Posted: 11/20/2007 7:17:09 PM EDT
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I am very interested in becoming a CHL instructor. Any comments, advice, or discussion on the process, or the market for more instructers, would be appreciated. I have been to the DPS site and understand some of the particulars about the once a year class...other than that i have little insight. Mark. |
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The number of instructors renewing from last year to this year is half. The number went from 1600 to 800 this year. DPS seems to think that the reason is that traveling was defined and the 10 year clause. I spoke with some in the class and they were happy teaching three students at a time. I think the average age in the class was 70, one guy was so infirm that he couldn't hold the weapon up during qualification. Most in the class said they would continue, more as a hobby then a job. We had a lot of ideological conflicts in course content and practice. The instructors were harping that students should be taught to limit rounds fired during a confrontation, but when asked why the course had several 5 shot strings they didn't have an answer. I asked why they were still teaching the ridiculous conflict resolution class, where standing and having a long winded discussion with some crazed idiot is touted. The one where you tell your students to listen, empathize, ask, paraphrase, and summarize, all while the guy is wrapping his belt buckle around his fist to knock your block off. Best answer I got was they were trying to change some things. I said no sense rushing, it's only been 12 years. |
lol I like the conflict resolution section. I teach it as what you need to know about behavior and such BEFORE the guy is wrapping his belt around his fist. It can be utilized to keep a situation from becoming violent. It is simply de-escalation technique. I have read many threads here where people carrying a gun had some conflict with another, and rather than de-escalate they let their egos take over and of course, that just agitated the other person more. Then the other guy does something to make the gun carrier believe that going for the gun was the only recourse. If the person had let their ego go, they most likely would have never gotten to the point of needing the gun. I don't tell my students to try to reason with a person who has a weapon in hand, etc. |
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I guess I have a problem getting a talked down to about how we need to be careful about how and what we teach, when we are teaching the lesson plan that they gave us. No lesson plan should be in conflict with itself. I teach what they tell me to teach because as an instructor, I am required to. I also tell them that any real shit bag, the one who is likely to take your gun and stick it where the sun don't shine would think you are clumping him off with any conflict de escalation techniques. Let see, you just knocked a Hells Angel off his motor cycle. I need to ask him how he feels. Well, I see you want to drag me from my vehicle through my vent window. Mr. Hells Angle, let me empathize with you, I used to have a Vespa scooter "bro", I know how you feel. Now let me paraphrase, your going to stomp me into the ground, is that before or after you drag me through the vent window. A full Twenty percent of all tested in prison showed signs of sociopathic tendencies, they won't show signs of emotional disturbance. Of the hundreds of students that I have taught CHL classes to, when asked the last time they were in a physical confrontation, non could remember. Some had never put their hands on another human being. If the totality of the lesson plan makes them believe that Verbal Judo is going to make them less likely to become the next statistic, I have issues with that. The one point that I like to leave with my students is that just because you show up with the gun, doesn't mean you will leave with it. Action beats reaction.... |
With you there too. |
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Thanks for the input gentlemen. In looking at the DPS website i see that the license is $50 per year. Does the actual class cost anything? So basically I send in my application 2 months or more in advance of the June class and prepare to stay in Austin for 4 days while i take the class? And then I can teach others...small groups or large....for a fee (competitive of course) helping others get their CHL... That simple fellows? Mark |
Instructor certifications are good for two years, so you will pay $100. You should send your application in as early as possible. You will graduate with a certificate that allows you to teach. You will have to have TR100s for your students, and they cost you $5.00 each. |
The fee includes participation in the instructor class. As far as a good part time job, consider, advertising, signing up students, getting payment, people no-showing, renting a facility to teach, paying for range time, paying someone to Fingerprint, paying for a notary, etc. Or, you can find a gun range that offers regular classes and try to teach for them. They usually so all of that stuff and pay you a flat fee. |