San Luis Obispo

[Troutman22]

SLO county CCW class

Here is my review of the CCW training class from Ian Mcknight of Advantage Personal Defense AKA Self defense dynamics. Hopefully this will help some people make a better choice than I did for their CCW class.

I recently went through the 8 hr class, the main instructor was Ian, who was assisted by an off duty SLO County Sheriff’s deputy, a “sniper” from the DOD ( yes really! That’s how he introduced himself ) and one other person who I think said he was a range RSO .

If you have ever been through one of these before you know the drill, nearly 8 hrs of lecture with live fire at the end. The lecture part was about the same as every other CCW class I’ve been to. There was some decent advice for new shooters/carriers, other suggestions were not as helpful, but anyone with common sense could parse out the good from bad for themselves. Other than the department of defense “sniper” standing up every 20 min to make some comment about how you should do this or that, or how he was “deadly” out to 1500 yards … the classroom part wasn’t so bad.

Ok, now before I go into the live fire part I need to describe the other students a little bit, it becomes important later. Besides myself there were a few other middle aged men there, 2 or 3 younger men, and the rest were older men, between mid 60’s and late 70’s.

So we get out to the range deck and I **** you not everyone of these instructors except for Ian is in full battle rattle HAHA. Plate carriers, mag pouches, name patches, knives the whole 9 yards. Ian just had a plain plate carrier. Now I’m not knocking the plate carriers, in fact as soon as we started the live fire I really wished I was wearing one myself! But considering what happened … the tacti-cool outfits were just ridiculous.

So what happened? Well the short version is I had the muzzle of a loaded gun pointed at me no less than 7 times during our 15 minute course of fire.

Remember those elderly guys ? Turns out that for some of them, the time to hang up the guns was about a decade ago. Some of them were to my right on the firing line. I could tell by how much their hands were shaking that the RSO’s would need to keep a close eye on them. The one guy that I remember the most was a really old guy, right handed, sure enough he points the muzzle to his left at all of us every time he struggles to rack the slide. This WAS noticed by several of Ian’s helpers on the range, yep, the tactic-cool ones. I very clearly heard them come over and yell “keep the muzzle pointed down range” which was good. The bad part is when the guy would just stare and say “huh” and then keep doing it again and again for the next 15 min while those of us to the left of him just prayed to make it through the end of the drill in one piece.

After 1 warning, these firearm “experts” should have disarmed him and removed him from the class!
I did my best to point out what was going on during our live fire, I only ever got the attention of the Sheriff Deputy , who would only smile and walk over to the poor old guy and tell him the same thing again.
Bonus, while all of this was going on, another elderly guy to my immediate right had his finger on the trigger the entire course of fire, … during reload, racking the slide, 100% of the time, this was of coarse completely missed by the RSO’s.

The cherry on top came at the end of the class when I witnessed Ian put his rubber stamp on every single certificate. That’s right, he passed everyone!
The good ‘ol boys club is alive and well in San Luis Obispo county. Old shaky hands is out there right now with his newly issued CCW just waiting to have a negligent discharge or some other disaster that gives the rest of us a bad name.

So considering that, I can confidently assert that:

1. The # of firearms “experts” on the range that day was Zero. Safety is # 1 and if you can’t maintain a safe class 100% of the time, then you have no business running one.

2. Most would be better off choosing another provider for their CCW class, I believe there are 2 others that are approved by the county.

3. If you have to take Ian’s class for whatever reason...I’d recommend level III body armor at a minimum...and stand to the far right on the firing line to reduce the change or death or great bodily harm.

-- Troutman

[Hopalong]

All agencies will not ask anything about good cause. If you have good moral character go get your permit.
Don’t let the websites deter you with the old language that mentions good cause.
When you get into the application and are actually filling it out they specifically say you can check “no” and leave it blank.

[NorCalBusa]

This county seems awfully quiet- what's the vibe lately on issuing?

[Bbonez]

Tried

I ended it with..." give me my denial letter and I'll apply with the county "

I wonder if the chief realizes what a post Bruin lawsuit would do to his departments finances?

Good job, no need to be polite to these agencies who are still being difficult post Bruen. I was able to get my permit moved along a couple times by mentioning I'm willing to petition the court.

Let them know you won't be providing any more information and CA PC 26175(g) prohibits them from asking for anything besides the DOJ application.

[Doommachine_]

I was hoping someone would know about how the training exemption codes worked. I guess I will have to contact to local PD directly

[CoachZ89]

I am considering applying here in SLO county. Does anyone know what the Sheriff is requiring for training classes. I am Retired military and see there is an exemption code for that but cannot find if that exempts part or all of the training class. Information I have found says it depends on individual localities requirements.

-Thanks!

https://sloca.permitium.com/ccw/start

https://s3.amazonaws.com/permitium-downloads/SLOSO/Instructors.pdf

If you live in a town that has a PD you have to apply there first I believe. That was the last info i had.

[Doommachine_]

I am considering applying here in SLO county. Does anyone know what the Sheriff is requiring for training classes. I am Retired military and see there is an exemption code for that but cannot find if that exempts part or all of the training class. Information I have found says it depends on individual localities requirements.

-Thanks!

[CoachZ89]

What city did you apply in?

I went directly to SLO Sheriff since I live in Templeton.

[Paladin]

[Sharp-Ridge9]

What city did you apply in?

[CoachZ89]

Well Slocals I got approval just now!
-Applied 7/18
-Class 8/14
-Interview 8/23
-Approved 8/24
-Picking it up: 8/30

[CoachZ89]

[Easy E]

I applied in Grover Beach on July 15. They said I could take the training class.
I said "It's not required until you get past Phase I of the application (live scan, verify 'good moral character' references)". They said "Yes, but live scan is taking about 8-12 weeks and you can get the training done now if you don't want to end up waiting."

I took Ian McKnight's class less than a week ago. It was good ($150). His classes are 1x/mo and the class was pretty full (~25-ish in attendance). Rangemaster had quoted $250.

Two of the three 'good moral character' letter references called me & told me the PD had called them to verify. I'd assume this means live scan results have come back and they'd only put out the effort of reference verification if needed. If true, this would put live scan turnaround time at ~4-5 weeks.

[Easy E]

Thanks for putting that together for us 445cat!
I made a couple edits... just a space here & there, changing a couple things from title case to sentence case and law firm from "Michelle" to "Michel."

Hi all,
SB 918 is still not law. It only just passed the appropriations and will go before the vote in the assembly soon. Then it goes to the Senate.
NOW is the time to say something to your reps and make your voice heard.

You aren't put on any list and it is your right as a citizen to say something. They count on you NOT saying anything to pass these awful bills.

You can find your representative through this link:

https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

Please, look up your representative and make your voice heard. There is literally nothing to lose.
This is a statement I have been sending to my rep and others:

Hi,
I'm writing to say that I disapprove of State Bill 918 that is coming up for a vote.

SB 918 is a very far reaching and broad bill that concerns every private business. It concerns every citizen's right to have a CCW in our great State. Not only does it make even more locations illegal to carry, it forces every business owner to make a decision if they support our Second Amendment right. It forces business owners to draw a line that shouldn't be drawn. This brings private business, into a political issue.

California already has the toughest application process for gaining this right as a Law Abiding Citizen. We are business owners, workers but most of all; mothers and fathers that want a right to protect themselves and their families from real threats in this world. A world that is becoming increasingly dangerous.

The recent Supreme Court decision in NYRPA v. Bruen has officially made the right to Carry a Concealed Weapon, for Self-Defense) every US Citizen's right. SB 918 is an obvious infringement on this right. This bill will be challenged from day one by many California gun rights groups. These groups (CRPA, GOC, CGRF/Michel & Assoc., FPC, NRA) have been very successful in challenging laws that infringe on our rights, to the 9th Circuit Level. They have also been successful in getting decisions that prove they are an obvious violation (see; Miller v. Bonta, Duncan v. Bonta, etc..).

I am writing to you to voice that this State Bill is too far reaching. This is an unreasonable restriction on an already restricted right.

Please Vote No on SB 918.

Thank you,

[jonbbrew]

I see you got approved. Did you apply with no good cause? How does that work?

Just a heads up they told me it would be 2-8 weeks before my final approval was done through DOJ.

This was after fingerprinting and interviewing and being told I passed.

I am on week 8 so far and they are still waiting for DOJ to give the nod of approval. Expect these wait times to increase now that California has to abide by the constitution.

Anyone else apply without good cause And get approved? I hear Santa Barbara county is getting better luck.