I started getting into instruction last year. Mostly CCW stuff, but a few other odds and ends. The biggest initial challenge, like in any business, is finding customers. Luckily I'm trained in marketing, so that wasn't a huge deal.
But, once my profile became higher and people started to become aware, it wasn't long until the instructors started looking to play dirty.
First, a guy came along calling and harassing me pretending to be a student. I have a law enforcement background, and I am very good with Google. It didn't take long to find out it was another instructor. He convinced the state concealed carry unit to change one of their policies to kick a leg from under my proverbial stool on one of my classes, and then started trying to get an affiliated gun shop to drop me. I called him up, told him I knew what he was up to, and that he should leave me the hell alone.
He told me it was instructors like me who would eventually lead the state to constitutional carry, and that I'm a danger to his children, and a bunch of other bunk arguments.
So then I start getting my posts on craigslist flagged and deleted. After several reposts, they start not getting flagged, but somebody else starts making rude comments on my blog posts. I don't know what this guy was thinking--my site requires somebody to provide a valid e-mail address to post comments, and he used his work e-mail. Yet another instructor harassing me.
Except this guy's a police chief for the local university where guns are banned except in cars...unless you're there to take his class on the weekend.
Basically, out of all this and reading elsewhere, I've figured out that there are two kinds of instructors: the ones who respect their students' rights and the ones who don't.
I'll readily admit that I instruct for the money, but I charge far less than my competitors and work in my spare time to expand their rights--even when it might financially harm me as a CCW instructor. I like seeing people improve their self-defense skills and like helping people overcome a roadblock the state has placed in the way of exercising their natural rights.
Basically my five-year goal is to have CCW stuff only be a small side aspect of my business. Then when my state gets constitutional carry I won't be hurting. And the whole time I'm working politically to make it happen because I want people to be free. I don't want to spend my whole life participating in state racketeering schemes.
But these other guys and gals are all friends with each other and are engaging in price fixing. They work hard to pound anybody into the ground who doesn't toe to their line. They probably don't even realize they're doing what they are doing...they are so loaded up with justifications and defense mechanisms that they think they're on some sort of righteous crusade against evil cheap instructors who will destroy the indispensable concealed carry industry.
Sorry for the long rant, but I need to get this stuff off my chest. These jerks are really starting to stress me out.
But, once my profile became higher and people started to become aware, it wasn't long until the instructors started looking to play dirty.
First, a guy came along calling and harassing me pretending to be a student. I have a law enforcement background, and I am very good with Google. It didn't take long to find out it was another instructor. He convinced the state concealed carry unit to change one of their policies to kick a leg from under my proverbial stool on one of my classes, and then started trying to get an affiliated gun shop to drop me. I called him up, told him I knew what he was up to, and that he should leave me the hell alone.
He told me it was instructors like me who would eventually lead the state to constitutional carry, and that I'm a danger to his children, and a bunch of other bunk arguments.
So then I start getting my posts on craigslist flagged and deleted. After several reposts, they start not getting flagged, but somebody else starts making rude comments on my blog posts. I don't know what this guy was thinking--my site requires somebody to provide a valid e-mail address to post comments, and he used his work e-mail. Yet another instructor harassing me.
Except this guy's a police chief for the local university where guns are banned except in cars...unless you're there to take his class on the weekend.
Basically, out of all this and reading elsewhere, I've figured out that there are two kinds of instructors: the ones who respect their students' rights and the ones who don't.
I'll readily admit that I instruct for the money, but I charge far less than my competitors and work in my spare time to expand their rights--even when it might financially harm me as a CCW instructor. I like seeing people improve their self-defense skills and like helping people overcome a roadblock the state has placed in the way of exercising their natural rights.
Basically my five-year goal is to have CCW stuff only be a small side aspect of my business. Then when my state gets constitutional carry I won't be hurting. And the whole time I'm working politically to make it happen because I want people to be free. I don't want to spend my whole life participating in state racketeering schemes.
But these other guys and gals are all friends with each other and are engaging in price fixing. They work hard to pound anybody into the ground who doesn't toe to their line. They probably don't even realize they're doing what they are doing...they are so loaded up with justifications and defense mechanisms that they think they're on some sort of righteous crusade against evil cheap instructors who will destroy the indispensable concealed carry industry.
Sorry for the long rant, but I need to get this stuff off my chest. These jerks are really starting to stress me out.
