ID 10002
CITY	COUNTY
Coon Rapids	Anoka
STATE	EMAIL
MN	craig@mnpistolclass.com
I began as range officer for Oak Lawn Gun & Sports in 1968. I continued informally teaching and helping shooters improve their skills. Not only that, but I have had carry permits almost continuously since 1972.

In 2003, Minnesota passed it’s “Shall Issue” carry permit law. I founded MN Pistol Class, offering basic handgun classes and state-certified carry permit classes.

The statute was struck down on a legal technicality. Permits already issued were valid, but no new permits could be issued until the legislature passed a new version in 2005.

My son, Patrick, became certified as an instructor in 2006 and performed range testing for MN Permit students while I continued in the classroom with students seeking Utah certification. This was in direct response to Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher using every possible excuse to deny permit applications. Many of these were successfully appealed. Appeals are prohibitively expensive for most, effectively denying many otherwise eligible applicants their civil rights. Utah permits were valid in MN at the time. I became Utah certified and did an end-run around Fletcher’s onerous policies. MN stopped recognizing Utah permits in 2015, but those who already had them could renew without taking the class again, increasing the number of states in which they could lawfully carry.

My best friend, long-time shooter, and web guru, Steve Lorbach, became an instructor and started teaching classes for us. When the COVID-19 “crisis” struck, Steve came on as a full partner and began the task of converting our class to an online experience with a live fire range test by appointment. He also conducted in-person classes in student’s homes or places of business.

I moved into a management-only position in 2020, and we became certified by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to train and certify instructors.

I don’t carry a gun because I’m expecting trouble. If I expect trouble, I won’t go. I carry a gun in case unexpected trouble finds me.

Stay safe out there.