Advice from Instructors

[CoryCop25]

I got into a brief discussion with my buddy about how to properly select students that would attend your training classes.

My biggest fear would be training a gang member or a possible terrorist or a career criminal in a class. I know it's a bit far fetched but lets expand it just a little to include someone you just get that bad feeling from.

Do you/would you
-Do a background check?
-Check IDs?
-Ask someone to leave if you felt there was something just not right with the person.

If you posted a class, would you put a disclaimer in it that you have the right to refuse admission for any reason?

[Failure2Stop]

I reserve the right to refuse service with a full refund.
For some training I require creds/concealed carry permit/background check.

Typos brought to you via Tapatalk and autocorrect.

[one]

I've noticed that in most training that's not LE related they seem to require a CCW license. In years past it seemed that most wanted a background check provided. I presume the changing of the times with all the CCW's has negated that.

If you're not someone that wants a CCW for whatever reason then a simple local background check at the very least will usually be provided by your PD or SO.

If a person isn't willing to provide either one of those things and isn't at least personally known by the course host or instructor then you shouldn't feel bad about denying them participation.

I really don't see this as a bad thing. The last thing we need is for the next terror attack investigators to find a bunch of carbine course certificates from various ex special forces instructors.

[NavyDavy55]

Corycop, If you're teaching people from Pa this is good way of checking. Wouldn't cost you a thing if the students are required to provide this information.

1.) Proof that you are a member of a profession which is regulated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and with respect to which conviction of a crime would result in revocation of a license or certification (e.g., attorneys, medical doctors, ACT235 security personnel).

2.) A currently valid License To Carry a Firearm issued pursuant to Pa state law or other state.

3.) By way of a certificate of no criminal history from your local police department.

4.) By way of a certificate of no criminal history from the Pennsylvania State Police (717.783.9973) or, the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History page https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp on the PSP website provides an on-line criminal history background check for a $10.00 fee. Once the process is complete the certificate can be printed directly from the PSP website.

[sboza]

Just one thing to keep in mind, verify that the state issue ccw is valid. A buddy had this issue when he seperated from a training operation which had a front office which would handle this stuff. He googled the names of his students and out pops a mugshot of one of his ccw holders for a dv charge. He goes to the state offender search website (not all states have this online) and finds that he had pled guilty to a lesser dv charge. Calls the issuing county sheriff's department and finds that the ccw had been revoked a year prior. It seems that the potential student had made a duplicate somewhere along the way and was using that. Don't know if an investigation came of it or not but my buddy, of course, refused the training to this guy.

I know people get worked up about the dv stuff and I don't know the circumstances but the issue is that regardless of the charge/conviction, there are folks (very small %) that may fraudulently present a ccw which has been revoked.

Imagine if after attending this training, dude had killed his wife/girlfriend and maybe others. Unlikely yes, but it isn't that difficult to confirm that ccw credentials are valid. I think it is worth the effort.

[John A Brown]

Lots of good advice above. Requiring a current and valid CCW and / or a criminal background check completed within 30 days will pretty much suffice for anyone in my opinion. Like NavyDave55 said, here in PA anyone can do a criminal background check on themselves from the PSP website for $10.00.

A few more things to consider............

According to ITAR regulations, it's illegal to provide training that can be deemed military in nature to anyone who isn't an American. (I'm paraphrasing here - ITAR regulations are long and detailed. There is plenty of info on the web if you are interested.) So if you are concerned about some kind of foreign terrorist element, there is your out right there.

Also, I simply tell customers that I reserve the right to refuse to train anyone, at any time, for any reason. I've never had to do this and I hope I never do, but this is my trump card if I ever have some of the bloods and crips show up, or some whack-job, or whatever.

John
www.3riverstraining.com

[Detmongo]

Cory,
i would do background checks. also if they need a pistol lic. to posses or carry in your state or other states for that matter i would check to see if the lic. is valid. Quick war story an instructor was conducting a class on the east coast last Aug. when one of the students shoots himself on the last drill of the day. fast foward the next day local cops handling this find out the Student is an ex felon who is not to be in possession of firearms. his pistol was borrowed from a friend(can't even hold one in NY w/o a permit) and his carbine had an 11" barrel. upper(another no no w/o the proper paper). opened up a can of worms for anyone now looking to conduct classes in this part of the state. a quick background check might have prevented all of this once you find out they had a criminal background.

[Littlelebowski]

Not relevant to the OP really, but it would be good to encourage NRA membership like Vickers is doing.

[SPQR476]

Also wise to require citizenship or legal permanent resident status and pass a restricted parties screening to stay clear of ITAR and at least perform due diligence.

[CoryCop25]

Cory,
i would do background checks. also if they need a pistol lic. to posses or carry in your state or other states for that matter i would check to see if the lic. is valid. Quick war story an instructor was conducting a class on the east coast last Aug. when on of the students shoots himself on the last drill of the day. fast foward the next day local cops handling this find out the Student is an ex felon who is not to be in possession of firearms. his pistol was borrowed from a friend(can't even hold one in NY w/o a permit) and his carbine had an 11" barrel. upper(another no no w/o the proper paper). opened up a can of worms for anyone now looking to conduct classes in this part of the state. a quick background check might have prevented all of this once you find out they had a criminal background.

Unfortunately, these are the horror stories that I have never heard about but are what I am looking for and trying to avoid.

Not relevant to the OP really, but it would be good to encourage NRA membership like Vickers is doing.

Already working that angle as well as a donation to NRA ILA and GOA from every class.

Also wise to require citizenship or legal permanent resident status and pass a restricted parties screening to stay clear of ITAR and at least perform due diligence.

As this is always a thought and what prompted me to post this thread, when I have taken a class (through Alias), I have never had to do any of this.....