Personal views, thoughts, opinions, and experiences. Political, personal, and professional. Not, so far, practical, and if I pay attention and stay lucky, I'd like to keep it that way.
I'm kinda political on this issue, but this page isn't mostly about that aspect. I'm trying to discuss the practical issues I encounter as I go about my days. Mostly I take the political aspect for granted, though no doubt I'll blow off steam now and then.
I'm not currently teaching courses.
The market, and my other opportunities, have conspired to get me to give up teaching firearms courses. And I've let my AACFI and Utah certifications lapse, so without some trouble I can't teach.
I was an AACFI certified instructor for MN Carry Permit courses, an NRA certified instructor (Firearms Safety in the Home, Basic Pistol, and Personal Protection in the Home), and a Utah Concealed Firearms Instructor.
I'm the co-author with Joel Rosenberg of the "Beginner-to-Carry" course for people who are new to handguns but need a carry permit.
Much of the content of this site is in my carry journal, where I write up things that happen to me day by day.
The MPPA itself, the law that makes it all possible.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension carry information page.
Packing.org, a place to go for information on state gun laws.
A Human Right, Oleg Volk's gun rights section. Lots of good photos, naturally.
The High Road, a large and friendly web-based gun forum.
Burnsville Pistol Range, my favorite place to shoot.
Oakdale Gun Club has a set of nice outdoor ranges. Open to the public on weekends some of the time. Membership is limited, see their page for details on when they will take applications. And they're not commercial; they're in this section as a provider of local resources.
Armored Fire has a range and gun store up in Circle Pines.
Bill's Gun Shop and Range. I keep wanting to say "Bill's pretty-good gun shop", and I don't even listen to Garrison Keillor that much.
Dakota Country Gun Club. I haven't been to their facilities, but if you live down around Rosemount especially they may be of interest.
Metro Gun Club in Blaine is another one I haven't been to, but from the photos they have nice facilities. They're particularly heavy in shotgun facilities, it sounds like.
That is, other trainers.
AACFI, the American Association of Certified Firearms Instructors, one of the six organizations specificied in the MPPA as a trainer certifier. I'm their web developer, too.
Joel Rosenberg, "the man who wrote the book" (that book being Everything You Need to Know about (Legally) Carrying a Handgun in Minnesota, available here.
Jeff Dege, a guy I run into in various mailing lists and newsgroups, and finally met in person.
Plus P Technology, who were here training before there was an MPPA. Founded by Darrell Mulroy, a trainer of some national importance, who unfortunately died earlier this year.
Armored Fire is running quite a lot of training courses.
Bill's Gun Shop and Range is offering a lot of carry courses.
CCRN, Concealed Carry Right Now, the people who got the MPPA written and fought it through the legislature.
NRA Institute for Legislative Action, the political arm of the National Rifle Association.
Gun Owners of America, a gun rights group that makes the NRA look intelligent and civilized.
Pink Pistols, a GLBT-oriented firearms group. Or a firearms oriented GLBT group?
Gun Free Zones tracks posted businesses in Minnesota.
