5 Questions To Ask Your Potential Concealed Carry Instructor

By Jeremy Gill — May 6, 2015

You've narrowed your choice of concealed carry instructors and their courses down to a handful or so. Now it's time to reach out to those instructors and ask them a few questions. We've put together the 5 must-ask questions that you should ask any concealed carry instructor that you are considering to train under.

1. Why Do You Teach NM Concealed Carry?

You'll want to get an insight into why they have chosen to teach concealed carry. You should expect to receive an answer inline with an urge, calling, or want to add more legally and responsibly armed citizens to their community. Listen for their tone and sincerity when they speak. Do they seem genuine when answering this question, or did their answer seem forced or rehearsed? Steer clear of those instructors who don't have an answer or seem unsure of why they teach concealed carry.

2. What Is The Most Important Lesson That You Teach?

The typical New Mexico Concealed Carry Course will cover roughly 12–15 topics. While each lesson is important, some will be more critical than others. With this question you're looking for a passionate response — genuine and natural, not rehearsed or forced. Any answer that seems superficial should be challenged with follow-up questions about why that topic matters to the student and how it can affect their life.

3. What Is The Best Caliber For Self-Defense?

Any answer other than something similar to "the best caliber for self-defense is going to be relative to the shooter..." is cause for concern. The best caliber for self-defense is the largest caliber that the shooter is comfortable, confident, and proficient with. You cannot miss fast enough with a .45 to stop a threat, and while a .22 caliber handgun may not immediately stop the threat, defensively accurate hits on the intended threat is more important than the caliber.

4. Can I Get In Touch With Any Of Your Previous Students?

If an instructor is reluctant to allow you to speak to previous students, or would prefer that you didn't, it should be a big red flag. Try to seek out students that weren't specifically mentioned by the instructor. Post a request on the instructor's Facebook page seeking previous students, and ask that they contact you privately for an anonymous conversation.

5. Why Should I Train With You?

And just listen. Trust your gut. Give us a call if you have any questions: (505) 944-5247