essential carry
John, Just a quick note to you and your crew. I just wanted to thank you all. Chuck & I had an excellent time!
You guys are fantastic at what you do! I was not excited about going at all, but knew it was something I probably should do. None the less, not excited, but I attended. I can’t believe how much more confidence, and secure I feel with my gun safety and handling, shooting, along with my understanding of the law and responsibility to the law. Thank you all for having such a great standard of excellence!
In addition, we loved all of your team’s thought process on our rights, laws and responsibilities…
Thanks Again!
Kristi
Learn safe defensive gun handling skills
Whether you’re a new gun owner or an experienced shooter, GSL Defense Training can help you stay safer and protect your family. Our emphasis is on learning the skills and mindset to avoid conflicts. If that fails, we teach you how to use your handgun safely and effectively. We want you to stay safe and teach strategies to do just that!
Our friendly, extensively-trained instructors, both male and female, bring diverse backgrounds and years of experience to your benefit. They’ll give you a broad, solid foundation so that you can confidently use your firearm for recreation or to defend yourself and your family. GSL Defense Training is also one of the few companies that excels at working with people with disabilities.
Lawyers and Legal Experts teaching the law
We do NOT read the law on Power Point Slides in our classes. Instead, we have practiced lawyers and court-certified expert witnesses presenting lethal force discussions. You can get answers to your legal questions and clarification of the laws.
Over the past two decades, we’ve trained well over 4000 people to shoot and carry firearms safely and efficiently. Our classes are for anyone who wants to feel safe at home or out and about in public.
GSL Defense Training’s Essential Carry
- NRA gun safety rules
- How to avoid becoming a victim
- Gun ownership laws
- Judicious use of deadly force
- Strategies for home safety
- Defensive shooting tactics
- Drawing from the holster & concealment
- Gun cleaning
- Safe storage of firearms
- Use of firearms responsibly, ethically & legally and more
HIGH QUALITY TRAINING AT A VALUE PRICE
Training days with GSL Defense Training include:
- High instructor to student ratios (lots of individual attention... look at all those red shirt instructors!)
- A safe experience. We run a safe and enjoyable training environment
- No Range fees
- Approximately 250 rounds live-fire to learn new skills like shooting one-handed, barricades, movement, discrimination targets, malfunction clearance and communication.
- LOANER FIREARMS & gear as needed (a wide array to choose from at no charge)
- Safety equipment as needed
- Drinks and snacks
- Extensive bonus GSL Defense Training materials
- Lectures, not Power Point slides(!)
- Real lawyers teaching legal considerations
- Experienced instructors who will help you gain new skills, refine old skills and gain confidence.
So while your friends sat around trying not to doze off watching power point slides for 16 hours and then shooting a 30-round qualification course at their class, you can be learning from experienced instructors who teach you instead of read to you.
That’s right: instead of sitting in a chair all day, you’ll be out on the range handling your handgun(s), shooting real exercises and doing things like shooting around barricades, movement exercises, malfunction clearing, communicating, moving off the axis of attack, one-handed shooting (both strong and support side), target discrimination and a whole lot more.
Registration includes drinks, range fees, safety equipment (as needed) and GSL Defense Training student material packet.
A Firearms Owner ID card (FOID) is recommended, but not required. We love helping novice shooters!
Tuition: $180/person.
SAVE MONEY! BUY ONE, GET ONE HALF-PRICE: Bring a friend, spouse, family member or neighbor for $90 more... 2 for $270.
DATES:
April 20 & 21, 2024
June 22 & 23, 2024 (FREE teacher class)
July 20 & 21, 2024
September 21 & 22, 2024
REGISTRATION FORM BELOW.
register now!
Students will need:
Lunch, eye and ear protection, firearm, belt holster, two spare magazines / speedloaders, 250 rounds of ammunition and sunscreen. If you do not have a suitable handgun or a holster for your handgun, we’ve got plenty of loaners. You will be required to use a holster as part of this class, per Illinois’ requirements.
Need ammo?
Ammo is readily available at local gun shops and some farm stores. You'll need at least 250 rounds. GSL Defense Training will have limited supplies of ammo available for purchase for class use. Price varies by caliber. If you don't have a FOID card, you can purchase ammo on day of class from us.
For additional information
For further information, call
John Boch at 217 649-3702.
E-mail Mr. Boch at jboch@gunssavelife.com.
John Naese at 217 840-0246
Email Mr. Naese at johnnaese1@comcast.net
Jeff Schwarm at 630 605-1898
Email Mr. Schwarm at JSchwarm@aol.com
A more thorough course description
Course goal: To develop in the students the basic knowledge, skills and attitude essential to the safe and efficient use of a handgun for protection of self and family, and to provide information on the law-abiding citizen’s right to self-defense.
This class covers a review of gun safety rules and the rules for using and storing a gun. Also, we’ll teach you about using firearms responsibly and ethically for personal protection, developing the proper mindset for using a firearm for personal protection and facing a life-threatening encounter, mental awareness and how to avoid becoming a victim. Further instruction will include mental preparation and physical training for a potentially life-threatening encounter, selection of handgun and ammunition suited to individual self-defense needs, and properly storing personal protection firearms, strategies for home safety and responding to a violent confrontation in your home.
We’ll teach you about key provisions of the law pertaining to purchase, transfer and possession of handguns; explain potential criminal and civil legal actions that may occur to the student following a defensive encounter, along with where students may find detailed legal information for their specific, local jurisdiction.
In addition to the above mentioned legal topics, we’ll give students in-depth discussion on the judicious use of deadly force (including when deadly force is justified against “unarmed” aggressors).
Finally, we’ll discuss sport shooting activities and additional training opportunities to help you keep these perishable skills refined and sharp and discuss methods and precautions for dry-fire practice.
Additional topics and activities covered by GSL Defense Training: We will discuss at length interactions with potential assailants, the moral and ethical decision-making involved with deciding to use deadly force for personal defense in a given encounter, post-shooting interventions with witnesses, responding police officers, investigating officers, media and others. We’ll also cover gun cleaning, showing you some handy, time-saving short-cuts, among many other topics.
We go way above and vastly beyond the mandated minimums – all without a single Power Point slide.
You can take an Illinois concealed carry class from anyone in the state, but you’ll only get the benefit of over two hundred years of combined firearms training experience with GSL Defense Training’s team of experienced, high-quality and personable instructors.
We teach self-defense because we love to share these skills with everyday folks so they may better avoid becoming a victim of attack, and if confronted, so they may better defend themselves from violent attacks.
Students will spend several hours on the range with live-fire both days. Students will fire approximately 250 rounds, including the qualification required by the State of Illinois. Learning objectives will include the fundamentals of defensive marksmanship, defensive accuracy, proper use of cover and concealment, reloading, malfunction clearing for semi-automatic pistol users and other drills for revolver shooters, plus all of the legally mandated materials demanded by the State of Illinois as part of their approved CCW curriculum.
In addition to being an Illinois State Police-approved concealed carry class. This course may also satisfy the training requirement for a number of states’ non-resident carry licenses, including Florida and Arizona. Both Arizona and Florida permits are recognized in roughly 30 states, greatly simplifying firearm transportation while traveling for business or while on vacation.
student comments / EVALS!
I can’t say enough good things about GSL Defense Training..
They took us from a wide range of skills sets (or mostly, lack thereof) and really brought us around. Hell, I noticed how not only was I doing much better by Sunday both in skills and confidence handling my gun, but so were the people around me. My wife said the same thing.
She was a nervous wreck going in. They separated us for the range exercises. I’ve been trying to teach her how to shoot for two decades. When we were driving home Sunday, she turned to me and said, “Sam, I had a good time this weekend.” She’s NEVER said that to me after we have gone shooting before.
I cannot recommend these guys (and gals) enough. They are a true patriots and obviously teach for the love of helping people and they love what they are doing and one another. I’m sure these classes will fill quickly. Do yourself a favor and spend your money with these people. You’ll be glad you did. And take your wife along. You’ll thank me later.
Sam
How could this course be improved? “More shooting time. Everything else was wonderful.”
“Exceeded my expectations – can’t believe all the time and effort everyone puts into the course. God Bless!!”
“Very good course and I’m glad I participated… All of the instructors were great. I would highly recommend this course to family and friends.”
Most beneficial part of course: “Shooting scenario in the dark. It was awesome!” “Well-organized and -paced.”
Female, 31-40. “The class, materials and instructors were phenomenal. It was well-organized, concise and informative. I learned more than I expected – the class exceeded my expectations and has improved my confidence and assuredness than I can and will be able to protect my family if necessary.”
“The shooting exercises were great and built my confidence in shooting a gun in high-stress conditions. I learned how I respond in those situations and how to improve on my next lesson – which the class provided. The instructors are awesome. They made it both fun and educational. You timed the lessons and breaks perfectly. I felt I had enough time to “recover” and I learned a LOT (double underlined). Thank you for a great experience, one I will NEVER forget.”
My wife and I have taken numerous GSL Defense classes. If you are inexperienced, you will learn safe, effective and practical firearms handling and self defense.
I’ve taken a few non-GSL classes. There is a huge difference. GSL classes have much better student to instructor ratios – often 3-4 to 1 in my experience.
The classes are fun, regardless of your experience level. The instructors are very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and fun. They understand how to teach new concepts and correct bad habits without making you feel dumb. GSL classes have a huge emphasis on how to recognize and avoid trouble, and also the legal consequences you will face if you ever need to defend yourself with deadly force.
To everyone that put the class on April 30th and May 1st:
I wanted to take a few moments here and thank you! I came to your class not knowing really what to expect, and having hopes of leaving there with information and education. I thought taking a two day class was a great idea. I am former military, and a have a huge respect for firearms. I came to your class with my wife (Tammy) and two friends (John and JoAnn). My wife and friends had no training in the past, well other than what I had been thought that I had passed down to them. Little did I know my training was out of date, and I was sharing information with them that was hindering them. Your decision to separate the men and women was genius, and allowed my wife her time to learn as well as myself.
I found myself really interested in everything that was brought in front of us. I can honestly say not one of your instructors let me down in their abilities to handle every situation. When I was there at your class I had just been told by my doctors that I had kidney cancer in both of my kidneys. It was a struggle not to think of my own problems and let it consume my thoughts, but at times during the class my future medical battles were the last thing on my mind. The class gave me some relief, and challenged me to be better at something I love to do. I knew I would be spending some time in the hospitals, and it made me more comfortable knowing my wife had the training to protect herself and our home while I was not there. Now that my first surgery is complete, and we are facing another I have still have the confidence that Tammy can protect herself while I am a way. Thanks to your class.
I have plans to attend your class Training to Live and Win: Intermediate Personal protection. If my health allows this, and yes I will be bringing my wife Tammy and friends with me. Thanks again to each one of you. For your desire to share, and your ability to work with so many different types of people. The information you teach is not only taught well, but I feel as it is needed for every person that wants to protect their family, or home.
Thank you again Dale
To John and all of the WONDERFUL instructors of the Basic class.
Believe it or not, I’m still on a high from the weekend basic class that you guys and gal instructed. The level of expertise and methods of delivery of that knowledge to us “newbies” were just phenomenal. because of your great instructions, pointers and individual attention, the skills that I had with my revolver improved 100% from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon and I feel so much more confident in handling it now (especially those speed-loaders). Thank you so much to all of you.
As a result of this weekend class, I am taking your advice about joining a local organization because you will find my application and check enclosed for membership in Guns Save Life.com. Unfortunately, because of the distance my attendance at your meetings will be impossible but I will be there in spirit and will be looking forward to receiving the GunNews monthly paper. Thank you for devoting your spare time to such a wonderful cause.
Vicki
“You guys taking applications for staff? I’d love to help you guys!”
“Course content is rich in detail, presented by excellent trainers and made me a more informed and qualified gun owner.”
“I came thinking guns were only for killing. I left having learned that guns were for living. I’ll be getting my own soon.”
“The breadth and depth of information was fabulous!”
Female, age 26-30: “This course was amazing. I am so glad I attended this course. My husband suggested it so I went. I feel more confident in my abilities and hopefully will continue to improve. I also have learned a new hobby my husband and I can do together! I would recommend this class to anyone!”
Female, 31-40. “The class, materials and instructors were phenomenal. It was well-organized, concise and informative. I learned more than I expected – the class exceeded my expectations and has improved my confidence and assuredness than I can and will be able to protect my family if necessary.”
What areas of this course were most beneficial: “The interaction with the instructors. All were very personable, worked together well with one another *and* with the students. They kept things from being too serious, yet still were able to project the importance of each lesson. They talked me through my nervousness, encouraged me to do my best and gently corrected mistakes. This has been a great experience.”
“15 years of shooting and I thought I knew a lot. Boy, was I wrong! Thanks.”
“Gun class was… the most liberating and empowering feeling in the world. Absolute top notch. GREAT class. Great guys.”
“Dragged the very nervous wife out. Patient instructors put her at ease and my wife loved Bonnie’s patient female touch to overcome her fears. That alone was worth ten times what we paid for tuition and ammo. I’ve been trying to do that for a decade unsuccessfully. Now she wants a new gun. Thanks everyone for a job well done.”
“Student-trainer ratio was 3:1. We shot over 7 times the required minimum number of qualifying rounds. Any problems were identified and resolved one-on-one, and shooting scenarios were real life, not just range practice. Classroom portion was informative and well organized. Thanks to GSLDT for teaching the skills I need and giving me the drills needed to maintain those skills.”
Female, age 26-30: “What a great weekend! The instructors were wonderful. This made a great couples weekend. I’m looking forward to shooting at the range together soon. Thank you!”