Are you following the local and national political races?  It appears that both national parties are going to nominate candidates that are either virulently anti-gun (Obama), strongly anti-gun (Clinton) or perfectly willing to sign "reasonable" new gun laws (McCain).  Translation: It looks very bad for gun owners and perhaps even for permit to carry rights.  This strongly suggests that you get your permit sooner rather than later. I would hope you take the required class from me, but the more important thing is that you take the class somewhere!  

Considering a Utah Permit ...read this article from the June 23rd Salt Lake City newspaper.  Take our class and send in your application NOW!!!

Special Note for Minnesota Residents as Your Renewal Time Approaches
Be sure to ask for your renewal discount!

Upcoming classes of note....

• July 5; Pelican Lake ( MN); the MN Permit to Carry class; e-mail for information

• July 6; Meadow Grove, NE; the NE+ CCW class

• July 7; Norwalk, IA; Utah CCW class; contact Aaron Johnston for information

• July 12; Minneapolis, MN; the Minnesota and multi-State (Utah and Florida) Permit to Carry class; e-mail for information

• July 13; Fargo, ND; Utah class and ND written test; 1:00pm, at Sportsmans Warehouse; e-mail for information

• July 19/20; Lincoln, NE; the NE+ CCW class; e-mail for information

• July 24/25; Chillicothe, IL; the Utah Permit to Carry class; e-mail for information

• July 26; Chandlerville, IL; the Utah /FL Permit to Carry class; email Rob Werner for information

• July 27; Highland, IL; the Utah Permit to Carry class; e-mail for information

• July 28; Harrisburg, IL; the Utah Permit to Carry class; e-mail Wade Fulbright for information

• August 9/10; Benkelman, NE; the NE+ CCW class; e-mail for information

• August 16/17; Geneseo, IL; the Utah Permit to Carry class; e-mail Robert Miller for information

• August 18; Taylorville, IL; the Utah Permit to Carry class; e-mail for information

• August 23; Minneapolis, MN; the Minnesota and multi-State (Utah and Florida) Permit to Carry class; e-mail for information

• August 24; Fargo, ND; Utah class and ND written test; 1:00pm, at Sportsmans Warehouse; e-mail for information

• It is not too early to consider having a class at your location!

• HR 218 Classes can be scheduled at your convenience

• Additional dates are listed on our schedule.
  

NEW  Minnesota Reciprocity Updated: March 21, 2007  NEW

Are you interested in setting up a class at your corporate or group site?

Click Here for Schedule

Are you travelling? Visit handgunlaw.us for the best information on legal carry outside your home State.

For additional information or questions, to inquire about a date, or to reserve your spot, e-mail info@shootingsafely.com, or call Paul Horvick, 218-234-6001.

Interesting Videos...

• How many mistakes did this "professional" make in safe gun handling??  
• How does a semi-automatic work (requires the Flash plug-in....great animation of a Glock 17)
• My kind of Grandmother!
• The Truth About Assault Weapons... a must see for the oft confused!

All classes are conducted by an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor. Participants age 21 or older may participate so long as they are not otherwise ineligible to own or purchase a handgun; those age 18-20 need to realize that Federal Law prohibits anyone under 21 from purchasing a handgun. However, if you are not otherwise prohibited from owning a handgun, you may take the class under the instructor's supervision; those under age 18 can take the class only if a parent or legal guardian is also taking the class.

The "classroom" setting is across from Wildflower Golf Course on the North shore of Pelican Lake; we use a number of different outdoor ranges depending on the weather and time of year. Unless the weather is dangerously cold, we typically do not cancel classes. After all, for self-defense, the bad guys are not deterred by weather!  Here is our Winter weather policy.  Participants will be expected to provide their own transportation to and from the range.

NRA Classes are NOT specific to a particular State; i.e., although the class sessions are in Minnesota, North Dakota (and any other State!) residents can take these classes without any restriction or limitation. So, yes, we welcome all our shooting friends ...come ...take a class...it will be a very fun day!

The question of which class to take first comes up often. The NRA FIRST Steps and the NRA Basic Pistol classes do share a great deal of content together. The difference is in the depth and hands-on activity that each class presents to the participants.  Further, the NRA Basic class does have both a written test and a shooting proficiency test that must be passed in order to earn the NRA completion certificate; the NRA FIRST Steps has no specific testing requirements.

Typically, the FIRST Steps class is taken by people that have little or no handgun experience, and also do not own a handgun.  I.e., they are considering whether a handgun is something they would like to purchase, and the class then is geared towards the novice. In the class, participants learn about different handgun models and styles, and get an opportunity to try many different models to see (a) if they like shooting a handgun and (b) to narrow down some choices that might be best for them to purchase.

The Basic class is geared more towards people that already have a handgun, or have made the decision to get one. Normally the participant provides the handgun that they will use in class, and then learns more specific information on that handgun style or model. In addition, more detailed hands-on work is done, including a more extensive range session and instruction on shooting technique.

There is no NRA pre-requisite that you take one class or the other if you are new to handguns. It is true that at the FIRST Steps class you will normally have other novice participants, where at the Basic class you may see some very experienced participants that are taking the course as part of some other safety required training or recertification.

However, you can take either class...it is entirely up to you.

Whether you take a safety training/education class from me or not is not the real issue; the real concern is that if you are going to join the handgun world, you owe it to yourself and family to have appropriate training.  Also, it is not unusual for one spouse to desire a handgun, and the other to be concerned or worried. If a handgun is going to be in the house, it is my belief that it is imperative that all responsible persons in the home know how to safely handle the firearm; it is just common sense.

For additional information or to register for a class, please e-mail info@shootingsafely.com. Classes will be available most days from June 1st through Labor Day, and on weekends thereafter. The specific day and time will be arranged to meet your schedule. Call today !

If you have questions, or would like a flyer or brochure to review, please e-mail info@shootingsafely.com

Do we offer the Permit to Carry classes?  YES.  We offer the Minnesota class, the North Dakota tests and  the Utah permit class. The Utah permit is honored in several States and rivals that of Florida as "the" best non-resident permit to acquire if you frequently travel in other States. If a participant desired, we can also offer the Minnesota/Utah combination so you can get both permits from one class session.

Do you live on the North Dakota side of the river?  North Dakota residents can now get a non-resident Minnesota Permit to Carry! E-mail to register or for more information.

Common Sense Rules for Shooting Safely!

1. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.
2. Always keep  your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.
3. Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use. Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.

And...

When Using a Gun, Always Follow These NRA Rules:

• Know your target and what is beyond. Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.
• Know how to use the gun safely. Before handling a gun, learn how it operates. Know its basic parts, how to safely open and close the action and remove any ammunition from the gun or magazine. Remember, a gun's mechanical safety device is never foolproof. Nothing can ever replace safe gun handling.
• Be sure the gun is safe to operate. Just like other tools, guns need regular maintenance to remain operable. Regular cleaning and proper storage are a part of the gun's general upkeep. If there is any question concerning a gun's ability to function, a knowledgeable gunsmith should look at it.
• Use only the correct ammunition for your gun. Only BBs, pellets, cartridges or shells designed for a particular gun can be fired safely in that gun. Most guns have the ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Ammunition can be identified by information printed on the box and sometimes stamped on the cartridge. Do not shoot the gun unless you know you have the proper ammunition.
• Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate. Guns are loud and the noise can cause hearing damage. They can also emit debris and hot gas that could cause eye injury. For these reasons, shooting glasses and hearing protectors should be worn by shooters and spectators.
• Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting. Alcohol, as well as any other substance likely to impair normal mental or physical bodily functions, must not be used before or while handling or shooting guns.
• Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons. Many factors must be considered when deciding where and how to store guns. A person's particular situation will be a major part of the consideration. Dozens of gun storage devices, as well as locking devices that attach directly to the gun, are available. However, mechanical locking devices, like the mechanical safeties built into guns, can fail and should not be used as a substitute for safe gun handling and the observance of all gun safety rules.

Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.