On Line Conceal Carry Classes?

[allingeneral]

Welcome aboard TOK.

Do you have a link you would like to share?

[ProShooter]

Hi, I am a brand new member. I found the site while searching online for a company I own and am impressed! I actually own one of the two companies that offers the online concealed carry qualification courses. I can certainly see both sides of the argument here; on one hand, it is a leap of faith to believe that someone with no mandated practical experience should be able to obtain a concealed carry permit in Virginia. On the other hand, many people believe that there should be NO training requirement as carrying is a right guaranteed by the Constitution.

As mentioned before, I am biased. For years, the Virginia State Hunter's Safety class has been a qualifier and it contains no shooting. We decided to put up our class in order to make it as accessible to as many people as possible and to make a few bucks doing something we love. We have certainly succeeded on both counts but I can see the other side of the argument.

Thirty

Well said Thirty, and welcome to the site.

There is much debate to be had on this topic and I see much more debate in the future. I guess its a matter of "give the people what they want". In the end, my desire is to just see that gun owners are being safe and that no one gets hurt. Whatever program gets them there, well there you are.

[herohog]

Keep in mind, there are many people like my wife, who, I would wager, is a better shot than many if not most (> ½) of the members of this forum and who has been well trained and well practiced yet has no recognized formal training. What about people like her? What about all of us Vets who have a DD-214 but our formal training was woefully inadequate for all but those on special teams and, again, those who did not serve in those special units and therefore hardly ever handled, much less fired, a firearm?

I see no issues with this fully legal avenue of getting licensed. I WILL urge anyone taking this course to get some REAL range time with someone who is knowledgeable in firearms safety and use to give you the 201 course in the "Real World."

But then again, I recommend that to ANYONE, no matter what training they have or when they had it.

[rjgnwdc]

Personnally, I don't understand the whole on-line training thing. If VA only wants "trained" people to carry concealled, watching a video and taking a quiz over and over until you memorize the required answers can hardly count as being trained. On the other hand, if the idea is that one shouldn't have to "qualify" in order to exercise a Constitutional right, why not abolish the training requirement all together?

Call me paranoid but I think there's some kind of trap involved here.

What kind of trap? I have been wondering about online CHP training thinking I might check it out so what are you saying?

[ProShooter]

Personnally, I don't understand the whole on-line training thing. If VA only wants "trained" people to carry concealled, watching a video and taking a quiz over and over until you memorize the required answers can hardly count as being trained. On the other hand, if the idea is that one shouldn't have to "qualify" in order to exercise a Constitutional right, why not abolish the training requirement all together?

Call me paranoid but I think there's some kind of trap involved here.

What kind of trap? I have been wondering about online CHP training thinking I might check it out so what are you saying?

The trap that I hear about is people getting into a self-defense shooting and when asked about their level of training, they say that they watched a video for an hour. That may be what he is talking about.

[ThirtyOddKorn]

Allingeneral,

I don't want to cheapen the debate by hocking my website but have certainly appreciated all of the perspectives that differ from mine.

We can be found at www.VirginiaConcealedCarry.com. The code 610189 will give you $10 off...any notes would be greatly appreciated.

Thirty

[VAGunTraining]

A new one is out there for $29.95 at http://www.vaguntraining.com

[Chasbo00]

To me, the issue is not on-line vs. classroom instruction. The real issue is whether or not a live shooting standard should be a condition for a CHP. Also, should there be a test for carry related laws in addition to safety and firearm maintenance? Unless Virginia adopts a shooting performance standard as part of the requirements for a CHP, then I really don't see any reason not to go with an on-line course. In fact, I think a good argument can be made that an on-line course can better ensure training consistency and quality across the state.

Personally, I would like to see much tougher standards for a VA CHP. I don't believe this is very likely though.

[zephyp]

Personally, I would like to see much tougher standards for a VA CHP. I don't believe this is very likely though.

I am a fence sitter on this one but will throw something out merely to stimulate discussion -- "...shall not be infringed."

[Chasbo00]

Personally, I would like to see much tougher standards for a VA CHP. I don't believe this is very likely though.

I am a fence sitter on this one but will throw something out merely to stimulate discussion -- "...shall not be infringed."

"Shall not be infringed" means no CHP needed in my view. Virginia's going the way of Alaska, Vermont and Arizona (no permit to carry needed) would be fine with me. But, as long as I'm required to obtain and pay for a CHP, I would like it to have some perceived value beyond just another tax.

[zephyp]

@Charlie - cant argue with you there...and it is essentially another tax....