US Concealed Carry Association
What: USCCA Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) Training Class. You can get your CCW Certificate after completion of the class to get your CCW from the Sheriff’s Office. The course is 5 hours of classroom training and 2 hours at the range.
Where: 973 Payne Ave, St Paul MN 55130 (near the old Swedish Bank Building at Payne & Case Intersection)
When: 9:30 am to 4:00 pm, Sundays
Who: Daniel Ward II is a USCCA/NRA Instructor. His class is open to 10 students on each date on a first come first served basis.
Cost: $125.00(to cancel one needs to request it 48 hours prior to the class)
It’s rare that any sort of Firearm Training takes place IN ST PAUL! most trainings take place in the Suburbs or within an hour’s drive from the Twin Cities.
You can go to the following USCCA Training link to register for the class: MN Concealed Carry Course.
What to Expect as a Student
You can pre-register for the class weeks in advance. Look at what one needs to bring to the class, bring something to drink and munch on as a snack.
There is some prep work prior to arriving. You should download the free e-book called, “Concealed Carry Home Defense,” by Michael Martin, a Minnesota resident. You can follow along in the book during class in order to fill out a worksheet which is provided. It is easy to read with many color photos of the information you are studying.
You will cover the topics in the e-book during the 5 hour interactive instruction with a scheduled break. Here are the topics covered:
- Developing a Personal & Home Protection Plan
- Self Defense Firearm Basics
- Shooting Fundamentals
- The Legal Use of Force (Reasonable & Deadly Force)
- Violent Encounters & Their Aftermath
- Universal Gun Safety Rules
- MN Gun Laws (Duty to Retreat)
At any time Instructor Daniel Ward II will answer questions you have on the subjects. He is patient with all students and respects them in where they are at in their knowledge of firearms. It is okay if you’ve never picked up a firearm or are fearful of them he’ll help you become comfortable.
At The Range
After the 5 hours of classroom instruction, students leave to the range. Once students reconvene at the range, students are issued hearing protection and eye protection before they enter the range for the first time.
Basic requirements of CCW training is to show proficient knowledge and to be able to fire a weapon. In order to help students understand the difference in calibers and the feel of their recoils, Daniel Ward II will have students fire 3 different types of calibers: .22LR, .38, and 9 mm.
Here are skills to learn at the range:
- Clearing the handgun
- Loading ammunition into a magazine
- Universal Gun Safety Rules
- Identify your Target and know what’s behind it
- The Difference between Target & Front Sight Focus
- Trigger Control
- Becoming Comfortable with the Recoil
- Range Safety
Instructor Daniel Ward II spends time with each student individually helping him or her to shoot properly. No one is rushed through the training.
Universal Gun Safety Rules
Responsible Gun Owners follow safety rules in handling their firearm. Here they are:
- Treat all guns as though they are always loaded.
- Never point your weapon at anything or anyone you don’t want to destroy or kill respectively.
- Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until you decide to shoot.
- Always be sure of your target and what is behind it.
It is advisable to get Gun Owner’s Insurance in case you are in a Self Defense Incident. USCCA says on their site this insurance is part of the membership, as well as more training to become a better shooter and a safer one. (We were not paid to say this, it is up to you to decide where you buy your insurance).
Saintpaulrepublicans.us does not get any money for promoting this course by USCCA. This website is not directly associated or affiliated with USCCA nor with Daniel Ward II.
CCW is a topic people in St Paul and Minneapolis are interested in being the increase in violent crime and the City Governments looking to cut budgets to the Police Departments. Self Defense is a non-partisan issue.
I took this course on November 21, 2020, as a personal decision on my part. I am a US Army Veteran who had not trained with handguns before. I wanted to get back into target shooting. I wanted to write articles about CCW from the point of view of a first time gun owner.
~~ Publius Jr