Free Kingsland firearms course to arm teachers with skills, gun laws
Rodger Woods (left), owner of R and M Training Solutions, has taught a coordinated license to carry (LTC) firearms course over the past four years, but for the first time, he is offering a free course for educators and school staff March 24 in Kingsland. Also pictured is LTC instructor Bill Edwards. Courtesy photo
STAFF WRITER CONNIE SWINNEY
KINGSLAND — When Rodger Woods announced he was holding a free license to carry course for teachers, by the second day, he had 60 educators from across the Hill Country signed up.
“It helps awareness, builds familiarity and the confidence related to guns,” said Woods, who is the operator of R and M Training Solutions.
The day-long course, which includes in-class instruction in the morning and a shooting proficiency test in the afternoon, begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 24, at Kingsland Water Supply Corp., 1422 West Drive. The proficiency test takes place at a firearms range in a different location.
“A lot of people don’t realize that, currently, in Texas, there are 110 school districts that allow their faculty and staff to carry concealed (guns) while at school for the protection of their kids,” he said.
Recent tragic events have sparked interest in his course, which now has more than 80 teachers and school support staff expected to attend.
“It’s sad that it takes a tragedy to push something. After what happened in the (Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School) in Parkland, Florida, a few weeks ago, I think that, coupled with a change in the law, has raised awareness,” he said. “School employees are feeling now that maybe they need to have a way to protect themselves and those who they are charged with caring for while they’re there during the day.”
A new Texas law effective Sept. 1, 2017, also cleared the way for educators to potentially play a lifesaving role during an active shooter event.
“The way the law was written before, unless a teacher or school employee had written permission from the school, they were unable to have their gun, even with a license to carry, on school property,“ Woods said. “As of September 1, the new law allows educators to have their firearms in their vehicles on campus if they are (licensed to carry).”
Over the past four years, R and M Training Solutions staff has reached out to teachers; however, Woods geared the upcoming course toward private and public school teachers due to a heightened concern about safety.
“People want a response to what is happening and how to protect themselves,” he said. “They want to look forward to seeing how they can help.”
A number of entities associated with firearms training, production, and education are underwriting the cost for the educators to take the course.
“Because there has been such an interest in this class and a response from this class, we’re probably going to do another class in April or May,” Woods said. “You train with the firearms, you have the facts about them, and you safely use those firearms; it’s a win-win for everybody.”
To find out more about the upcoming courses, contact Woods at (325) 423-0124 or trainingranger@gmail.com.
8 thoughts on “Free Kingsland firearms course to arm teachers with skills, gun laws”
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Brilliant. Give civilians weapons and tell them “they’re trained” after they take “a course”. They’re just putting them and students at more risk of being accudentally shot.
This class will prepare teachers for NOTHING. Profiency in firearms can not be taught nor learned in a 1 day course. Shooting is a perishable skill. A course which involves teachers be trained in firearms should at least be a 6 month course in which professionals are teaching the course. Active duty Military and law enforcement especially local law enforcement should be involved in the teaching of a course in which our teachers are carrying firearms. A concealed course is not the solution. The Company may be attempting to do the right thing and help but they are not the people I want training our teachers.
I applaud R & M Training Solutions for doing something when many are doing nothing. Roger Woods was military and law enforcement. He has trained law enforcement and has kept up on his skills by offering these classes. In my opinion, there is no better instructor to teach safety, laws governing concealed carry, and how to be comfortable with your weapon.I am grateful to the local teachers that took this class in an effort to help protect my kids!
Thank you.
Ridiculous. We will not be training teachers to hand out traffic tickets or answer domestic violence calls. It is mostly security theater because the RARITY of “school shootings”. Media has blown this out of proportion. IF a shooter were to be in a school, the distance would be feet, not 100 yards. There is no need to train “snipers”. In the event of a shooting it is the teacher that is in the right place that can save lives. You don’t need a whole lot of “training” to know someone is shooting up the place and the ridiculous excuses some anti-gunners have put up (armed teachers will start shooting black/brown kids because they can, etc) If you think that dead kids are preferable to the POSSIBILITY of “accidental shootings”, just say so.
Being licensed to carry and having to secure your weapon and ammunition in your car sort of defeats the “stop immediate danger” because he/she will have to get out of the building, go to the car, unlock, retrieve weapon and return to school building. How long will that take? Long enough for the shooter to do damage. The law needs to allow school personnel to carry in the building.
The best thing to do is get rid of the “gun free zone” aka VICTIM DISARMAMENT AREA.
It’s good they will be trained, but accidents happen. If teachers start packing, I’ll home school, sadly.
Did you even read the article? There are already more than 100 school districts in Texas that have armed teachers. Have you heard of any accidents? No? You think the reiche wing media is COVERING THEM UP? You do know that there are more than 1 million Texans with licenses to carry, right? You know that when you go to HEB there are people around you that have guns on them? Your kids are 1000 times more at risk of the lousy drivers around here than a legal concealed handgun.