We work with individuals, families and small groups. Questions? Want to schedule a session at your location or ours? Just e-mail us at: dpeter1946@aol.com.
Where's Yours?
Small, private classes with a lot of individual attention, conveniently located in the Southwest suburbs, offering flexible timing, with your friends and family or privately at affordable rates make it easy.
Specializing in new shooters
Where Are Your Classes?
During the Covid crisis, for the last two years, family and small groups (up to 6) classes have been conducted in our location near Frankfort. But classes can be conducted anywhere that makes it convenient for you and your group. We have done classes in conference rooms at offices, local community rooms, in your family room or here in ours. All we need is a place to sit and take notes and a TV where we can hook a laptop. E-mail and we'll talk about the most convenient location for you.
Final qualification for basic pistol or concealed carry is at a local range and can be conducted at any of several convenient local ranges in the Southwest suburbs where we are registered and insured. Range sessions can be individually scheduled as a group, or for your convenience, one at a time. We've done several on lunch breaks during the week.
What do I need? To get a Illinois Carry Permit or to use any shooting range in Illinois, all you need is a current Illinois FOID (Firearm Owners ID) Card, or have one applied for online ($10 for 10 years - apply on the Illinois State Police Website.) The only other thing you'll need is a pad and pen to take notes. There are also plenty of hand out sheets for "homework" between classes. We supply everything else.
When Are Your classes?
Everybody is pressed for time. What are the best times for you? After work on a week night? On the weekend? Every other weekend? The Basic Pistol class is 8-hours and can be completed on two Saturdays, Sundays or weeknights, plus a trip to a local range. Pick a time that works for you and your family or group.
We can do the complete Illinois Concealed Carry 15-hour classroom part in 3, 4 or even 5 sessions on different days, followed by a 1-hour session at the range to qualify. (Every student we've had has qualified on their first try) Whatever timing works best for you and your friends or family interested in the class. Weekdays, weeknights, weekends or any combination are all possible.
Who Have You Trained? Since Illinois Concealed Carry became the law in 2013 we have trained over 300 people. We don't do large groups of 50 people at a time, or try to cram all 16 hours into only two hectic days. This subject is far too important for that. Our students have included extended families, individuals, groups of friends, a women's book club, businesses, single moms, couples, people with disabilities and a local Church Group.
We have done classes with groups of office co-workers, U.S. Army and Marines just back from Afghanistan and Iraq, wives and daughters of State Troopers and Sheriff's deputies. We even had classes made up exclusively of people working at the Apple Genius Bar! So yes, "Nerds" do have guns and they know how to use them safely. We have even trained state political figures, with an understandable request we keep their names confidential.
So, whether you are a couple that wants to learn discreetly, a single parent considering a home defense gun and concerned about safe storage, or just a few interested people at work that want to set up some fun classes for a group, contact us and we can work something out for you. There are discounts for larger groups.
40% of our students have been women.
38% of all students have never fired a handgun before.
100% of our students have passed the shooting qualification on their first try.
None of our students, that have completed the classes, has ever been rejected for a carry permit.
Do I Need A Gun For The Classes?
No. In fact, it's better to take the classes and learn to handle some of our guns safely and then try them at the range before making a major financial investment in your own gun. You'll make a much better choice with the knowledge and hands on experience you'll gain in the classes.
Note: Just because your best friend/father/brother/sister/co-worker "loves" their Glock, 1911, Springfield XD, Sig Sauer, etc.; doesn't mean it's the best gun for you and your situation. By the end of the class you'll know what you're comfortable with for your desired purpose from hands on experience and have a much better feel for what to look for in buying a new or used firearm. That way you won't make a $300 to $500 "mistake".
Why Training? With the changes in Chicago and Illinois gun laws and the concealed carry law, there has been a huge surge of
interest in firearms and the shooting sports in general. More than 500,000 Illinois residents have applied for new FOID cards just in just the last two years. There are as many reasons for learning to safely use a firearm as there are people.
- Some people are just curious about firearms and want to find out what shooting is all about ... the right way.
- Others may be moving into an apartment by themselves or as single parents and want extra personal security.
- Some have been shooting for a while and just need that final CCW qualification.
- Others might have inherited a gun and have it sitting in a drawer or on a shelf, not quite sure what to do with it, or if it's even legal to own.
- You may have family or friends involved in shooting and want to find out what shooting is all about on your own.
- Some couples, families or groups want to learn something new together and target shooting is a fun, safe sport.
- You might be thinking about getting an Illinois concealed carry permit and aren't quite sure where to start.
- If you own or plan to own a firearm, you need to know what the laws governing their use are, even if you don't ever plan on carrying outside your home.
A Word About Safety!
While you will be handling and learning to load and safely unload and clean and maintain guns, there is never any live ammunition in the classroom. We only use "Snap Caps" for in class exercises. These are inert, solid aluminum "dummy" rounds that are the exact same size and shape as real ammunition, but with no powder, bullet or primer.
Whatever your reasons, the most important step is to get professional training in safely handling, using, cleaning and storing a firearm!
Senior Instructor: Don Petersen; NRA Basic Pistol Instructor, Illinois State Police Certified Concealed Carry Instructor, Decorated US Army Veteran
Learn Gun Safety and Basic Marksmanship from Don Petersen and his team of NRA Certified Instructors. Don has one of the first Illinois Concealed Carry Permits issued and is NRA Certified to teach Basic Pistol and Illinois State Police Certified to teach Illinois Concealed Carry classes. He's a US Army Vietnam veteran, with over 40 years of firearms and shooting sports experience. You’ll learn the basics of firearm safety and marksmanship in a comfortable, non-threatening setting with an emphasis on safety, fun and hands-on learning.
- E-mail us for details on setting up a class schedule and location for your convenience
- Small classes are guaranteed with one-on-one coaching at the range
- Individuals with physical limitations and disabilities are always welcome
- The emphasis is always on safety
- Any Questions or Concerns? Just e-mail us at dpeter1946@aol.com © 2017
