A fine orator once boldly proclaimed, "And I keep a baby glock, I ain't fightin' with no random…read more Period!" Ok, ok. It's just a City Girl lyric. And no, I don't plan to walk around with a gun in my purse (Maryland state gun laws prohibit that anyway), but I have been wanting to learn how to properly use a gun and to get my handgun license. I had only been to the gun range once and I remember not being fully prepared to handle the recoil. I found Prolific Operations through Instagram and realized it is a Black-owned business, led by two men with more than a decade each of firearms experience. I emailed a few questions that I had about what the class covers and COVID-related safety protocols and received really prompt (and reassuring!) responses. Registration was very simple and the class started promptly the day of. There were several bottles of hand sanitizer, everyone stayed spaced out, and the instructional guns were disinfected between students. The class was super informative and safety rules were constantly reinforced. We all drove to a gun range about 15 minutes away where we were able to use the knowledge we obtained in the classroom. Even as a petite woman with long acrylic nails, I was confident in holding and firing the gun because of how well we were taught to hold the gun. I highly recommend Prolific Operations if you want to obtain your HQL and familiarize yourself with how to properly operate a firearm. They are professional, great instructors, and still manage to be safe during this pandemic. Besides, the world is crazy and it's important to be able to protect yourself and know what you're doing!

Great class! Very proffessional and detailed training. The instructors all knew key details the…read morestudents had about hand guns (laws, use and transporation of weapons). The time at the gun range was very helpful and gave me experience with guns.

Best self-defense training on the eastern seaboard. Highly…read morerecommend them for L E, and civilian.

Albeit I have served in the British Army, including with Coalition Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan,…read moreas I have not served in the US military I had to do the requisite Handgun Qualification License Course to qualify to own a handgun in Maryland. I booked myself and my wife on the HQL Course with Annapolis Defense & Security. My wife has very little handgun experience. I served for 22 years as a Sapper, former Commando and Military Diver with extensive handgun experience, including concealed carry; I wondered what I was going to learn. The course was outstanding, Joe is a phenomenally experienced Instructor; I learned a lot and even though a small part of the course, Joe helped me iron out a few habits! Joe easily catered to the different experience levels in the class and no-one was lost throughout the course, as the content was explained and different experience levels were catered for. I will definitely be using ADS again, so my wife and I can progress our handgun experience in a safe and healthy environment, which I trust. I recommend ADS to anyone, irrespective of experience level; they have my strongest recommendation.

I appreciate the supportive confidence the woman-owned shop offers. The knowledgeable staff…read moreprovides guidance and training opportunities that fit all levels of experience. I highly recommend this small business also because of their advocacy in Annapolis for OUR 2nd amendment rights.

Today was supposed to be an enjoyable first experience at the shooting range for us. It was my…read morefriend's birthday, and we were all looking forward to having a good time. Up until we reached the Gun Range counter, every staff member we interacted with had been welcoming, respectful, and genuinely pleasant. Unfortunately, that changed the moment we spoke with the employee at the Gun Range counter -- the one with ginger-colored hair. When he asked whether it was our first time shooting, I answered honestly that it was my first time. My husband also mentioned that our friends would be arriving shortly and that one of them, who teaches Senior MilitaryTactical Fire Arm Instructor for 19 years would be helping us. Instead of responding professionally, the employee made an unnecessary and disrespectful comment. He said, first, that it was "freaking awesome," but then immediately followed it with, "people in the military are the worst shooters we've ever encountered." Our friends haven't even arrived yet. That statement alone was aggravating, unprofessional, and completely out of line. He didn't even see or talk to our friend before making that judgment. It was insulting not only to our friend's service but to anyone who has served. His tone and attitude were dismissive and condescending from that point forward. It is completely unacceptable for a man who has risked his life in service to this country to be spoken about or to be belittled in such a manner. He then turned to me and said he was "honestly concerned" that this was my first time shooting -- speaking to me as if I were a child rather than an adult customer. I already struggle with confidence, and his approach was unnecessary, rude, and completely inappropriate for someone working in a customer-facing environment. Instead of making me feel safe, informed, or supported, he made me feel judged and talked down to. When I entered the gun range, the same employee who had already made unnecessary comments about it being my first time shooting continued to behave unprofessionally. He stood there staring at me and making a face that was clearly judgmental and unwelcome. His demeanor made me extremely uncomfortable. I ended up firing only one round before deciding to leave because the environment he created did not feel respectful, supportive, or appropriate for a first‑time shooter. What makes this even more disappointing is that my husband was planning to take classes there and buy his guns. After this interaction, it's clear that this employee needs to be addressed. His attitude, his comments, and the way he speaks to customers are unacceptable. He needs to be reminded of what professionalism looks like and how to treat people with basic respect. I would also like to note our interaction with the second gentleman who approached the counter. He was very polite and spoke to us in a respectful, reassuring manner. When I mentioned that the previous employee's behavior had made me feel nervous, he responded by saying, "Oh yeah, he's a ginger -- he's just like that. He's not as bad as he seems." Although he was kind in his approach, his attempt to excuse the earlier unprofessional behavior was inappropriate and did not address the underlying concern. Since I am aware that your facility has a history of reviewing camera footage to justify an employee's behavior, I want to clarify what was occurring at that moment. After the employee's inappropriate comment, my husband was simply trying to talk to me and lighten the mood because he could see that I was uncomfortable and upset. His intention was to reassure me, not to escalate the situation. He was simply trying to calm me down and reminded me not to let an employee's overinflated ego interfere with my ability to enjoy the experience. I would find any response that deflects accountability for your employees actions is unacceptable and disrespectful to our Men and Women of our Military.

This was my first class. James created a safe interactive environment…read more I was scared after my first shot however, he made it fun and engaging. I felt like a kid in a candy store.

Great class. Very informative and detailed. Mr. C made sure to be detailed and illustrative with…read morehis presentation and demonstrations. He also takes the time to answer every question.

An excellent school with a very professional staff and good prices to match. I'm glad I found this…read moreschool to continue my education in armed security.

Brian is an amazing instructor!!! Will definitely recommend to anyone or any company!read more

JD was very knowledgeable and kept me engaged during the whole class. His real life encounters…read moremixed with the curriculum was a perfect fit. I highly recommend!

I love shooting but it's an extremely expensive hobby. You cannot get around it, and all you can do…read moreis find a place that is well maintained, that makes you feel safe and operates seamlessly! Well, Cindy's Hot Shots is the place! My friend who strives to become more proficient with her Sig .380, scheduled a range date and I was thoroughly impressed with Cindy's. There was a small wait, but just like at restaurants, they took her cell number and texted her when they were ready for us. As far as the indoor ranges go that I've patronized in the past, this one is state of the art. Very easy to change target distances, which made our shooting experience the best it could be. Cindy's sells everthing from firearms to gun oil. Definitely a one stop shop! I look forwad to our next range date as long as it's to Cindy's!!

I purchased a P365 .380 Rose Sig Sauer (girly, but will still put in that work!) two years ago, and…read moresince then, I have fell in love with the gun range. My big bro was my instructor that taught me all about proper fire arm safety and handling. Since I have had my license, I try to frequent the range as much as I can. Cindy's is clean and quite large. The staff are professional and helpful. They sell everything from ammo, various firearms, etc. On the weekends, they can be very busy; however, if you're a member, you can call beforehand and get on the waiting list. Definitely my go-to range and I'll continue patronizing as long as service remains the same!