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If you are seeking a concealed handgun permit, select the right course!
Consider |
NRA
First Steps Pistol |
NRA
Basic Pistol |
PROFIRE USA
Concealed Handgun
|
Best Audience |
Beginners Ages 10 & up |
Beginners Ages 10 & up |
Adults Only |
Exp Req |
None |
None |
Prior Handgun Exp |
# Hours
Classroom |
NRA requires
min of
3 hours |
NRA requires
min of
5 hours |
Min of 5 for evenings
Max of 8 for day classes |
# Hours
Range
|
NRA requires
min of 1 hour
|
NRA requires
min of 3 hours
|
LFQ range session
Best Option: 4-hour 202 |
Use of Holsters |
NO - Prohibited by NRA |
NO - Prohibited by NRA |
YES |
Info on Laws |
NO - Prohibited by NRA |
NO - Prohibited by NRA |
YES |
Deadly Force Info |
NO - Prohibited by NRA |
NO - Prohibited by NRA |
YES |
Carry Restrictions |
NO - Prohibited by NRA |
NO - Prohibited by NRA |
YES |
In Colorado, students have a choice when selecting a handgun safety course to meet the training requirements when applying for a concealed handgun permit. True handgun beginners should take a beginners class where the focus is on safety, components, shooting fundamentals and marksmanship.
We believe that the Colorado Legislative intent was to have permit applicants adequately prepared for the realities of carrying a concealed handgun with the capacity to deliver deadly force in self-defense. Unfortunately, there are training providers who exploit the fuzziness of Colorado's training requirements which do not provide specifics on course hours, course content or range session.
For example, the NRA First Steps Pistol Orientation is an excellent way to start out by learning about a specific handgun make, model and caliber. FSP is an orientation, not a course, and it is intended for youth and adults who are brand new to firearms in general and handguns in particular. It is simply NOT designed for use as a concealed carry course and the NRA does NOT allow instructors to alter the course to include the use of holsters or to discuss laws and the use of deadly force in self-defense.
The NRA also specifies that FSP should be taught to no more than FOUR students at a time yet some training providers pack hotel meeting rooms with FSP students in what may be little more than a diploma mill operation while still charging about the same as you would pay for a more extensive course.
We absolutely favor and teach the NRA First Steps Pistol Orientation, and its "bigger brother" the NRA Basic Pistol Course, to students who are brand new to handguns. Both of these NRA programs are excellent. However, we believe in using them correctly for beginners so they can then take a concealed handgun course that better prepares them for carrying a concealed handgun.
If you have prior handgun shooting experience, you may begin directly with our 5 to 8-hour 201 Concealed Handgun Permit course which is then followed by your choice of a short live-fire qualification session or our 4-hour Introduction to Defensive Handgun range course.
To view your options for our Concealed Handgun Course, CLICK HERE.
For information about our other courses, please use the site navigation menu in the left column which is outlined by course level.
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