I was in Arizona on vacation and decided to take a course on tactical shooting for both training and the fun of it and I found Arizona Home Defence on the web. This was my first visit and previous to the course I even emailed them to ask a few questions like pre-requisites and if there were any minimum experience levels that was required for the "Stress Shoot" course as I would consider myself a beginner. A wonderful lady named Dana walked me through answering my questions and anything that she wasn't sure of, she addressed it promptly and said she would confirm with the instructor and would get back to me, which she always did so kindly! On the day of the course, I walked into a clean and organized office and both of the instructors for my course presented themselves professionally, organized, approachable and very friendly. To me that was a big relief as I did have a small concern on working with instructors that might present themselves in an unapproachable or intimidating manner. Virgil and Sky were absolutely approachable and very down to earth and put me at ease right off the bat! From the start of the course's classroom portion on firearms safety and orientation, it was obvious that both Virgil and Sky were very experienced and competent on the subject matter of firearms safety and operations and came across to me as more than excited to share their experience and pass their knowledge on to their students. I felt that the presentation was thorough and clear. In addition, both instructors were totally welcoming of any "newb" questions (which I'm sure I asked a few of!) and they handled it with grace and enthusiasm. Moving on to the outdoor range, both Virgil and Sky were very hands on in guiding and providing clear guidance on each of the scenarios BEFORE you were going to do it (this is important as I think as a student, we should be clear on what's expected before we move into action) and both instructors were always aware and attentive on the outdoor range. I always felt their presence and guiding hand and as long as you are listening to their instruction, everything was good! I absolutely enjoyed everything about the course and would WITHOUT hesitation recommend these guys if you are looking to getting some firearms training or are just curious. These guys love what they do and they are good at it. Well worth your time and dollars. I'm definitely going back when I'm down there again! Thanks again Virgil and Sky! I had an awesome experience!! read more

I had been in Vantage Tactical for a firearms purchase and in talking with the Nick, the owner we fell into the discussion of CCW and the importance of having a permit. Over the next few weeks or so, it kept coming up in my mind. I had been interested in taking a CCW Course for the past few years regardless of the AZ conceal carry law passed a few years ago. I found out that AZ Home Defense was doing a CCW Course there at Vantage Tactical in the coming week. Virgil Bland of AZ Home Defense was the course instructor and made sure everyone was comfortable before starting the class in the back training room. Although a small class, I felt it also afforded the students a more intimate setting where questions and answers could be presented on a very casual yet professional level. Virgil led the class in a very fluid manner. He was at ease during the whole course; well spoken, easy to understand and impressed upon us the importance of safety, personal hygiene, Arizona laws regarding CCW, and all things firearms/CCW related. Before attending, I had read up on the subject and found everything Virgil presented to mirror the information I had previously studied. After the class, he went over the CCW packet from the AZ DPS and made sure everyone filled it out correctly, looking over every students packet before signing. Then he personally fingerprinted the students, collected the packets and money orders and he sent the packets into the DPS for all the students. I felt the course Virgil led us through was very well put together and informative. I would definitely recommend this course for anyone looking to obtain their CCW Permit. Everything was step by step and easy to understand. Very well done, Virgil! Also, thanks Nick of Vantage Point Tactical for providing the facility for the course! read more

I took the Defensive Pistol I/CCW course with Arizona Home Defense. Right away, I was impressed by the professionalism at Arizona Home Defense. After reading about the course online and sending an email inquiring about the course, Virgil called me the same day and provided me with great information about what to expect. We were able to quickly set a date to take the course. On the day of the course, the instructors I worked with were incredibly knowledgable, patient and overall fun to be around. During the four hours I spent on the range, I improved my confidence in dynamic shooting skills and learned techniques that I can continue to implement and practice. The instructors also took time to go over CCW concepts and helped put together the package to submit my CCW permit. Overall, this was a great experience. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to improve their skills in a fun and engaging environment. I'm already thinking about the Defensive Pistol II course! read more

I recently attended the Tactical Handgun course where I had a great time and learned a lot. I think that Virgil and Sky are great guys; not only that, they know what they are doing and how to teach from the heart. Now, after taking the Defensive Pistol and the Tactical Handgun course, I feel confident on the inside that, if necessary, I could defend my life and the lives of those who are close to me. I feel that I know not only my weaknesses but my strengths, as well. I think this is important so that one can know what training and drills are necessary in order to improve overall---to be a balanced fighter, and have that mindset. Thanks, Virgil, for your encouraging words and assessments. You and Sky are great guys with a lot to offer. I am excited to take the Battle Rifles course with you in the near future. I am sure it will be a great time! -Ammon E. read more

I had a LOT of anxiety after I purchased my first gun. I knew that taking a basic handgun course would be a good idea but did not have high expectations that one class could give me a sense of confidence and comfort in my ability to handle a gun safely and effectively. Thank you to John for not only teaching me a ton about legalities and proper technique of gun handling but being a safe and comfortable person with whom to process that anxiety with. He said " This is a no judgement zone" many times and that's exactly how it felt. I made mistakes but was given the opportunity to build upon my skill set so that by the end of the course I felt that I had made huge strides in my capability. I will definitely be looking into another course in the future. Thank you John! read more

John R. While on a brief vacation from Portland Oregon, visiting friends in Mesa, I decided to take a CCW class with Arizona Home Defense. The Arizona CCW permit would increase, along with my Oregon CCW permit, the ability to carry legally in an additional ten States. Virgil conducted the class in a dynamic and informative manner. He has the ability to easily convey the knowledge required for someone to conceal carry in a safe and responsible manner.Virgil has an enormous knowledge of fire arms and of their proper use. If your looking to obtain a CCW Arizona license I highly recommend Arizona Home Defense. Veterans are honored for their service by being provided with a substantial discount to the CCW course. read more

I'm a new handgun owner and wanted to know the proper use and handling of it. The one on one class was perfect for learning in a non stressful environment. My instructor Jeff Johnson proved to be extremely knowledgeable in firearms with many years of work in this field. With the help of Jeff I now have the confidence to safely handle my firearm and a strong foundation to build on. After I do my homework and practice what I have learned, I intend to further my education with more classes. If you want to feel comfortable with the use of your firearms I suggest taking a class with this company, you will not be sorry. Thanks to Audrey as well for her help in setting up my class. read more

Absolutely amazing! I took the foundational handgun class yesterday with John. He is a wonderful teacher, very knowledgeable, intuitive and great at reading and understanding the way people learn. I'd never held a gun in my life before and was a little nervous. He did a great job at making me feel comfortable and confident. I felt free to ask lots of questions and go at my pace. Not only did John teach me great handgun handling and safety fundamentals but he also provides a crash course in defensive thinking along the way. I am beyond grateful and can't wait to take the next course! read more

I signed up for a Defensive Carbine 1 course, and John was my instructor. John is very knowledgeable in his area of study and dedicated to teaching his craft to those who are willing to learn, and he tailors each class to the student that he is instructing. John offers excellent insight and tips, and I learned a great deal of information and techniques from him in a short period of time. His training is well worth the time and money, and I would recommend him to anyone looking to learn more about how to properly and safely handle their firearms! read more

Just completed the Basic Handgun Training with Jeff. I had never touched a gun in my life before taking this class. He made this experience so comfortable for us and was an amazing teacher! Jeff was very patient with us and answered any and all questions we had throughout the class. He made it fun while also providing us with all the information we needed. He walked us through every single thing step-by-step and we couldn't have been happier with the training we received! I look forward to continuing onto other classes with Jeff. read more

Fantastic experience with Virgil and his team at both their Defensive Pistol course and their CCW course. Within five minutes of meeting Virgil it becomes obvious that he is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to firearms. He's got the skills and background to back it up, and is an excellent communicator to boot. I came away from the Defensive Pistol course feeling that I not only leveled up my skills, but also had a good sense from discussions with Virgil of what I needed to work on next to keep improving. Highly recommended. read more

My husband and I took the Basic Handgun course and it was really excellent. John is a wonderful instructor who taught us so much important information that any new gun owner needs to know. He uses a hands-on, empowering method that helped us remember what we learned and apply it in a real world setting. I cannot thank him enough for helping me and my husband feel confident and comfortable about handgun fundamentals. This is an A+ course with an A+ instructor. read more

GREAT Class! Jeff, our instructor, was approachable, extremely knowledgeable, friendly and on-point with what was important to know. As someone with extensive background in the subject matter, it was refreshing to have an instructor that was relatable, and one who conveyed experience and real world advice with a humble demeanor. Highly recommend, and plan on sending my wife to their shooting classes sometime soon. read more

I recently attended Arizona Home Defense course "Defensive Pistol Level 1" with John Asbury. I learned so much and had all my questions answered. I walked away much more confident in handling my firearm. John was an awesome instructor and I recommend him highly. I have additionally signed up for Level 2 and look forward to my gun handling skills getting even better! Thank you for helping me! read more

Went into this with no confidence or experience at all around guns and having a lot of fears. Worked with John on a lot of skills over the course of my training, but even by the first day I felt 100 times better being around guns and a lot more confident. I highly recommend this company as they work with people like me who are starting out to advanced training and skill sets. read more

I took this class a number of months ago and wanted to give them a high rating. I was a previous CCW permit holder that hadn't renewed, so I needed the class to relicense. Taught by Virgil, it was a good refresher coarse. Very helpful on conceal carry and other self defense topics. Chuck M. read more

I went for the CCW two hr certification class. Just going to that made me want to be more proficient at using a firearm.I will definitely be going back for their training courses on all of their hand guns shotguns and rifle courses. I encourage everyone to get their CCW from this place read more

The instructors at AZ Home Defense were absolutley awesome!! I can't say enough nice things about them. They were knowledgable & made my CCW permit process a breeze. I'm looking forward to signing up & completing all of their handgun courses in the coming months. Great guys! read more

Took my CCW class with Virgil. He was great! explained everything in detail and answered all my questions. Very low pressure and comfortable environment. I would recommend Virgil and AZ home defense for CCW class and other home defense/safety and tactical training classes. read more