessons, you will build confidence, control, pride, empowerment and self-reliance.
NRA training gives you the greatest feeling there is: confidence. Without confidence, you will never be able to perform any activity competently, including handling a firearm. Confidence gives you the ability to safely and properly handle your firearm, which will ultimately increase your shooting proficiency. You soon realize you are in control of something that was once unknown to you, mysterious, or even something you once feared. Next comes the feeling of pride that you are now a knowledgeable gun owner. This leads to empowerment, which equates to strength. By the time you finish an NRA Basic Pistol class, you will likely begin to inquire about different firearms and realize you are now considering a firearm of your own choice rather than one suggested by someone else.
Ultimately, the last benefit you will gain from an NRA Basic Pistol course is self-reliance. You’ll leave knowing you can be responsible for your own safety, and will naturally inquire about continuing your firearm training by enrolling in the next series of classes such as NRA’s Conceal Carry Workshop (CCW) course, Personal Protection Inside the Home (PPITH), and Personal Protection Outside the Home (PPOTH). Each of these NRA courses build upon the fundamentals and training from the previous course. Once you obtain the foundation of basic pistol skills, the next step to responsible concealed carry is to get the proper training.
NRA Basic CCW Course
The NRA Basic CCW course exposes you to several schools of thought regarding defensive shooting techniques, and is geared toward those who seek to improve their shooting skills. Too many graduates of the NRA Basic Pistol course simply put their gun in the nightstand and leave it there indefinitely. That’s a bad idea, because skills like drawing from a holster can be tricky if you have not practiced it (and many gun ranges do not allow drawing from a holster). You can be the best shot in the world, but if you cannot access and retrieve your firearm from the holster, it does you little good.
NRA CCW Instructors teach firearm safety, how to select a firearm and ammunition for self-defense, basic defensive skills, mindset, and the step-by-step fundamentals of how to properly and safely draw from concealment and engage targets through a variety of drills on the range. In this course you will explore a variety of ways and methods to carry a firearm safely and effectively.
NRA Personal Protection in the Home Course
The next course is the NRA Personal Protection In the Home (PPITH), where you will learn basic defensive shooting skills, strategies for home safety, how to respond to a violent confrontation, firearms and the law, and how to choose a handgun for self-defense. You will learn the difference between cover and concealment and think of objects around your home that can be used, and practice visualization to control an encounter.
NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home Course
The NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home (PPOTH) continues to build upon the basic CCW and PPITH skills. The PPOTH course imparts the knowledge, skills and attitude essential for avoiding dangerous confrontations and for the safe, effective and responsible use of a concealed pistol for self-defense outside the home. Cover and concealment are discussed, as well as techniques for storing a handgun outside of the home and additional safety considerations.
Congratulations on taking the first step toward being a responsible gun owner and making it a priority to protect yourself and your loved ones. NRA Basic Pistol classes will give you increased knowledge and skills to understand firearms, ammunition, safety, maintenance, storage, and proper shooting fundamentals. The NRA CCW, PPITH and PPOTH classes will build upon your knowledge and skills and expand your defensive mindset. You will learn the laws in your state, and basic legal concepts relating to the use of firearms in self-defense and must know and observe not only general gun safety rules, but also those safety principles that are specific to defensive situations.
All NRA courses encourage participants to train and practice, and you will be challenged to continue developing skills by getting involved in shooting activities, joining a gun club, participating in the NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program, and/or shooting in competitions to continue along your personal protection journey.
For more, visit NRAInstructors.org.
