Over the last twenty-plus years, I have attended and hosted more than thirty-five professional…read morefirearms training classes conducted by nationally recognized instructors. In 2025, I participated in the Open Arms Red Dot class (twice) and the Low Light class. The quality of instruction and the safety provided have exceeded many of my prior training experiences. Open Arms excels at providing efficient and clear instruction. Matthew R.

I have been taking classes with Adam for nearly 5 years. Every class has moved the dial forward on…read moremy confidence and competency as a shooter. He is serious about safety and gun handling, but also encouraging and engaging. His classes can accommodate a variety of skill levels, enabling each person to achieve his or her own success. I train regularly, and Adam is a regular on my training schedule. Give him a try, you won't regret it!

If you're looking for a professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly patient firearms instructor,…read morelook no further than Adam. As an NRA-certified instructor, he delivers a perfect balance of technical expertise, safety, and approachability that puts even the most nervous first-timer at ease. From the moment we arrived, Adam created a welcoming and respectful environment, emphasizing safety protocols while demystifying the mechanics and responsibilities of handling a firearm. His instruction was clear, thorough, and empowering. Adam took the time to walk us through every step--proper stance, grip, sight alignment, trigger control--and ensured we understood the why behind each concept. Whether you're brand new or looking to refine your skills, Adam adapts his style to meet you where you are. By the end of the session, we felt confident, competent, and much more informed. You can tell he genuinely cares about helping people become safe, responsible shooters. We'll absolutely be back for more training and cannot recommend Adam highly enough.

Adam Wise, this is who I used for my concealed weapon license. Adam is a first class easy to learn…read morefrom instructor. He breaks everything down in such a manner that you will never forget safety rules, how to handle a a firearm with accuracy, and ensure and an easy manner that you will understand. Having and using a firearm is something to be taken seriously with security and safety is ultimate consideration at all times. Adam Wise, ensures that this is printed in your mind.

I just took my first class, along with my wife and daughter at Tip of the Spear Academy and was…read morereally impressed with the two instructors - Joe and Bill - their credentials are impeccable. Both are ex Military - one of them special forces and I couldn't have had a better experience. Both were very patient with us as we are total rookies with guns. Their curriculum is concise, organized, and designed to help commit best practices into muscle memory. They teach everything according to NRA standards and really help the student have fun as they learn the ropes. I highly recommend Tip of the Spear Academy to both beginners and experienced shooters alike. I plan to take more classes with them in the near future.

Had a fantastic lesson with Bill today. Been shooting for most of my life on and off and was…read moremarkedly better by the end of the lesson. I highly recommend them. I certainly will be back.

These guys are great!! Very professional, attentive, and entertaining to boot!…read more I recently attended the Fundamentals of Home Defense Handguns course with IDS and I have to say my entire experience was a positive one!!! The confirmation email I was sent before the start of the course gave me all the information I needed before arrival so when I got in the morning there I was ready to rock. The course took place at a beautiful private range and the class size really allowed for hands on instruction and one-on-one when it was needed.Both Evan and Ben are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to home defense and the use of your handgun in that scenario. We had the opportunity to run through some scenario-based training and the course was a good mix of classroom instruction and range time. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to familiarize themselves with firearms, learn how to handle your firearm in a defensive manner, or is just looking for more shooting practice!

Completed the Multistate Utah CC course. Jan 16. The course…read morewas as advertised..the necessary training, review of laws a good review of the Utah law and procedures on CC permits. The class had a bit of time on situations of when to use force (based again on Utah law). Then the course focused on basic practical handgun skills. Overall a good basic course. to check the box on the CC permits. he instructor was very good at presenting what is essentially very dry legal and procedural information. Good class to get you CC permits.

Last night was my first interaction with Mark Warner and Liberty Firearms, and I must say that it…read morewas a great experience. As a basic requirement to obtain a concealed carry permit as a VA resident, you must complete a competency course issued by a NRA certified instructor. After looking at several classes that would meet the requirements, I settled on Liberty Firearms because of the great cost and frequency of available courses. I am not new to firearms or concealed carry, so my expectations were very low going into this class. Once Mark started, I was very impressed by his knowledge and presentation style. Firearms are a complex subject when it comes to state and local law that is usually hard to clearly answer without pouring through vague statues and codes or speaking with an attorney. Mark did an exceptional job walking through the responsibility, morality, awareness, training and resources for novice shooters to determine if owning a firearm would be right for them. I felt more knowledgeable and confident regarding local gun laws than I did before his class, and certainly plan on taking his advanced concealed carry class to learn more. I understand that Mark is not an attorney and can only give his understanding of the law, but it is a very solid base to work from and verify for myself. All in all, I was very happy with this class and Mark's professional approach to firearms. He is a valuable instructor who has the knowledge and experience to educate firearm owners so that they will be safe and confident in their ability to operate a handgun. I would highly recommend Liberty Firearms to friends and family of all ages who are considering buying and carrying personal defense pistols.

I attended the Concealed Carry class last weekend and enjoyed it immensely. The instructor was…read moreengaging, informed, and this company does a great job of teaching you about the responsibilities that accompany holding a concealed carry permit. You take a short test at the end of the class and if you pass, can receive the certificate.

I recently conducted a FFL sale with Protect & Defend. Top rate company. My experience was…read morefantastic. I will definitely return and highly recommend.

I had a great experience with FFL. I will definitely use them again in the near future.read more

I needed an ACLS class and couldn't get a class with my employer due to COVID and smaller class…read moresizes. AEC had a few dates to choose from that worked for my time parameters. The facility is easy to find. There was plenty of parking. The instructors are knowledgeable and friendly and classroom size was appropriate. As far as ACLS classes go, this was certainly a quality course.

Last year I took the "Tile, Grout, and Thinset" class with the DIY Academy. It was a fantastic…read moreexperience and it gave me the confidence to fix up one of the smaller bathrooms at my house. With my master bathroom repair-and-renovation looming, I wanted to expand my knowledge base more, and Rich and the DIY Academy were once again there to help. Instead of a class, I participated in the volunteering arm of the program and assisted in the demolition and subfloor preparation of an actual master bathroom. It was a whole day of cutting, grinding, smashing, and trashing, but it certainly affirmed the old maxim, "The best way to learn is to do." A lot of times it seems educators in any field see fit to show and tell, but not so here. Rich was always there to supervise and provide support, but it was apparent that he was dedicated to having the student learn by action and not by observation. His methods provided a great blend of experience-based learning and direct instruction. Being able to take part in each process necessary to strip a room down to its bones eliminated two obstacles that scare off most homeowners from attempting to do their own renovation work. First, it removed the mystery of a home's construction: every layer of material holding the old bathroom together could be seen and held. Second, it provided some level of expectation: now having seen how the various surfaces and materials are held together, I know my own bathroom's construction will not be terribly far off. This all works together to establish a sort of baseline muscle memory for the work to be done in the future. This was another great experience with DIY Academy and I hope more such opportunities arise in the future!