I don't take you for a gun-hating liberal, Frank. I'm hoping you'll forgive me but this topic is one that can really get my blood boiling.

I was, until recently (allowed the cert to expire as there just isn't much demand), certified by BCI to teach the UT course. Yes, it's a state mandated curriculum. But it really doesn't cover anything more than the basics...in my opinion, the absolute minimum that any instructor in CO should be teaching anyway without a state-mandated curriculum. But UT recommends this information be passed along in a 4-hour class and UT doesn't require live fire. Some of the safety information in the UT curriculum is pretty dated, too. I don't see it as much different than what CO requires.

I can tell you we (my business partner and I) conduct a CCW class that is easily 9 or 10 hours long and we focus primarily on mindset and legal issues...some of the things you appear to advocate. I DO NOT believe live fire should be a requirement for a basic CCW class for many reasons.

We use a firearms simulator...it's a shoot/no-shoot judgmental training simulator similar to those used by the military and law enforcement. I find it far more valuable than the live fire most people will receive in a basic CCW class. We induce a lot of stress and we give students, most of whom have never been in a lethal force encounter, the opportunity to see first-hand how quickly normal, every-day situations can evolve into a life-threatening scenario. It's a real eye-opener for most people and our class is oftentimes the first opportunity they've had to really think about developing a proper "combat mindset".

I also have concerns with state-mandated training, especially when it comes to required live-fire, for people with disabilities or other limited mobility. People with these issues have the same rights, and needs, concerning self-defense as the rest of us. I can also foresee state-mandated training requirements leaving a lot of these folks behind. People with limited means...that have only a Bryco budget...are another area of concern. Does someone not have the right to self-defense if they can't afford to receive the required, state-mandated training and requalifications? I've seen lots of folks that could barely afford an $80 pistol and a box of ammo who were genuinely concerned about their safety and the safety of their families. As a matter of fact, Rev Leon Kelly of Denver recently attended one of our classes and that was his main concern...the ability of honest, law-abiding folks who live in "bad areas" of town to legally and effectively protect themselves from the violence around them.

And if the state requires "qualification" and "requalification" on a recurring basis, what will this do to the cost of training? What size of state-level bureaucracy will be required to administer this training? Frankly, I think we have too much bureaucracy and government already...with the resulting cluster-fucks. I don't want to see it extended into firearms training for citizens.

No, I think we're overburdened with government requirements in every aspect of our lives. I don't think we need to ask for more.