The concealed handgun course is designed to help the law-abiding citizen develop a personal protection plan that keeps one physically, legally and financially safe.  Training emphasizes the use of a concealed handgun for personal protection.

This state-mandated 15-hour course will meet or exceed all the requirements necessary to obtain a New Mexico concealed carry license with reciprocity in several states, and is appropriate for people with a wide range of shooting experiences, from the novice to the veteran.

If obtaining a concealed carry license is something you have wanted to do, this is your opportunity to do so, and have fun doing it!

Prerequisites: Must be 21 years of age or older

The Defensive Handgun Class was developed for those who wish to continue their training with a handgun beyond the minimum marksmanship standards required for a New Mexico CCW license or the Basic Pistol Class. This training is also appropriate for those who may have let their practical shooting skills get a little rusty.

This class includes classroom instruction and range work, with heavy emphasis on the safe and efficient practical application of self-defense skills, including the presentation, the balance of accuracy and speed, tactical and emergency reloading, and movement.  This level of instruction will not include firing from a kneeling or prone position.  Competition handguns and pocket pistols are not appropriate for this course.

Prerequisites:  This is not a beginner’s class.  Students should have a working knowledge of the handgun of their choice, and a sound understanding of firearms safety principles. 

Training vs Licensing

This course has been specifically designed to address the differences
between the privilege of being licensed to carry a concealed handgun in
New Mexico and the legally-binding responsibility of the licensee to be
properly trained.
Active duty personnel permanently stationed in New Mexico, and honorably
separated and retired military personnel within 20 years of the date of the
application are not required to take a firearms training course to obtain a
New Mexico concealed carry license. They are however, held to the same
level of legal and training standards to which their civilian counterparts are
held.
The curriculum for this course includes selected classroom and range
topics taken from the New Mexico Concealed Handgun Carry course, and
the NRA Defensive Handgun course.
Training topics include firearms safety, use of force, federal, state, and
local criminal and civil laws pertaining to the purchase, ownership,
transportation, use and possession of handguns, avoiding a criminal attack,
nonviolent dispute resolution, controlling a violent encounter, basic
defensive pistol skills, drawing from concealment, and the identification of
ways to develop and maintain handgun shooting skills. Qualification on the
state approved concealed carry handgun competency test included.
All training conducted by a certified New Mexico concealed carry instructor,
NRA and USCCA firearms instructor.

Self-defense situations can happen at any time!  Yet, most licensed concealed carry holders train on a range during daylight hours under favorable weather  and lighting conditions.  Bad things can, and do, happen at any time, including the hours of darkness.

This 6-hour course is designed to help the student understand the similarities and differences between daytime and nighttime shooting as well as gain confidence and practical experience identifying and shooting during low-light  or no light conditions.  The importance of target identification is stress and topics such as the pros and cons of night sights, handheld and weapon mounted lights, and lasers are covered.