You Are Responsible For Everything Your CCW Instructor Does Not Tell You.

In California, CCW instructors must meet certain standards to obtain their instructor certifications from the Department of Justice.  Those standards have been strengthened due to recent legislation known as SB2 (Senate Bill 2).

However, California laws are still very weak when it comes to the content that CCW instructors must present to their students.  There are several subjects that instructors are supposed to talk about in their classrooms, but the exact information provided on those subjects is still up to the discretion, knowledge, beliefs, and teaching abilities of each individual instructor.  Because of this, generally speaking, CCW applicants across California are not receiving the same information, and many aren't receiving much information at all.

Unfortunately, the internet is full of opinions, chat rooms, videos, e-magazines, marketing campaigns, and even educational materials that offer misleading, false, unverified, or incomplete information, all passed off as facts.  Many instructors source their class materials from the internet.  The difficulty arises from the fact that there is no one clearinghouse of vetted, evidence-based information that is easily accessible to instructors or to CCW licensees.

Just taking into consideration the laws which CCW licensees must observe, first there is the Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs), which apply across the entire country.  Then there are the statutes (laws) contained in California's 29 separate codes.  Seventeen of those codes include firearms laws, so there are dozens and dozens of state laws that apply to CCW licensees.  Next, with 58 counties, each having their own firearm ordinances, there are hundreds more laws. And lastly, there are nearly 500 municipalities in California, each having their own municipal codes dealing with firearms. Because of the sheer number of laws affecting CCW licensees within California, there is no practical way for any instructor to inform an applicant of every law.  Not even close.

There are a plethora of other subjects which should be presented in CCW classes, many more than just required by SB2.  But instructors know that attracting and retaining applicants is made easier by offering easy, fun, cheap classes.  Most of the inquiries I receive are from applicants looking for a quick and dirty class, and are not particularly interested in receiving information.

The take-away is this: in any court of law in California, you will be held responsible for knowing everything your CCW instructor did not tell you.  No judge, jury, or district attorney is going to feel sorry for you because you did not receive accurate information in your CCW class.

Despite having to take state-mandated classes to receive a CCW license, it remains the sole responsibility of the CCW licensee to assemble, understand, and observe the laws, restrictions, limitations, liabilities, skills, and best practices with regard to concealed carry.  It's your responsibility to separate fact from fiction, and to seek out credible information supported by evidence. Not an easy task, even with the best instructor.