Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

anyone else going uhhh by the whole "get your concealed carry online" thing besides me? i know in this day and age were all busy and barely have time to breath but id rather have someone at LEAST do a mandatory 2 hour class at minimum to get their permit for concealed carry. i know there are firearms instructors on here so chime in folks. sorry for any typos.

The whole CHP training requirement is ridiculous and goes well beyond on-line training. There are no meaningful standards. It's quite possible to attend a hunter safety course or submit a DD214 following military service and have never touched a handgun. This is probably also true for some concealed carry classes being taught. VA should do what PA does - no state mandated training requirement for a permit.

I do think that folks who own or carry a handgun should seek out and get training, and that this training should include actually shooting. It sad too many don't.

I don't mind internet CHP training. It doesn't hurt that it helps pay the bills around here...

http://www.concealed-carry.net/sanpob01

steelheart wrote:anyone else going uhhh by the whole "get your concealed carry online" thing besides me? i know in this day and age were all busy and barely have time to breath but id rather have someone at LEAST do a mandatory 2 hour class at minimum to get their permit for concealed carry. i know there are firearms instructors on here so chime in folks. sorry for any typos.

I did it, it was OK. I had prior handgun shooting experience in the Army, but the idea of trying to even find my DD-214 amongst all the stuff (we had recently moved to Virginia) was daunting, so, I plunked down whatever it cost, watched, learned a few things, took test, passed, then had the wife do it.

Took me five months after i got the permit to get to a range and shoot, the last time I had shot a handgun was probably over ten years ago.

Fun fact, I was 18 and the range officer was uncertain if firing handguns was illegal for me as an 18 year old on an Army range as part of training, I kid you not. had to sit and wait until he confirmed with God knows who.

I support the online route for busy people, it was fairly comprehensive.

allingeneral wrote:I don't mind internet CHP training. It doesn't hurt that it helps pay the bills around here...

http://www.concealed-carry.net/sanpob01

You offer online CHP classes, too?

Call me old fashioned but I would rather have an actual person teach the class for me. Is there also a class that also goes over VA Laws regarding handguns?

jmicheals1984 wrote: Is there also a class that also goes over VA Laws regarding handguns?

Yes, there is - http://proactiveshooters.com/general-co ... rry-in-va/

I did the online route when I did it... quick and painless, the way it should be. I was handed a shotgun when I was 7 years old and told to have fun and not kill anyone. I was not interested in a 2 hour class to tote around my pistol when the time came.

Could skimping on the training, just to meet the minimum requirements, come back to bite you if you had to use your weapon and ended up in court as a result?

Example -
Prosecutor: 'What sort of firearm or self defense training did you have prior to this event?'
You: 'Well, I took an online course...'

When I originally got my CCP it was in Michigan and I took a 4-day course hosted by a police academy at a local community college (3-day classroom, 1-day range). My reason for doing so was to ensure I was informed on responsibilities/liabilities and for the reasons I mentioned above.

dmharvey wrote:Could skimping on the training, just to meet the minimum requirements, come back to bite you if you had to use your weapon and ended up in court as a result?

Example -
Prosecutor: 'What sort of firearm or self defense training did you have prior to this event?'
You: 'Well, I took an online course...'

When I originally got my CCP it was in Michigan and I took a 4-day course hosted by a police academy at a local community college (3-day classroom, 1-day range). My reason for doing so was to ensure I was informed on responsibilities/liabilities and for the reasons I mentioned above.

Hopefully, you have a good lawyer to circumvent that question in the case of not having any training.

Your Lawyer: Objection! Training is not at issue here, as evidenced by my client's active Concealed Handgun Permit, he had sufficient training as required by state law. *Cite: Code of Virginia 18.2-308.G(1-9)

Some people have the opposite concern. They worry some prosecutor is going to make an issue of their extensive training. For example, "Mr. John Doe here has attended several tactical shooting courses and is a three-gun competitor who routinely shoots at human form targets. He is obviously a killer."

Personally, I think too many people worry about all kinds of factors that could possibly affect them in a shooting related self-defense trial. Training, trigger pull weight, ammunition type, and gun modifications are just some examples. If you were legally authorized to use deadly force when you did, then you should be OK in a trial - there are no guarantees though.

Skimping on training is likely to bite you with a negligent discharge or a failure to defend yourself.

Well stated, Charlie!

Regardless of how the permit is obtained, the real responsibility comes when you carry. Are you proficient with your handgun? Can you clear a stoppage without thinking about it or looking at the pistol? Does the bullet impact at the point of aim? These questions can only be answered at the range. God forbid that anyone should have to answer for the death of someone other than their attacker.

If I were ever so unlucky as to have to use a gun in self-defense and were asked about any training I had taken, whatever the form of training, I certainly hope my answer would be something close to: “I have owned, carried and used firearms for several decades now. Even though I was fully confidant of my expertise, experience and judgment, I took formal training to expose myself to an external and widely-accepted standard of knowledge, skill and training, so as to even further assure that my actions and practices would be in conformance with the standards of the community. One is never too old or too well-educated to learn more."

dorminWS wrote:If I were ever so unlucky as to have to use a gun in self-defense and were asked about any training I had taken, whatever the form of training, I certainly hope my answer would be something close to: “I have owned, carried and used firearms for several decades now. Even though I was fully confidant of my expertise, experience and judgment, I took formal training to expose myself to an external and widely-accepted standard of knowledge, skill and training, so as to even further assure that my actions and practices would be in conformance with the standards of the community. One is never too old or too well-educated to learn more."

+1
Well said.

If you can get a degree online why not get a CHP training online? That being said I got my CHP training online only to get my certification faster. I still have full intentions of going to get some "real" training but I feel as if I am knowledgeable and responsible enough to conduct myself appropriately. After all I carry everyday and have been doing so for 3 years. What difference does it make if it's OC or CC??

i've been debating the online course vs an in person class and with my lack of available time at the moment, ill look into the online course for the time being and get more training in person as time allows

dcswindler4 wrote:i've been debating the online course vs an in person class and with my lack of available time at the moment, ill look into the online course for the time being and get more training in person as time allows

TheWife took this one to get her CHP. It took about an hour to complete.

-> http://www.concealed-carry.net/sanpob01

This one is only $24.95...

http://www.vaguntraining.com/

allingeneral wrote:

dcswindler4 wrote:i've been debating the online course vs an in person class and with my lack of available time at the moment, ill look into the online course for the time being and get more training in person as time allows

TheWife took this one to get her CHP. It took about an hour to complete.

-> http://www.concealed-carry.net/sanpob01

But this one helps VGOF