The Adult Aversion to Firearms Training

In this blog post, I want to talk about something that is very near and dear to my heart: firearms training.

Back in 2013, we made the decision to form Stronghold Corp because we wanted to bring high-quality, professional firearms training to the civilian world.

A Little Background

At the time, we were employed in the commercial nuclear security industry and had accumulated years of firearms training within that environment. This included use of force, basic firearms instruction, advanced firearms training, force-on-force, and evaluated force-on-force scenarios.

Like many new civilian instructors, we started by teaching indoor, non-shooting Concealed Weapons Permit classes, along with small Intro to Pistol and Intro to Rifle courses on the range. One major advantage we had early on was access to our own private range, which allowed us full control over scheduling and range setups.

Growth and Expansion

As Stronghold Corp grew, so did the range. We expanded our capabilities to include a long-range facility (currently out to 1,000 yards) and increased flexibility on our shorter ranges.

With that growth came expanded offerings, including:

• Multiple levels of handgun and rifle classes
• Introductory long-range shooting courses
• Intro to night vision classes

We also began hosting shooting events, eventually running one large annual event with 40–50 shooters, which—by our standards—was a big success.

A Shift in 2025: The Gunfighter Series

In 2025, we changed how we did things. We reduced the number of traditional classes and introduced the Stronghold Corp Gunfighter Series (GFS).

The GFS:

• Changed monthly
• Featured 4–5 stages
• Was scored
• Was limited to 20 participants
• Maintained a strong, well-paced flow

The Gunfighter Series quickly developed a group of “regulars”—people we knew we would see month after month. Many of them had also taken our classes over the years. At this point, I consider all of them friends, and I genuinely look forward to seeing them every month (we might even need to start exchanging Christmas cards).

This article isn’t about those regulars. They understand how Stronghold Corp operates, they support us, and they give us feedback that helps make us better.

The Question That’s Bothered Me for Years

What I really want to address is something that has bothered me for years:

Why do so many “gun people” not take firearms classes?

When we first started, I assumed the main barriers were:

1. Price
2. Schedule
3. Location

So we attacked those issues directly.

We priced Handgun 1 and Rifle 1 classes at $50 per class. We scheduled them on Saturdays and Sundays to avoid work conflicts. And while our location is what it is, we believed affordable pricing and convenient scheduling would offset the drive for people coming from Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Waterloo, and Iowa City.

Despite this, we still didn’t see many of the “gun people” we personally knew attending our classes—outside of a few consistent regulars.

What made this even more confusing was that our events routinely filled up, sometimes with waiting lists, and drew people from up to six hours away. So why didn’t our classes see that same demand?

The Answer Finally Clicked

In 2025, I finally got part of the answer.

I was talking with a friend—someone I’d consider a “gun person”—who mentioned he needed to get better with his carry gun. I suggested he take our Handgun 1 class.

His response?

“I already know how to shoot a pistol. I go to the range all the time.”

I explained that Handgun 1 covers:

• Fundamentals
• Standard malfunction drills
• Moving and shooting

As I walked him through what the class actually involved, it hit me:

Most “gun people” assume a class called “Handgun 1” is a basic, entry-level course that teaches you how to work a pistol from scratch.

From their perspective, why would they spend time, money, and gas to learn what they already think they know?

Ego vs. Growth

A good firearms instructor is a good student first. Instructors should be able to take any level class and walk away with something—whether that’s refining fundamentals, gaining repetition, or learning what not to teach.

For non-instructors, that mindset isn’t always the norm. It’s easy to rationalize reasons not to take a class.

What’s strange to me is how often people who carry a firearm for personal protection look for reasons not to take training that could make them more capable and safer with that firearm.

Looking Ahead to 2026

To wrap this up, here’s where we’re going next.

In 2026, we are changing our class names:

• Handgun 1 → Fighting Handgun 1
• Rifle 1 → Fighting Rifle 1

These new titles better represent what we actually teach: how to be better prepared to win a gunfight.

To my fellow “gun people” who carry regularly but avoid formal instruction, I’ll leave you with a challenge:

Set a goal to take at least one class every year.

Personally, I plan to attend two different classes in 2026 to improve as an instructor and bring new ideas back into our program.

2026 is almost here.
Don’t let your ego keep you from becoming a better shooter.

-John