how about free Calguns certified Firearms Safety classes?

[IrishPirate]

posted this in another thread but wanted to see what everyone thought about the idea so now it gets its own thread....

So here's an idea.....since there has been a rush of people running out to buy guns (the other thread mentioned vellejo specifically) who have no prior firearms experience or safety knowldge....can we get some qualified people to offer free firearms safety classes, especially in the Bay Area where all the UOC news is coming from? that would be a HUGE public relations boost for Calguns don't you think? having free Calguns certified firearms safety classes so that the police don't have to worry about people not knowing how to use their guns......it would show the state how concerned we really are about stopping gun violence too, and how our approach is a much better one than banning guns!!!! I'd sign up to get qualified to teach in a heart beat!!!

[tomd1584]

Its a good idea, but nothings free. If i were qualified to instruct, you better believe i'd charge money for my time.

[bwiese]

There are enough qualified NRA-trained certified instructors in various areas that duplicating this would be superfluous.

This is something the NRA does very, very well and it carries a lot of credibility.

[IrishPirate]

That's great that the NRA does trainings, but are they free? if so, it seems like the NRA needs to get the message out there a little more....if people not being trained in safe gun handling is a selling point for the anti's, it seems logical to make it widely known that this service is available. Calguns, NRA, whoever.....this would be a great PR opportunity right now for whoever decides to get the message out.

[dustoff31]

That's great that the NRA does trainings, but are they free? if so, it seems like the NRA needs to get the message out there a little more....if people not being trained in safe gun handling is a selling point for the anti's, it seems logical to make it widely known that this service is available. Calguns, NRA, whoever.....this would be a great PR opportunity right now for whoever decides to get the message out.

The NRA doesn't set prices for their training courses. The individual instructors set the fees.

NRA does require certified instructors to use NRA books and teach the NRA course material. The student packets do cost a few bucks each.

Calguns could "sponsor" NRA courses, if instructors wanted to volunteer their time, it could be low cost, but not free.

[9mmepiphany]

having done this kind of thing, let me just suggest that you really don't want to offer it for "free"

when you don't pay something, what you receive loses it value...without value, they lose focus. this mean you either have to vett the participants or risk chaos

[wildhawker]

Nothing is free, and everything Bill W said is exactly why we won't be entering that realm. We do offer as a service to our members access (typically at reduced cost) to certain (independent) training at some of the Shoot-n-Que events and may expand on that as we go along.

[IrishPirate]

it wouldn't need to be an ongoing thing. maybe one or two weekends limited to the first XX amount of people who sign up. free or low cost....whatever works.
either way, perhaps there just needs to be more info about how to attend firearms safety classes. more pamphlets at gun shops or something.....whatever it takes to make it known that the larger pro 2A organizations EXIST, and they are here to help keep people safe. The first time i heard about Calguns was after the 3rd time I'd talked to a vendor at the 3rd seperate gun show he was at.......a little more marketing couldn't hurt is all i'm saying and public service is great PR...