If you are considering a firearm for self-defense, you must take a basic safety, responsibility and marksmanship course from a certified firearms instructor. ADA offers the basic pistol licensing course for NYS. Contact David Battaglia for more information. Consult your state penal code and a criminal defense attorney for the judicious use of physical force and deadly physical force in your state. Beyond a basic course, there are professional defensive-shooting schools in the U.S. Gunsite in AZ (founded by the late Jeff Cooper), Thunder Ranch in OR (founded by Clint Smith), and Lethal Force Institute in FL (founded by Massad Ayoob) are three such schools and instructors.  |