Be careful of CCW class prices

[Ash_J_Williams]

I heard a story about a local place and thought I should mention it.

I attended class yesterday, 3 hour class, $65. Pretty solid, and if I wanted, I could stay and do some shooting (of course, it was snowing, so I didn't stay long... 3 chambers worth of practice). One of the other students, with her husband, warned of another local class.

They originally told her the class would cost $150. It was a 2 full day course, and they tested you at the end. The couple asked some questions about how everything worked. If you failed, you came to class again (and paid again). They took you out shooting, and when you were done was up to their discretion. They told the husband that they'd have her shoot, using their ammo (which she pays for by the box) and their instructor (who she'd pay by the hour), for several hours. They would let her take the test when they felt she was "ready." If they weren't "comfortable" letting her go, they'd have her keep shooting (and keep paying), until they were "done with her." If they never felt comfortable letting her go... well, she'd keep paying, and they'd never let her take the test, therefore never letting her get her certificate.

Mind you, this isn't a gun class for the service or anything else. It's a course to obtain a certificate to permit the student to apply for their CCW license. Some states don't require a course like this... others don't even require a license of CC. So, long story short, they charge for everything, and they'll keep the students there for as long as they'd like, a minimum of 2 days.

When the husband finally asked what the base price would be, assuming she satisfied their requirements as soon as possible, they now said $400.

This same course and the people who run it have tried a number of times, without success, to run the instructor of the course I took out of town. Why? Well, because they charge $400, and he charges $65.

So, the point is, just be aware of these sorts of operations, and make sure you know what you're paying for and how much.

 

[InkEd]

Most states have mandatory classes and a shooting portion with a minimum score. The instructors can charge as they seem fit. Where are you located?

 

[Josh45]

Im so glad Georgia does not have a law regarding needing training before applying for a CCW

 

[Ole Humpback]

The instructors can charge as they seem fit.

That's not the issue. The issue is that your whole price is based on the number of hours the instructor spends with you based on how well they THINK/FEEL you're shooting. This means you could be for quite a long while if the instructor thinks your shooting isn't upto snuff regardless of whether it actually is or isn't, thus increasing the cost of your instruction.

Lets say the guy has a real issue with handgun noobs coming to learn whats going on. All he has to do is say he doesn't feel comfortable with how you're shooting and he can keep you at that level of instruction as long as he deems fit, which adds more to his pocket.

 

[jmstevens2]

Here in Ohio it is the NRA Pistol course with the Ohio laws added in. 12 hours. Still not consistent. The NRA has been emailing us to clear up what they require because people are freelancing it.

 

[Ash_J_Williams]

Im so glad Georgia does not have a law regarding needing training before applying for a CCW

That's the thing: no training is required. A "handgun safety and training course" is required, which is completely up to the person teaching the course. If they're NRA approved, I'd say they're doing something acceptable. The fact that these instructors feel the need to judge your ability and knowledge, and that that conveniently turns into more and more revenue for them, is just ridiculous for me. Anything for a buck, I guess.

http://www.wvcdl.org/WVCCW.html

 

[Ash_J_Williams]

Most states have mandatory classes and a shooting portion with a minimum score. The instructors can charge as they seem fit. Where are you located?

I don't want to be rude, so I'll remove my original comment on your level of understanding.

Yes, they charge as they see fit. That isn't the point, in this case. However, so long as that is your focus, you may want to re-read the post and understand that they told the potential student one price at first, and then another after the student showed full intent on attending the class.

And yes, they can charge what they want, but running what is essentially an extortion racket while another place offers the same service at a much lower, and specifically set, price is criminal. The fact that they wish to eliminate the honest instructor in order to remove competition and make themselves the only option is downright wrong.

 

[jmstevens2]

I believe the federal trade commission calls it "bait and switch".
As to running the other guy out, word of mouth should take care of them.

 

[Ash_J_Williams]

I believe the federal trade commission calls it "bait and switch".
As to running the other guy out, word of mouth should take care of them.

The sad part is, I've heard they're either very close to the police or have some LEOs as trainers, because they police have attempted to run the cheap guy out of town, as well, without any real reason.

 

[hso]

And who and where are they?

 

[Ash_J_Williams]

Who I can't remember. In the Panhandle of WV (Eastern). I'll try to dig up a name, but I didn't want to publicly bash anyone if it seemed... unnecessary.

 

[whalerman]

NY has a requirement for classes before licensing. We have requirements for everything under the sun, but that's another issue. Our classes are SAFETY classes, and require no shooting at all. In fact, until the permit is issued, it is illegal for an applicant to touch a handgun. Really. So I don't know about all this. Seems like anything anyone can do to get between people and their rights is ok to do.

 

[ShawnC]

In VT it's ridiculous. First you have to attain the age of 21, then...uh...well that's it.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I paid.....well, I forget what I paid when I went, LOL. (it was 17 years ago)

When my wife got hers (7 years ago) it was $181 for the whole thing...fingerprints, class, everything.

She took the class at the mini dome in Johnson City, TN...I went with her though, it was a good class, 8 hours, the instructor furnished the guns (22's) and the ammo...darned if I can remember that guys name, but I got his card from Jerry Brickey (Jerry's Gun Shop, no longer in business...unless your're a LEO)

Dennis something...maybe...I'm bad with names.

 

[Neverwinter]

If they're NRA approved, I'd say they're doing something acceptable. The fact that these instructors feel the need to judge your ability and knowledge, and that that conveniently turns into more and more revenue for them, is just ridiculous for me. Anything for a buck, I guess.

Or it could be an ethical unwillingness to pass someone who doesn't meet the criteria of knowledge and skills.

 

[olafhardtB]

maybe somebody who has never fired a gun before needs more training. I wonder if one size fits all.

 

[Fred_G]

Well, in Louisiana, I had to take an 8 hour NRA basic pistol course. Then shoot. Class was arount $100. Then all the fingerprints and such, add and extra $35. $125 non refundable payment to the state to apply.

Been waiting for almost 3 weeks to see if I get my CCL permit. They have 100 days to process my application.

"The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Anyone feel infringed? I do.

 

[mortablunt]

In VT it's ridiculous. First you have to attain the age of 21, then...uh...well that's it.

I hate that I am now legally an adult but I can't do CC or get a handgun for another 3 years! Exactly whose crime is that stopping?

 

[Lex Luthier]

In the awesome state of MN, you can pay $75.00- $150.00 for the honor. I chose the latter, because of the LEO instructor, the range time, and the benefits of that particular class. There are others who advertise by flyer on bulletin boards but they just didn't seem right to me.

The LGS who offered my CC class also offers an array of other classes, one of which is an AR15 maintenance class, which I took yesterday. It was awesome. Well worth the $50.00.

Money isn't everything, but it will always be everything to some people.

 

[Chopdoktor]

I'm an instructor in Ohio, and I charge $75 for the full 12-hour class. I'm the cheapest around my county area, but the classes I see in the southern half of the state go from $65 to $150, typically. The state requirement is at least 2 hours of shooting time, and at least 10 hours of classroom instruction (making up the 12 hr. minimum). I do them on my property, shooting and all, so we mix the class-time and shooting time. I like the "learn-by-doing" concept of instruction.

 

[tnxdshooter]

Alot of the places here roll the NRA Basic Pistol into their carry permit classes there by doubling the price. Most charge just 50 to 70 dollars if you just want the standard hcp course without the NRA course. The rest of the classes NRA personal protection inside the home, personal protection outside the home etc are anywhere from 150-400 dollars depending on who you go to.

Sent with Droid Incredible using Tapatalk.

 

[BBQLS1]

Im so glad Georgia does not have a law regarding needing training before applying for a CCW

I wish more people would take classes. Some people need to understand the basics.

 

[Ash_J_Williams]

Or it could be an ethical unwillingness to pass someone who doesn't meet the criteria of knowledge and skills.

Sorry, but when other places are handing out certificates without a test for attending the class and paying attention, and other states don't even require ANY such certification or training, then that isn't their place. The point is, they're tacking on time at their discretion, which conveniently brings them more and more money, all the while they told one price at the first. It's pretty simple stuff to grasp, man, these guys are scumbags.

 

[Ash_J_Williams]

maybe somebody who has never fired a gun before needs more training. I wonder if one size fits all.

Considering that other states require literally no experience or training to start CCing (and those appear to be the states with some of the lowest crime rates)...

 

[Vette]

i also live in kansas and paid the same thing to sheriff and state but i sure didn't pay 150 for ccw class. check around on a differnt class. if i remember right i payed 65.