Doing Students A Disservice

During our recent Defensive Carbine 101 class, one of our students remarked that in a previous class he had taken with another provider, students were not permitted pick up anything off the ground while they had a firearm in there hand.  I too have taken training where this rule was in place.

While I can see the reasoning behind having this rule, I think it does a disservice to students.  Yes, muzzle-discipline can be a problem when squatting down or bending forward at the waist to pick something up (especially with a long-gun) and forbidding students from picking something up off the ground can reduce liability.  However, picking something up off the ground with a firearm in your hand is a real-world possibility and quite a likely one that students will encounter at some point.

At Train To Be Safe Academy, we believe properly educating and training students how to perform such an action is a much better service to them and makes them much safer after taking our classes than not addressing the matter at all.  Leaving students with a hole in their knowledge and training does not one any good including the student and those who encounter the student after taking the training.

Of course, having multiple students in close proximity necessitates taking extra steps to ensure the safety of all those around, so safety guidelines are established and enforced.  Violations of these guidelines are treated seriously and can result in actions up to and including removal from the firing range or expulsion from the course entirely.

This is just one example of what makes us different than many other training providers.  We don’t shy away from topics or techniques that other trainers may.  We believe that only in providing thorough and safe educating and training do we fulfill our obligation to our students to provide the best and complete training we can provide and they expect.

As a student, I expect the training company and its instructors to provide the best, most complete training possible.  Anything less is simply unacceptable.  While I understand that each provider will have their own way of addressing certain topics and each will have their own unique style of instruction, ALL training providers must put the needs of their students ahead of all other considerations except safety which trumps everything else.

At Train To Be Safe Academy, we will continue to provide innovative and thorough training to our students and will not shy away from topics that are useful and necessary for our students to be safe and informed.

That is my promise to you.