Our Approved Initial Wear & Carry Training

Our initial wear and carry training program is officially approved by:

Maryland State Police
Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department
Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI)
Our instructors are certified by the Maryland State Police, the National Rifle Association, and the United States Concealed Carry Association.
Validated veteran-owned small business

Our curriculum delivers the knowledge and practical skills you need to be a safe, responsible, and legally informed gun concealed carry permit holder.

Who We Are:

Founded by Paul Duffy (President) and Francis Duffy (Vice President)
Paul and Frank possess concealed carry permits from Maryland, Utah, Florida, and Pennsylvania.

Meet Paul — Our Lead Instructor

Paul brings over 18 years of hands-on tactical firearms experience to the classroom and the range. He’s not just an instructor—he’s a highly skilled technician of the craft, with deep knowledge of firearm mechanics, ammunition, and real-world application.
Paul’s instruction goes far beyond what most shooters encounter in Maryland. His teaching style is practical, focused, and rooted in performance—not theory. He holds multiple instructor certifications, is a certified Range Safety Officer, and has trained with some of the most respected professionals in the field.
When he’s not teaching, Paul runs several small businesses, competes in shooting sports, and hunts regularly—bringing all that field experience directly into his training.
He is also a certified Utah concealed carry instructor.
Whether you’re brand new or experienced, you’re in expert hands with Paul.

Meet Francis “Frank” Duffy — Special Forces Veteran & Firearms Instructor

Frank is a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran who served with the legendary 5th Special Forces Group—the Green Berets. As the medical sergeant on his A-Team, he was also cross-trained in weapons, giving him a rare dual-discipline foundation in both trauma care and combat readiness.
He earned the elite U.S. Army Ranger tab and qualified as a Special Forces Combat Diver, one of the most demanding schools in the military.
In the civilian world, Frank has continued to pursue excellence. He’s a Certified Executive Protection Specialist, a graduate of the Gunsite Academy’s Defensive Handgun Program, and a DC-certified firearms instructor. He also holds instructor credentials from the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA).
Beyond the range, Frank serves on the Board of Directors for Maryland Shall Issue, where he works to protect and advance the rights of lawful gun owners in the state.
Frank brings a deep sense of mission, experience, and professionalism to every student he trains.

Day 1—Classroom Course Topics Covered

(Note: We provide customers with several firearms-related articles that are required reading. We send those as email attachments about one week before class.)

Firearm Safety Rules

A core component of all training—especially the HQL and Wear and Carry courses—is learning the four universal firearm safety rules, along with best practices for safe handling and secure storage, both at home and on the range.

State and Federal Firearm Laws

Gun ownership comes with serious legal responsibilities. Our courses provide a comprehensive understanding of Maryland, DC, Utah, and federal firearm laws, including who may possess firearms, the regulations governing their possession and transportation, and the restrictions applicable to individuals with concealed carry permits.

Use of Force

Understanding when and how you are legally justified to use force is essential. This unit covers the legal definitions, ethical considerations, and real-world scenarios surrounding the use of both non-lethal and lethal force in self-defense.

De-Escalation

In Maryland and DC, de-escalation isn’t just thoughtful—it’s legally expected. This segment focuses on:

When and how to withdraw from dangerous situations
How to verbally de-escalate conflict
Your duty to avoid confrontation when possible

Students are taught to prioritize preserving life and minimizing harm, always seeking to avoid violence unless necessary.

Handgun Mechanics & Operation

From grip to trigger press, this unit teaches:

Major components of a handgun
How to safely load, unload, and clear malfunctions
Best practices for cleaning, maintenance, and operation

Hands-on demonstrations are followed by supervised practice.

Safe Storage & Handling

Preventing unauthorized access is a crucial aspect of responsible gun ownership. Learn about:

Recommended storage devices and safes
How to store firearms and ammunition separately
Safety strategies for homes with children or guests

Suicide Prevention Awareness

As part of our commitment to community safety, we provide education on:

Warning signs of suicide risk
How to limit access to firearms for at-risk individuals
Resources and strategies to promote mental wellness

Concealed Carry Advice and Guidance

We teach our customers defensive shooting while carrying a handgun in public. That enormous responsibility requires them to know what it takes to carry out effectively and legally.

The personal defense triad: Firearms handling, marksmanship, and mindset.
Managing stress—the human responses to threats
Informed situational awareness—staying “left of bang”
Thinking like a protector
Assessing your vulnerability
Surveillance detection routes
Holster selection
What to do (and not do) after a self-defense shooting

Day 2—Live-Fire Exercises on Outdoor Range

We go beyond the minimum:

A full day of live-fire training at an outdoor shooting range, led by experienced, certified instructors.
Students must pass a 25-round course of fire at the end of the day with a minimum score of 70% to qualify for the wear and carry permit.

Range sessions focus on the following:

Our day-long renewal class uses an “outdoor classroom” model.
Lead instruction delivered by a Maryland and NRA-certified instructor.
Our Range Safety Officer to customer ratio is 1:5, that is, one RSO for every five customers…which matches the industry standard.

Training topics are:

Range safety briefing
Medical briefing
Assessing dominant eye
Drawing from a holster—a 5-step sequence
Addressing threats with strong body language
Assessing shooting accuracy—starting with one shot at a time, then multiple shots
Dealing with malfunctions as they happen in real time on the range
Scanning for additional threats
Turning to shoot (left to target, right to target, 180-degree turn to target)
Shooting using a 1-second, ½ second, ¼ second cadence
Emergency and tactical reloading

Why Train With Us?

Certified by multiple jurisdictions
We trained with America’s special operations veterans over the past 18 years. We pass that knowledge and those skills forward to our customers
Emphasis on both practical skills and legal education
Patient, professional instructors
Commitment to safety, legality, and real-world readiness
No one trains like we do. We are pretty damn good at what we do!