A Girl & A Gun Cadre Grows with USCCA
“We are proud to officially partner with USCCA and to bring more of their industry-leading curriculum and services to our members and their communities,” Sandoval said. “Our organizations have a shared mission of providing quality training to help responsibly armed citizens protect their families.”
Instructor Spotlight: Morgan Ballis
Morgan Ballis is the Director of Strategic Planning & Training at Campus Safety Alliance, a K-12 emergency management consulting firm. He is a nationally recognized expert in active shooter incidents having trained more the 20,000 educators, students, law enforcement officers, and military personnel in active assailant response. He is also the founder and Chief Instructor at Defensive Tactics and Firearms where his team has trained more than 4,500 students in shooting fundamentals, defensive principles, and self-defense laws. Morgan is an IADLEST Nationally Certified Instructor, NCBRT L.A.S.E.R. Training, ALERRT C.R.A.S.E Trainer, NRA LE Instructor, NRA Training Counselor. Rangemaster Instructor, and MAG Deadly Force Instructor.
Instructor Spotlight: Jon & Sarah Hauptman
Jon Hauptman is the owner and operator of PHLster Holsters, where he designs cutting-edge concealed carry equipment, and the PhillyEDC YouTube channel where he provides open-source lessons on how to make and refine your own Kydex holsters.
Sarah Hauptman is the “First Lady” of PHLster, co-inventor of the Enigma concealment system, and an avid recreational (and occasionally competitive) pistol shooter.
Instructor Spotlight: Michelle Cerino
Michelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, entered the firearms industry in 2011 when Cerino Training Group was established. She immediately began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter. Michelle is currently a columnist and Managing Editor of Women’s Outdoor News, as well as Pro-Staff for CZ-USA Field Sports. She also manages social media for CZ-USA Field Sports, Vera Koo and GTM Original. Michelle encourages others to step out of the comforts of home and explore. For as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North once said, “You’ve always had the power … you just had to find it out for yourself.”
Instructor Spotlight: Brian & Shelley Hill
Brian Hill is the owner and head coach of The Complete Combatant located in Dahlonega, GA. Shelley Hill is the marketing director, manager, and Instructor at The Complete Combatant.
Instructor Spotlight: Austin Proulx
Austin Proulx is the Lead Instructor for GoFast Concepts. He is an IDPA champion and member of the Wilson Combat Shooting Team. He is an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He competes and teaches at Cameo Shooting and Education Complex.
Instructor Spotlight: Russell Anthon
Russell Anthon is an instructor with Defenders USA specializing in long-range precision courses. Russell is certified as an NRA Basic Handgun Instructor, NRA CCW Instructor, an ASP Certified Firearms Instructor through Active Self Protection, and a certified Range Safety Officer through Defenders USA. As we learned in Digital Elevate, Russell is also basically a genius, with a depth of knowledge in a variety of surprising areas and a thirst for knowledge that is tireless and almost unparalleled when compared to vast majority of people in the world.
Instructor Spotlight: Varg Freeborn
Varg Freeborn is an author, self-defense and gunfight instructor, lethal force educator, fitness coach, father, and family man. Born into a violent home life, he was no stranger to deadly violence by a young age. In 1994, at 19, he was wrongly convicted and sentenced to 5 years in prison, during which his education and training in criminal violence, as well as in strength and conditioning, was deeply cultivated. Following his release, he was eventually granted a full restoration of all civil rights and went on to train extensively in civilian and law enforcement gunfighting, tactics, CQB, breaching, close protection, boxing, BJJ and more. He is most known for his “Violence of Mind” course work, which focuses on the mindset aspect of training and fighting in a way that few have ever been able to approach.
Instructor Spotlight: Adam Winch
Adam Winch is a veteran MP in the U.S. Army, Army Reserve, and Colorado National Guard, and former officer with the Grand Junction Police Department. He is the owner of Defenders USA, where Adam brings his unique combination of military and police expertise into the classroom and on the range for an engaging, thought-provoking learning […]
Instructor Spotlight: Kayla Stomberg
Kayla Stomberg is the owner and Lead Instructor for 360 Defense in Middletown, CT. She is a 4th degree Black Belt in the 360 Defense System and 1st degree Black Belt in Pyong Hwa Kunin Tang Soo Do. Kayla is a USKMA Level 1 instructor (highest scoring female!), Certified Instructor under Master Paul Garcia, Certified Muay Thai Level 1 Instructor under Master Hung Tran, and Certified CT707 Krav Maga Instructor under Nir Maman. She is a student of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Instructor Spotlight: Jim Dexter
Jim Dexter is an Army veteran and former federal Air Marshal, who is now an Illinois police sergeant currently assigned as a SWAT Assault Force Commander on a multi-jurisdictional team. Jim’s career includes 15 years policing and also 10 years in the volunteer fire service. He holds several instructor certifications, including an FBI certified Firearms Instructor and American Safety and Health Institute Emergency Medical Responder Instructor. He is a Master Tactical Patrol Officer with the Illinois Tactical Officers Association. His training company, Tactically Sound Training Center, is the only entity with red dot pistol training approved by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. Jim is a member of the Walther Arms Defense Division.
Instructor Spotlight: Larry St. Clair
Larry St. Clair is the owner and lead instructor at Martial Way Legacy. He is a competitor and instructor on a number of skills, including American Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Savate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do, and Filipino Martial Arts known as Kali, Eskrima, and Arnis. Guro Larry also serves as an accountability coach and helps people set and achieve personal and fitness goals. He facilitates the AG & AG Push-Up Challenge.
Instructor Spotlight: Willie Parent
A Girl & A Gun National Conference Instructor Spotlight: Willie Parent, Director of Training for GLOCK Professional and GSSF
Instructor Spotlight: Vicki Farnam
Vicki Farnam has been teaching firearms for over 25 years with her husband, John Farnam. She is an accomplished Instructor (for civilians and mil/leo) and author. Vicki has also taught for the U.S. Marine Corps; at numerous women’s defensive shooting training conferences; at local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and academies; and at both the ILEETA and ILEFAI conferences.
Instructor Spotlight: Josh White
Josh White is a U.S. Army Veteran, who now works as a Texas Peace Officer. He is a Firearms Instructor and TCOLE Instructor for the State of Texas. In addition to marksmanship and tactics, Josh is also a Force on Force Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and Traditional Okinawan Karate instructor. He has a Double Brown belt in Shuri Ryu Karate and a Blue belt in Tae Kwon Do. He excels in scenario-based training for law enforcement and civilian self-defense. He is dedicated to paying forward the training he has received to his students whether its firearms, self-defense or communication skills.
Instructor Spotlight: Lou Ann Hamblin
Lou Ann Hamblin is the CEO of LouKa Tactical and proudly served the law enforcement profession for 22 years. For the last 20 years Lou Ann has specialized in training female officers and is a certified firearms and defensive tactics instructor in a variety of disciplines. She is a Team One Network adjunct instructor, Master Pistol Instructor through H&K, and a certified armorer for a number of weapon systems. She serves on the Board of Directors for IALEFI. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Performance Technology and Instructional Design from the University of Michigan.
Instructor Spotlight: Tobin Babcock
Tobin Babcock is the Lead Instructor of Comprehensive Tactical Solutions. A law enforcement firearm and tactics instructor with more than 20 years of experience, Tobin is an Indiana police officer with a career spanning patrol, emergency response, and training. He holds numerous instructor certifications as a police and civilian instructor, training officer, and public security consultant. Additionally, Tobin is an avid competitive shooter. He is the Match Director for Blue Line 3 Gun, an annual charity match to raise funds for families of fallen officers.
Instructor Spotlight: Tiffany Johnson
Tiffany Johnson is a practicing attorney and teaches legal studies at the University of Memphis. After years of fearing guns, she started taking classes and changed her views. She now blogs about law, race, and modern (mis)perceptions on firearms through her website, Front Sight Press. Tiffany is an NRA Training Counselor and holds instructor certifications from the States of Tennessee and Mississippi, the NRA, the USCCA, and Rangemaster (Advanced Instructor Certification). She is also certified as a Deadly Force Instructor by the Massad Ayoob Group. She teaches firearm safety classes with Aqil Qadir of Citizens Safety Academy.
Instructor Spotlight: Beth Walker
Beth Walker is a pro shooter, firearms instructor, and Second Amendment Advocate. She proudly represents Team Ruger, Safariland, Vortex Optics, and several other sponsors on the 3-gun circuit. She has been an instructor at AG & AG’s 3-Gun University and the 2A Heritage Junior Camps, as well as offering local lessons and classes in the Indiana area. Beth serves on the national Advisory Board for the DC Project and was the recipient of the 2020 Patriot of the Year award from Turning Point USA. She writes for multiple publications and is pursuing a degree in Strategic Communication and Social Media Management at Liberty University.
Instructor Spotlight: Jim Majoros
Jim Majoros is the owner of Viktor’s Legacy, which provides comprehensive gunsmithing services, including custom gun manufacturing, gun customization, gun restoration, and gun repair. Jim has been a gunsmith for over 40 years and has passed on his knowledge and craftsmanship to his children. Their 2,600 square foot facility is located in the Village of Fairport Harbor, Ohio, on the Lake Erie shore, at the mouth of the Grand River.
Instructor Spotlight: Josh Crosby
Josh Crosby is a law enforcement firearm and tactics instructor with more than 20 years’ experience. He is currently a Texas police officer with a career spanning patrol, investigations, narcotics and training. He has spent 2 years in the Middle East as a State Department contractor training soldiers and police officers on U.S. tactics and skills. He holds certifications as a Police Firearms Instructor, Training Officer, Force on Force Instructor as well as an instructor for hand to hand combat and knife fighting.
Instructor Spotlight: Mark Suchy
Mark Suchy is a Patrol Sergeant with the West Palm Beach Police Department and has served at that agency for the past 27 years. Mark is currently in charge of the Field Training Program. He was a member of the S.W.A.T. Team for 15 years, serving as an Entry Team Member, Sniper, Sniper Team Leader, and Sniper Team Instructor. Mark is a State of Florida and N.R.A. certified Firearms Instructor and an Adjunct Firearms Instructor for the West Palm Beach Police Department, specializing in basic and advanced tactical pistol and rifle instruction. Since 2008, Mark has also been a Firearms and Classroom Instructor at the Palm Beach State College Criminal Justice Institute.
Instructor Spotlight: Mia Anstine
Mia Anstine is an outfitter, guide, hunter, mentor, firearms, and archery instructor. She is a staff writer for and guest contributor at various publications. She was the first American woman, and of Latin descent, to be featured on the cover of Field & Stream magazine (the August 2016 issue). As a public speaker, she teaches and inspires others to get involved in outdoor activities. She teaches firearms safety and skills. She takes pride in guiding ladies and children for their first hunts. She’s hunted around the world and enjoys sharing her adventures with others.
Best Concealed Carry Guns for Women
We looked at what our female pistol instructors carry on a daily basis. Here are the best concealed carry handguns for women, recommended by women.
Purse Carry Safety
Carrying off-body in a fannypack, handbag, backpack, briefcase, or saddlebag has always been a common solution for men and women. Off-body carry continues to be a popular option and it’s important to know its unique safety considerations.
Firearms Training During Pandemic Shows Love for Our Families Not Fear
In our home we have had continuous conversations about personal safety and protection, and we have discussed that many people are feeling angry or vulnerable during the pandemic because of employment or unemployment stress, food shortages, race relations, and social distancing. My kids understand that we have firearms not because we are fearful, but to protect our family.
How to Draw Your Pistol from an Appendix Carry Position
Drawing your pistol from the appendix carry position follows a lot of the same principles of the strong-side holster draw, but there are nuances that are different with this particular carry method. As Tatiana Whitlock explains in the following video, this discussion focuses on the technique of the drawstroke without the additional training considerations of managing cover garments.
How to Reholster Your Pistol
There may be times when you need to draw your pistol quickly, but reholstering is to be done slowly and deliberately following these steps.
May 2020 Recap
In May 2020, A Girl & A Gun was soaring high after experiencing an overwhelmingly successful National Conference! Our members continued to stay engaged virtually, while some chapters were able to make it back to the range. Here are some of the highlights.
Pistol Presentation
Presenting your pistol is extending your arms to put the firearm into your line of sight on the target. In this video, AG & AG Director of Training Tatiana Whitlock explains how to present your pistol safely and consistently.
