This time of year gun shops are busy! Waiting for range time is crazy long. While you are waiting you may see an advertisement or two for a concealed pistol license ("CPL") class. You may even sign up. However, not all CPL classes are created equal.
As a certified firearms instructor for close to a decade, I have listened to one to many accounts of people talking a CPL class that does not have an attorney teach the legal portion of the class.
Michigan law requires that deadly force and civil liability be taught taught by an attorney or an individual trained in the use of deadly force. See MCL 28.425j (1)(a)(iv).
So before you spend your hard earned money on a CPL class make sure you ask, who is teaching the legal portion. If the gun shop employee says anything other than, "an Attorney, teaches the legal portion." then your answer should be, "no thanks, I'll pass on the class." You want an attorney teaching your legal portion of your CPL Class.
Under MCL 28.425j (3)(a) an instructor shall not give a CPL Class Completion Certificate if the student did not complete the class and MCL 28.425j (3)(b) says the student shall not use a CPL Class Completion Certificate to apply for a CPL with the county clerk if they (you) know the class you took did not meet the state law requirements.
For any CPL Class that completes the legal section in 30 minutes or less, is setting YOU up for failure. There is no way anyone can teach all of the firearms laws you need to know in 30 minutes or less.
Ok, so what happens if your class does not meet the state requirements? And just so we are clear, it is any requirement that is not met in the class. Not only the requirement for the legal portion, but any other state requirement.
Under MCL 28.425j (4) A student or instructor who violates the state requirement is guilty of a felony and can spend up to 4 years in prison or a fine up to $2,500.00.
In Conclusion:
Before you sign up for a CPL Class, make sure the legal portion is taught by an attorney, and is longer than 30 minutes. If you are a firearms instructor in Michigan, contact Radzwion Law, PLLC, we would be happy to assist you in legal portion of your classes.
See below video for more information.
If you are a Firearms Instructor looking for an Attorney to teach the legal portion of your CPL or other firearms training class. Call today to schedule Joseph Radzwion IV as your legal guest speaker.