Not knowing all the particulars...
makes it kind hard to offer an opinion- but it sounds like BS to me.
Whether a particular sheriff "likes" it or not is irrelevant. Take a look at the text of the act at-
http://www.house.state.mo.us/bills03/biltxt/truly/HB0349T.HTM
Specific text describing what constitutes an acceptable couse is located in the folllowing subsections of 571.094-
23. A certificate of firearms safety training course completion may be issued to any applicant by any qualified firearms safety instructor. On the certificate of course completion the qualified firearms safety instructor shall affirm that the individual receiving instruction has taken and passed a firearms safety course of at least eight hours in length taught by the instructor that included:
(1) Handgun safety in the classroom, at home, on the firing range and while carrying the firearm;
(2) A physical demonstration performed by the applicant that demonstrated his or her ability to safely load and unload a revolver and a semiautomatic pistol and demonstrated his or her marksmanship with both;
(3) The basic principles of marksmanship;
(4) Care and cleaning of concealable firearms;
(5) Safe storage of firearms at home;
(6) The requirements of this state for obtaining a certificate of qualification for a concealed carry endorsement from the sheriff of the individual's county of residence and a concealed carry endorsement issued by the department of revenue;
(7) The laws relating to firearms as prescribed in this chapter;
(8) The laws relating to the justifiable use of force as prescribed in chapter 563, RSMo;
(9) A live firing exercise of sufficient duration for each applicant to fire a handgun, from a standing position or its equivalent, a minimum of fifty rounds at a distance of seven yards from a B-27 silhouette target or an equivalent target;
(10) A live fire test administered to the applicant while the instructor was present of twenty rounds from a standing position or its equivalent at a distance from a B-27 silhouette target, or an equivalent target, of seven yards.
24. A qualified firearms safety instructor shall not give a grade of "passing" to an applicant for a concealed carry endorsement who:
(1) Does not follow the orders of the qualified firearms instructor or cognizant range officer; or
(2) Handles a firearm in a manner that, in the judgement of the qualified firearm safety instructor, poses a danger to the applicant or to others; or
(3) During the live fire testing portion of the course fails to hit the silhouette portion of the targets with at least fifteen rounds.
25. Qualified firearms safety instructors who provide firearms safety instruction to any person who applies for a concealed carry endorsement shall:
(1) Make the applicant's course records available upon request to the sheriff of the county in which the applicant resides;
(2) Maintain all course records on students for a period of no less than four years from course completion date; and
(3) Not have more than forty students in the classroom portion of the course or more than five students per range officer engaged in range firing.
If the instructor meets the requirements of the law, and certifies that you met covered the material previously described, in accordance with the statute, and fired a qualifying score- the sheriff has to issue the endorsement. This is a "shall issue" law and it leaves no room for the "likes" and dislikes of local politicians.
The law also contains instructions and formats to apply for redress with the local courts when you are improperly denied. In your shoes I would
1) contact the sheriff and ask for specifics about the alleged deficiency of the course material. He may have a perfectly good and lawful reason for denying the certifications, but you won't know until you ask.
2) contact the instructor and ask for copies of any correspondence he has received from the sheriff
3) based on what you find out, decide whether or not to file the appeal with the small claims court.
The sheriff is immune from liability so long as he acts in "good faith". He's on his own if he does not-
37. The office of the county sheriff or any employee or agent of the county sheriff shall not be liable for damages in any civil action arising from alleged wrongful or improper granting, renewing, or failure to revoke a certificate of qualification or a concealed carry endorsement issued pursuant to this section, so long as the sheriff acted in good faith.
Good luck, hope y'all get it worked out w/o a big donnybrook in court.
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