Handgunners, Inc. Indoor Shooting and Firearms Training Facility

This e-mail is to again thank you for the informative concealed carry class which I attended on March 22. Little did I realize that the critical things I had learned that Saturday would come into play exactly one week later.

I live in a neighborhood in the City of Chapel Hill that has fortunately for the past 23 years I have lived here, had practically no crime until just recently when some breaks-ins occurred.

As I told you earlier, I was home alone that Saturday when a tall young African-American man approached my residence ringing my door bell persistently. I was home alone and I did not answer. When I didn't answer the rings, he began banging on the door with the flat part of his hand. He was dressed in a grey sweatsuit (baggy pants sagging down toward his knees and his grey underwear was showing at the waist)

As you told all of the students in that Saturday class, when one gets that "sixth sense" or that "certain feeling" that causes the hair on your arm to stand up, you just know things are not quite right. That day I had that feeling.

I ran upstairs and loaded my hand gun. I was afraid he was going to attempt to break into my home. I did not want to face that man inside my home. The young man was still standing at my door when I got back downstairs. All the things you told us in class came back to my mind as I opened my front door and faced him. He asked for money immediately entwining his tale with a sad story of how he needed the money to get back to Virginia. I could see then that his bike was facing outward in the driveway, so I knew he did not just pedal up and get off. He had taken the time to turn the bike around before he came to my door. After I refused his request, he stepped forward onto the doormat within an arms reach of me. He then pulled his hood up around his face (although he was under a covered porch). That was the moment when things changed in my mind and I felt that "sixth sense" of impending threat and danger.

I kept my weapon behind the door clenched tightly in my right hand. All the information I had learned in the class regarding defense of habitation were fresh in my mind. In reflection, this stranger was too close for me to feel safe even with a weapon my hand. I looked him straight in the eyes and told him to leave. It was then that his cell phone buzzed. He was close enough to me for me to hear the cell phone buzzing his pocket; he then reached into his pocket. Luckily, when that phone buzzed and after my flat refusal to give him money and demand that he leave my property, he decided to turn and leave. He mumbled something as he got on his bike and rode off.

Thankfully, this story has a good ending and I am glad to say that I felt confident about what I learned about concealed weapons from your teaching and the helpful videos in the class that day. With the recent UNC and Duke University student murders fresh in my and everyone else's minds, I am even more aware of my surroundings now and how crime is creeping into what has previously been recognized as safe areas. After this frightening event, I really appreciate my positive experience at Handgunners, Inc.

I just wanted to thank you for you hospitality on my recent visit to your facility. I felt very comfortable at the facility and was very impressed with the range.

I am a retired New York City Police officer/ firearms instructor. In that capacity, I had the opportunity to inspect and conduct training at numerous ranges both publicly and privately operated. The target system which I learned was designed and constructed by you enhances any firearms training program that is conducted. The ability to change the distance and lighting conditions of your intended target adds realism to any training program.

Thank you for taking the time to teach the Basic Handgun Safety & Shooting Course. I am a novice when it comes to handguns and took this class to get a better understanding of how to handle handguns safely from a professional firearms instructor. I found this class to be very informative and will take the experience with me for life.

The Basic Handgun Safety & Shooting course taught me things in a classroom setting that I haven’t gotten from experience. For instance, I learned the ready position, stance, how to hold the firearm without endangering everyone around you, dominate eye (very helpful), and common mistakes leading to near misses, injury and even death. You taught the class about the parts of a revolver and the proper way to load & unload it. You were also left handed friendly. I learned which sight to focus on and how to properly level the gun. On the range you were patient with the beginners. You taught me how to handle a misfire and why it was occurring. That would fall under trigger control. I learned new techniques and to correct any bad habits. Finally I was reminded about what goes up must come down, and a firearm is always loaded.

It is my responsibility to handle any firearm safely and with respect. I have benefited greatly from taking this class. I learned a lot from friends and family over the years, but there are things that I learned in this class that only professional instructor can teach.

I will recommend to anyone who is a beginner, novice, or even experienced to take this class. For the beginner it is most essential, it will teach the basics, the novice can learn more and get rid of any bad habits and it is a great refresher course for the experienced. I hope to get my son in for this class this summer. He to is a novice and has much to learn. Thanks again.

My sister-in-law and I took the concealed weapons class at Handgunners and learned a lot about the laws of carrying a concealed weapon and where we can and can not carry one. We feel like we learned a lot from the class and had a lot to digest from all the information we were given. Mike and his son do an excellent job of instructing and make you feel safe on the firing range. We definitely feel like we got our money’s worth from the class and recommend it to anyone looking to take any type of gun handling class.

Just want to "thank you" for the information presented during the concealed carry class this past weekend.
Although the State video's weren't the most interesting video's, your personal testimonies based on your 27 years of law enforcement experience made the class informative and very worthwhile to attend. I am glad we choose your class over others we had considered in the Greensboro area.
Debbie and I look forward to our membership at your range this year. You and Eric run a professional, friendly and most of all SAFE business.

Thanks again and we will recommend Handgunners to friends.
Regards,
Gary Ferrara

I would like to thank you and Eric for the kindness and friendship that you both have shown me since I first entered your place of business. The Concealed Carry Class that I had which Mike instructed last year was very interested and enjoyed by me. Since I took that class, each time that I entered your place you both have been friendly and kind.

You both were helpful when I inquired about purhasing a pistol, you helped me to decide which brand and which caliber to chose for what I was interested in purchasing the gun for the use I wanted to do with it.I have enjoyed be ing in your place of business each time that I was there and look forward to coming in again. I know that I am going to enjoy my membership that I purchased from you. May God Bless both of you and keep you safe during your life and running the business that you have built. Again thank you both for what you have shown to me and if there is anything or anyway that I can be of any help to you please let me know.

Thanks for working me in today on the class. I really enjoyed it! I can't explain how it felt shooting a gun for the first time and it was the first time. Kind of heart-throbbing. Now I've calmed down. Look, I'm thinking I would like to have another session, one on one, with you as a follow-up. I learned so much I didn't know, now I just want a refresher on what we learned just to make sure I do everything correct. Correct is alive, I know. I'll feel better practicing at the range after that. I've filled out the membership app and I'll mail it Monday. Can you set me up an appointment and call or email me when you can do the class? The sooner the better.

Mike,

I have been meaning to write this email for a while now. I want to thank you for the Basic Handgun Safety and Shooting class that my wife and I took at your facility and under your instruction. Your training has been very beneficial and we both appreciate the time you took with all the safety aspects of handling a hand gun. Although we haven't had the time to utilize the range as much as we would want to our experience has been very good. Thanks for providing a first class facility where we can feel comfortable and safe.

Sincerely,

Dwayne