Opening & Announcements

• Casual intro and banter
• Announcement of March IDS (Intuitive Defensive Shooting) classes
  • March 14: Carbine
  • March 15: Handgun
  • Location: Pikes Peak Gun Club (Colorado Springs)
  • Classes are not concealed carry classes and are not free
  • Pistol class can be used for permit purposes if needed, but that is not the course objective

Training Philosophy: Speed vs Decision-Making

• Discussion on why drawing fast does not equal winning
• Analysis of a training clip comparing:
  • Fast draw → still gets shot
  • Slower response with firearm control → wins the fight
• Emphasis on:
  • Information processing
  • Decision-making under uncertainty
  • Winning the fight ≠ killing the bad guy

Combatives, Gun Retention, and Reality

• Importance of gun retention and firearm control
• Criticism of the idea that:
  • “If you don’t do combatives, you’re not serious about self-defense”
• Recognition that:
  • High-level combatives are dangerous
  • Not everyone has the physical ability or risk tolerance
• Discussion of realistic expectations for civilians vs law enforcement

Competition Shooting vs Defensive Training

• Critique of competition-based approaches bleeding into defensive training
• Example of competitive shooters asking for “practice runs” in defensive simulations
• Key distinction:
  • Performance-based training ≠ reality-based defensive encounters
• Importance of contextual, surprise-based training

Surprise, Stimulus, and Real-World Encounters

• Breakdown of what “surprise” actually means in training
• Difference between:
  • Knowing something will happen
  • Not knowing what will happen
• Discussion of ECQC-style scenarios and stimulus-based decision-making

Viral Arrest Discussion (“Mexican Shane Gillis”)

• Breakdown of a viral Minnesota incident involving federal agents
• Armed U.S. citizen stopped, disarmed, arrested, and later released
• Firearm returned, no charges filed
• Key concerns raised:
  • Lawful carry treated as criminal behavior
  • Risk of federal agents stopping armed civilians
  • Escalation caused by unnecessary gun handling
  • Long-term consequences despite dismissal (records, cost, stress)

Disclosure of Firearms to Police

• Discussion on no duty to inform in Colorado
• Risks associated with voluntarily disclosing firearm possession
• How disclosure often leads to:
  • Elevated emotions
  • Unnecessary gun handling
  • Increased danger
• Emphasis on personal risk tolerance and context

“We’ll Figure It Out in Court” Critique

• Reality that:
  • Many encounters never result in meaningful accountability
  • Arrests and bookings can permanently affect records
  • Legal cleanup often comes at the citizen’s expense
• Discussion on how rights violations still carry real-world consequences

Broader Implications for Gun Owners

• Increased risk for:
  • Lawfully armed citizens
  • People stopped without clear cause
• Importance of:
  • Risk management
  • De-escalation
  • Understanding how enforcement behavior affects armed civilians

Industry Commentary

• Criticism of repetitive gun-industry content cycles:
  • SHOT Show
  • NRA
  • GOA
  • GunCon
• Commentary on influencer culture and public figures
• Discussion of how irresponsible behavior harms broader self-defense conversations

Closing Thoughts

• Training should:
  • Reduce risk, not inflate ego
  • Reflect real-world uncertainty
• Being armed increases responsibility, not immunity
• Decision-making and restraint matter more than speed

Key Discussion Points

Opening & Context

• Informal opening with humor and health updates
• Discussion about dizziness, medical uncertainty, and stress
• Transition into current events and self-defense topics

Self-Defense Shooting & Public Reaction

• Discussion of a recent ICE-related shooting in Minnesota
• How quickly public discourse becomes political instead of analytical
• Why outside opinions are often meaningless in moments of real violence
• Emphasis on how fast incidents unfold and how little time exists for “perfect” decisions
• The long-term consequences for everyone involved — regardless of legality

Politics vs Reality

• Criticism of tribal political responses to shootings
• How people default to pre-packaged opinions rather than independent thought
• The danger of dying or acting based on narratives created by others
• Why emotional and ideological reactions ignore human performance and stress

Firearms Training & Decision-Making

• Shooting is easy; decision-making is hard
• Why most training failures happen between shots, not during them
• The importance of assessment, awareness, and follow-through
• Cognitive overload and why students struggle under pressure
• Why many people don’t realize what they failed to assess until it’s pointed out

Legal Risk & Self-Defense Reality

• How learning about legal consequences can initially discourage people
• Comparing legal risk awareness to learning about aviation safety
• The importance of understanding risk rather than avoiding responsibility
• Why adult decisions inherently carry serious consequences

Competition vs Defensive Shooting

• Why competitive shooting does not translate cleanly to self-defense
• Problems caused by choreographed, controlled environments
• Real-world failures when expectations don’t match reality
• The danger of training habits that require diagnosis instead of automatic response
• Consistency over efficiency in high-stress environments

Gear, Tools, and Confirmation Bias

• Discussion of braced pistols, chassis systems, and “hybrid” tools
• Why complexity often works against defensive use
• How people justify gear purchases through confirmation bias
• The difference between offensive fantasy and defensive practicality
• Why simpler tools often outperform complex ones under stress

Human Behavior & Learning

• How confirmation bias shapes beliefs and training choices
• Why people seek evidence that supports what they already believe
• The importance of challenging assumptions in training
• Why innovation must be tested against science, not feelings
• The role of humility in effective learning and teaching

Teaching & Feedback

• Why students hesitate to give honest feedback
• The value of uncomfortable conversations in learning
• Language, disagreement, and confronting difficult topics
• Why avoiding discomfort leads to shallow understanding

Core Takeaways

• Violence happens faster than people expect
• Training must reflect reality, not fantasy
• Simple, repeatable actions beat complex systems
• Decision-making is more important than marksmanship
• Political narratives obscure truth
• Honest self-assessment is critical to improvement

In this episode, Edgar and the Isaac return for an unfiltered conversation on firearms education, nonprofit realities, instructor burnout, and what it really means to be a responsible gun owner—not just a lawful one.

The discussion moves from light banter into deep reflections on teaching, safety enforcement, donation culture, and the emotional toll of running firearms classes in the real world. The episode also revisits the concept of Safety Third, challenging common assumptions about rules, legality, and risk management in self-defense.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

• Welcome back and recap of the previous episode with guest Ashley Lubinski
• Shoutouts and community updates, including Empire Gun Club’s Free Range Day
• Edgar’s upcoming birthday and nonprofit housekeeping
• Donations, Super Chats, and why asking for money is emotionally difficult in a 501(c)(3)
• The difference between donating and investing in firearms education
• Instructor burnout and the emotional cost of running classes
• Making hard decisions in class—including removing students for safety reasons
• Why enforcing safety sometimes feels worse than ignoring problems
• How students perceive tone, authority, and accountability on the range
• The difference between lawful gun ownership and responsible gun ownership
• Why legality is often judged after a self-defense incident
• “Safety Third” explained: purpose first, risk second, safety management third
• Why blindly following rules can still lead to unsafe behavior
• Ethical decision-making vs. legal checklists in self-defense
• Cultural contradictions around firearms, comfort, and responsibility

Key Takeaways

• Safety rules are meaningless without context and judgment
• Responsible gun owners take necessary risks and actively manage them
• Nonprofit firearms education depends on community buy-in, not entitlement
• Enforcement of standards protects everyone—even when it’s uncomfortable
• Self-defense decisions are ethical first, legal second, and emotional forever

Support the Mission

Guns For Everyone is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to accessible firearms education and responsible gun ownership. If you value these conversations or have benefited from the work, consider supporting through donations, Super Chats, or sharing the show.

About Guns For Everyone
Guns For Everyone provides education, training, and instructor development focused on responsibility, accountability, and community impact—not just compliance.

Ashley Hlebinsky on Firearms History, Culture, and the Realities of the “Gun Community”

👥 Hosts:

• Edgar Antillon
• Guest: Ashley Hlebinsky – firearms historian, consultant, museum curator, researcher, and media contributor.

🧾 Episode Overview

In this episode, Edgar sits down with Ashley Hlebinsky, one of the most well-known firearms historians working today. Ashley discusses her work with museums, academia, and TV, and how her expertise intersects with current gun debates, law, and culture.

This conversation gets real about the gun industry, online discourse, and the complex relationship people have with firearms. Ashley and Edgar challenge conventional narratives, explore historical context, and talk about the uncomfortable truths most people avoid.

🏛️ Who is Ashley?

Ashley is a firearms historian and consultant with a long and impressive resume:

• Former curator of the Cody Firearms Museum in Wyoming, where she led a major rebuild and modernization.
• Founder/director of a research center at the University of Wyoming, and another in the UK.
• Works with multiple institutions, including the LA Police Museum and the Mob Museum.
• Building museums for major firearms companies and a machine gun museum in Canada.
• Regular contributor to Discovery Channel, Nat Geo, and other networks.

Despite the résumé, she jokes that most people don't know who she is because “nobody watches TV anymore.”

📜 Firearms History vs. Popular Narratives

Ashley explores how history is often misunderstood—and how it does not align with the romanticized version of America as an unregulated Wild West.

Some takeaways:

• Concealed carry was often illegal in the 19th century because it was seen as suspicious.
• Open carry was generally legal, but many towns required guns to be checked in.
• Early gun laws often had racial motivations, especially in the antebellum South.
• The idea that America has always been “pro-gun freedom” is historically inaccurate.

⚖️ Law, Bruen, and Historical Analogues

Ashley dives deep into the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision (2022) and its consequences:

• Courts now look to history to evaluate firearm regulations.
• The most important eras:
  • Founding era
  • Reconstruction / 14th Amendment
  • Pre-/post-enactment
• 20th century laws (mag bans, assault weapon bans, etc.) are least influential historically.
• Courts seek “historical analogues”—but often misuse history due to lack of firearms literacy in academia.

🌐 Internet Culture & Toxicity

Ashley and Edgar get real about online behavior in the gun world:

• The gun community eats its own, often more viciously than its political opponents.
• People online reject nuance, preferring outrage and purity tests.
• Experts are pressured to “pick a side,” even when their role is academic or neutral.
• Ashley has been called both a Bolshevik and a gun industry shill—within 24 hours.
• Harassment often targets mental health, regardless of ideology.

🧠 Words, Labels, and Pissing People Off

Ashley gleefully admits she uses “trigger words” like:

• “Silencer”
• “Assault rifle”

Not to be edgy—but because:

• They are historically correct terms, even if unpopular.
• Denying a term doesn’t make it vanish.

Her stance:

“You don’t have to like the term, but that doesn’t make it not exist.”

🤝 Is There Even a Gun Community?

The panel at a recent symposium explored this, and the conclusion was bleak:

• The “firearms community” is not a unified group—it’s a label projected by others.
• Most gun owners just own guns and don’t care about activism or culture.
• Industry, influencers, and academics live in different universes.
• Ashley herself isn’t sure she belongs in it.

🧩 Personal Identity vs. Professional Neutrality

Ashley explains the tightrope she walks:

• As a historian and educator, she avoids taking public policy positions.
• She aims to provide context, not advocacy.
• Both pro-gun and anti-gun groups often project beliefs onto her.
• Saying anything nuanced can risk her career.

🧨 Controversy, Authenticity, and Calling BS

Edgar reflects on his own approach:

• He refuses to tiptoe around powerful organizations.
• Calls out BS publicly rather than whispering in private.
• Believes progress requires conflict and honesty, not circle-jerking.
• Acknowledges this approach makes the show less “popular,” but more real.

🧭 Major Themes & Takeaways

1. History is messy, not ideological

People cherry-pick history to justify modern beliefs.

2. Gun debates lack nuance

Most participants don’t know the history—or don’t care to.

3. Internet culture rewards outrage

Experts who refuse simplistic narratives become targets.

4. The “gun community” is fractured

Different segments don’t share values, priorities, or goals.

5. Mental health stigma is universal

Both sides weaponize it in bad faith.

6. Truth-telling has social costs

But it’s the only way to grow.

🧑‍🔬 Quotes Worth Remembering

“I don’t think owning a gun automatically makes someone a Second Amendment advocate.”

“People don’t want nuance. They want to declare you the enemy.”

“I have to remain impartial so people can ask me questions.”

“The gun world says it hates cancel culture… then cancels harder than anybody.”

“You don’t have to like the term ‘assault rifle,’ but that doesn’t make it go away.”

🔗 About the Guest

Ashley Hlebinsky is one of the foremost firearms historians in the world.
Find her work through museums, academic programs, or TV.
(Not much social media because… the internet sucks.)

❤️ Support GFEN & SAFE

This show is produced by Guns For Everyone National, a 501(c)(3) focused on firearms training, community education, and suicide prevention.

Learn more, donate, or attend events at:
👉 https://gfenational.com
👉 https://gfensafe.org

🔥 Final Thought

This episode isn’t about dunking on political opponents.

It’s about challenging dogma—in our own tribe.
Understanding history.
Engaging honestly.
And refusing to be bullied into ideological simplicity.

If you want cheerleading, this ain’t the show.

If you want truth… pull up a chair.

In this episode, Edgar and Isaac kick things off with jokes about RGB lights, being late, and the hypocrisy of content-creator clichés. From there, they dive into current fundraising efforts, upcoming comedy events, range culture, the myth of “just practice,” and how real-world self-defense differs dramatically from social-media gun performance.

The show piles on humor, profanity, and philosophical questioning about training, performance shooting, and defensive gun use — with a dose of community updates.

🧾 Housekeeping & Announcements

💰 Legal Fund & Fundraiser

• Reminder to donate to support the legal fund and mental health work.
• Staccato raffle tickets are $10.
• Edgar jokes about buying tickets through an LLC and sovereign citizen logic.

🎤 Comedy Show — December 20th (Westminster)

• 4 comedians: Mike Langworthy, Greg Studley, Georgia Comstock, and Matt “Cubbo”
• VIP & GA available; tickets help fundraising.
• Discount code for 10 free GA tickets: GFENPOD
• Edgar teases small VIP perks and supporting the cause.

🥏 Cornhole Tournament

• Tentative pre-show fundraiser tournament.
• Will be livestreamed along with the comedy show.
• Alcohol available — “the white people are going to go wild.”

🧠 Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Work

• Current GFEN initiative: training firearms instructors to have informed conversations about suicide prevention.
• Not reinventing the wheel — working to fill a gap in instructor training.
• Focus on reducing negative outcomes with firearms, not lecturing about mental health.

💬 Topic 1: “Just go practice at the range”

Why Edgar hates that advice:

• People say they’ll “figure it out,” but don’t know what they’re doing.
• No feedback → no measurable improvement → same mistakes every time.
• Correcting shots doesn’t mean you understand why you missed.
• Range habits can reinforce bad technique, not fix it.

“Your brain knows how to hit the target, but it doesn’t know why you’re screwing up.”

💬 Topic 2: Dry Fire, Performance Metrics, and Instagram Tactics

• Performance shooters often preach dry fire — but without context, it becomes ritual, not skill-building.
• Too many shooters obsessed with:
  • Speed
  • Timers
  • Sub-second draws
  • Clips for social media
• Reholstering fast without looking = sloppy and dangerous.
• Measuring performance isn’t the same as preparing for a violent event.

💬 Topic 3: Context Matters — Fighting vs Performing

• Video examples of "fast" shooters with ridiculous “sexy arms” posture.
• Training that looks cool ≠ applicable in real defensive shootings.
• Real defensive posture involves:
  • Surprise
  • Cognitive processing
  • Movement & uncertainty
• You don’t get to “posture” into your gun before drawing.

“You won’t see someone pose and then draw. It’s always, ‘Holy shit, I need to get to the gun.’”

💬 Topic 4: Assessment vs. “Scan & Look Cool”

• GFEN trains students to process information first, not react automatically.
• Look first → then act.
• After engagement: scan meaningfully.
• Look for unique changes in environment, not just turning your head.

Examples:

• People scratching, digging into pockets, repositioning
• Gun movement from extension → compressed (less threat)
• Avoid assuming roles based on your “video game brain”

💬 Topic 5: Real-World Defensive Shootings

• Video of a robbery used to illustrate:
  • Startle response
  • Perception limitations under stress
  • Misidentifying accomplices
  • Decision-making in chaos
• One participant shot someone who wasn’t an active threat.
• Spectators displayed bizarre reactions, including attacking the suspect afterwards.

Edgar & Isaac highlight:

• Real fights involve uncertainty, surprise, emotion.
• You can “win” while doing everything wrong.
• Victory ≠ validation of tactics.

“She won in spite of herself. Whoever she prays to was on it that day.”

🧠 Training Philosophies

What matters most:

• Access to your gun
• Understanding how it functions
• Competent, deliberate movement

What doesn’t matter as much:

• Sub-second YouTube drills
• Instagram aesthetics
• Speed without context

“If you don’t have training, you’re gonna die — the data doesn’t support that even a little bit.”

🔍 Takeaways

1. Performance ≠ Preparedness

Fast, flashy skills don’t necessarily help in violent encounters.

2. Context matters more than mechanics

Training must match human behavior, not social media fantasies.

3. The brain must process before it acts

Speed without comprehension is useless.

4. Most self-defense encounters are won by regular people

Not elite shooters.

5. If you want to train — train right

Not for clout, not for ego.

🗓️ Upcoming Things Mentioned

• Comedy show: Dec 20 — Westminster
• Free ticket code: GFENPOD
• Possible cornhole tournament before show
• Livestream planned
• Fundraising ongoing

🤣 Best Quotes of the Episode

• “Your RGBs are gone.”
• “I'm all about this global warming, dude.”
• “I’ll throw an empty casing at your head.”
• “This guy is doing sexy arms.”
• “She won in spite of herself.”

🧪 Nerd Break

• Edgar explains Lagrange points (stable orbital positions in space)
• Isaac learns something and immediately insults him for it.

🧔 Special Thanks

• Viewers on YouTube and Rumble
• New names popping into the chat
• Community supporting mental health initiatives

📣 Call to Action

• Support the legal fund
• Attend the comedy show
• Use the discount code
• Bring a friend
• Stop training for Instagram

🔥 Overview

Edgar and Isaac dig into recent controversies in Colorado’s gun-rights landscape — calling out misinformation, questionable enforcement of firearms laws, and how self-defense conversations are being distorted by politics. They discuss the CU Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative (FIPI), the state’s new ERPO and safe-storage laws, and the broader divide between “lawful” vs. responsible gun ownership.

🧩 Key Topics

💬 Free Classes & Criticism

• Responding to a one-star review accusing GFEN of being “aggressive” about donations.
• Edgar explains why donation requests matter for a 501(c)(3) offering free training.
• The real costs of keeping classes free (e.g., $300 in toner just to print certificates).
• How GFEN’s transparency on donations differs from the slimy fundraising seen elsewhere.

🧠 ERPOs, Judges, and Legal Chaos

• Analysis of the Colorado Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative (FIPI) webinar on Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) and Safe Storage laws.
• Judges lack clear guidance in ERPO cases — decisions are subjective and inconsistent.
• Most clinicians avoid filing ERPOs due to liability and vague standards.
• Only one person in Colorado has been convicted for filing a false ERPO.

⚖️ Responsibility vs. Legality

• The podcast challenges the culture of calling oneself a “legal gun owner” instead of a responsible gun owner.
• Laws are easy to follow; responsibility takes awareness, humility, and constant training.
• The real fight isn’t over legality—it’s about preventing negative outcomes while defending rights.

🧍‍♂️ Community Divisions & RMGO

• Discussion on RMGO’s social-media attacks on fellow advocates (including Ava Cornell).
• Edgar and Isaac call out the hypocrisy of “freedom groups” that suppress internal dissent.
• Recognition of Taylor Rhodes for improving RMGO’s willingness to talk solutions instead of pure outrage.

🧩 Collaboration & FIPI

• Despite ideological differences, GFEN participates in FIPI’s research and focus groups.
• Both sides agree that simply taking guns away doesn’t help if there’s no mental-health follow-up.
• Constructive dialogue can happen when both sides focus on outcomes over ego.

🎯 CHL Classes & Testing Abuse

• Discussion of a range allegedly failing students intentionally to force retakes (and extra payments).
• GFEN contrasts that with its mission to educate, not gatekeep — everyone deserves competent training.
• How Reddit’s r/COguns moderators deleted posts that mentioned GFEN positively.

🔍 Takeaways

• Free firearms education isn’t free to operate — community support keeps it alive.
• ERPOs and safe-storage laws raise deep questions about due process, mental-health accountability, and freedom.
• Gun culture needs a shift: responsibility > legality.
• Colorado’s firearms community must stop cannibalizing itself if it hopes to influence meaningful change.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

• GFENational.com – Learn more about free training and instructor certification.
• CU Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative – YouTube channel featuring the ERPO/Safe Storage webinar.
• “No Agenda” Podcast – reference for ethical donation models.
• RMGO, FASTER Colorado, and other advocacy groups discussed.

🧩 Episode Summary

Edgar goes solo in this episode to clear up the Glock rumor mess spreading through YouTube and social media — while also challenging one of the most common self-defense myths: “something is better than nothing.”

He dives into misinformation, mindset, and market trends — breaking down what’s really going on with Glock, why poor training is more dangerous than no training, and how the firearms culture can (and must) reconnect with the next generation of gun owners.

🕒 Timestamps & Topics

00:00 – Intro & Updates
Classes and events update at gfenational.com.
Isaac’s “busy” again (sure he is). Edgar goes live solo to talk about fundraisers, upcoming courses, and the current gun market slowdown.

04:00 – Fundraisers & Staccato Giveaway
How GFEN fundraisers work, why the Staccato raffle needs more traction, and how your $3 or $10 ticket supports free concealed carry classes.
🖱️ gfenational.com/fundraisers

07:00 – The Glock Rumors Explained
Edgar breaks down the viral Glock “discontinuation” claims and exposes how bad info spreads when influencers chase clicks.
✔️ Glock isn’t killing its lineup over Glock switches.
✔️ The discontinued models are old, low-demand variants.
✔️ Direct from Glock’s own site — no conspiracy, just business.

14:00 – “Something Is Better Than Nothing?”
Edgar revisits a classroom conversation about preparedness and challenges the cliché.
Using real examples — from church security footage to an open-carry incident in Las Vegas — he shows why “having something” can sometimes be worse than having nothing if you don’t know what you’re doing.

22:00 – Context Matters in Training
Gear ≠ Skill.
Without understanding context, all the drills, dot torture runs, and bill drills don’t mean much. Edgar explains why training without comprehension is dangerous, not empowering.

25:00 – Firearms Market Trends (Colorado & National)
Live data from CBI InstaCheck and NICS:

• September 2025 transactions down from 2024
• CHP applications slightly under 50,000 YTD
• National gun sales down 5.7% year-over-year
  It’s not just Colorado — the slowdown is nationwide.

27:00 – The Generational Shift
Why Gen Z isn’t picking up the gun culture baton.
Edgar discusses how the 20-year-olds aren’t as engaged, why outreach matters, and how GFEN is trying to bridge that cultural gap before it’s too late.

33:00 – Knowledge, Context, and Skill Cycles
Training only works when you change context and evolve your skills.
Edgar explains the “skill development cycle” — learn, practice, evaluate, and re-apply — and warns against becoming a “certificate chaser.”

36:45 – Wrap-Up & Calls to Action
Support free classes and fundraisers at gfenational.com.
Buy merch, join competitions, and listen to the full archive at gunsforeveryone.com.

🔗 Resources Mentioned

• GFEN Fundraisers: gfenational.com/fundraisers
• Free Classes & Competitions: gfenational.com
• Podcast Archive: gunsforeveryone.com
• CBI InstaCheck Stats: Colorado Bureau of Investigation
• YouTube Channel: Guns For Everyone National

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Verify your information — especially when “influencers” start rumors.
• A tool without context or skill can be worse than nothing.
• Gun culture needs to adapt if it wants Gen Z to carry the torch.
• Keep learning — but know when to evolve your training context.

In this episode, Edgar and Isaac dive deep into Colion Noir and the ongoing confusion and overreach surrounding Colorado’s new concealed carry training laws — with a particular focus on Denver Police's misinterpretation of competition-based certification. They discuss GFEN’s ongoing battles with various sheriff’s departments, the legal definitions of “firearms competitions,” and what students and instructors can do to advocate for themselves when counties refuse to follow the law.

Later in the episode, the conversation shifts to self-defense realities — featuring a powerful analysis of Michael Waller’s two defensive shootings as discussed on the Locked, Cocked, and Uncensored podcast. The hosts explore human performance under stress, training limitations, and how adrenaline and mindset shape outcomes in life-and-death moments.

🧩 Key Topics

• Why Edgar refuses to use over-produced podcast intros
• GFEN’s Staccato CS raffle and thoughts on “douchey” guns
• Denver PD’s unlawful denial of competition certificates
• Clarifying what C.R.S. 18-12-203(1)(h) actually requires
• County-by-county updates: Adams, Arapahoe, Weld, Clear Creek
• Instructor shout-out: Cindy Staudt of Colorado Handgun Training
• The principle behind teaching despite minimal profit
• Discussion of Locked, Cocked, and Uncensored featuring Michael Waller
• Two self-defense shootings: decision-making, training, and aftermath
• Why “you fight how you train” isn’t entirely true
• The role of adrenaline, norepinephrine, and perception in gunfights
• Practical takeaways for instructors, students, and armed citizens

👥 Notable Mentions

• Michael Waller – Defensive shooting survivor and instructor
• Chris Lyles, Tony Simon, and Pivotal Defense – Hosts of Locked, Cocked, and Uncensored
• Cindy Staudt – Colorado instructor who challenged Clear Creek County
• Delta Defense / USCCA – Discussion on marketing, business ethics, and the industry

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Participation is qualification: Colorado law only requires proof of competition participation, not scores, frequency, or handgun-specific results.
• Advocacy matters: Students must learn to assert their rights—GFEN can assist, but each applicant must take ownership.
• Rights require responsibility: Freedom to carry demands personal initiative and persistence against bureaucratic overreach.
• Training ≠ fighting: Real encounters trigger complex physiological responses—static range drills can’t fully replicate combat dynamics.
• Adrenaline helps, not hurts: Properly understood, stress hormones enhance performance, not degrade it.

🧾 Quotes

“Just because you live under a rock doesn’t mean we’re not legit.” – Edgar
“Rights work when you take the responsibility to protect those rights.” – Isaac
“Adrenaline isn’t the problem—it’s the reason you’re still alive.” – Edgar

🔗 Resources Mentioned

• Locked, Cocked, and Uncensored Podcast – [Available on Spotify & YouTube]
• Guns For Everyone National – https://gfenational.com
• Colorado Handgun Training (Cindy Staudt) – [Instructor Info on Facebook]

🎯 Closing Thoughts

The episode underscores a recurring truth: freedom requires effort. Whether confronting Denver PD’s misinterpretation of the law or studying the mental calculus of self-defense, Edgar and Isaac remind listeners that gun rights are preserved only when exercised, defended, and responsibly upheld.

The hosts challenge recent claims by Trump’s DOJ about restricting firearms access for transgender people, comparing this new rhetoric to post-9/11 government overreach. They highlight how quickly “national security” narratives can be turned against any group—and how gun owners should reject all forms of discrimination in defense of true freedom.

From there, the conversation takes on the disturbing rise of conspiracy theories surrounding recent shootings. Edgar and Isaac dismantle viral misinformation—frame-by-frame “red circle” videos, wild claims about “Jewish camera guns,” and the dangerous confirmation bias driving people to “pursue ignorance.” Through humor and frustration, they underscore how conspiracies divide communities and distract from real issues of freedom, safety, and responsibility.

Key Topics:

• Trump DOJ’s statements about trans people and gun ownership
• The danger of selective bans and historical parallels to the Patriot Act
• The psychology of conspiracy theories and confirmation bias
• Ballistics myths and internet misinformation
• Media saturation, emotional fatigue, and how to stay grounded
• Why freedom means defending rights for everyone, not just your side
• Historical perspective: America has survived worse eras of political violence

Takeaway:
In a world drowning in noise, this episode is a call to step back, think critically, and focus on reality. Whether it’s self-defense, politics, or social media hysteria, Edgar and Isaac remind listeners that the goal isn’t to win arguments—it’s to stay human.

Connect with Guns For Everyone National:
🌐 gfenational.com
📱 YouTube | Instagram | Facebook
💸 Support the mission: Click “Donate” on GFENational.com to keep free firearms education alive.

Quote of the Episode:

“When you start with a conclusion and go searching for evidence, you’re not learning—you’re just building your own cage.” — Edgar

On September 8, 2025, KDVR ran a piece titled “Firearms instructors get lesson on Colorado concealed carry law”. The segment featured comments from US Law Shield president and attorney about how concealed handgun permits are handled in Colorado. The problem? The information was flat-out wrong—and it’s dangerous when large organizations with big budgets mislead both the public and firearms instructors. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/0PBHiH3vM0g

The False Claim

According to the KDVR report, sheriffs supposedly have local control over how concealed handgun permits are issued—making it sound like Colorado is a “may-issue” state where each sheriff can make their own rules. That’s not just a slip of the tongue. It’s a complete misreading of the law. And because it came from a lawyer with a platform, many people will take it at face value.

KDVR deserves some criticism here too. A journalist’s job is to fact-check, not just repeat what someone says on camera. In this case, the station amplified a legal inaccuracy without digging into the actual statutes.

What the Law Actually Says

Colorado is, and has been, a shall-issue state. That means if an applicant meets the requirements laid out in statute, the sheriff must issue the permit. The authority doesn’t rest with local sheriffs to make up new rules—it’s set in black and white by state law.

Here’s the key language from CRS 18-12-201:

“It is necessary that the state occupy the field of regulation of the issuance of concealed handgun permits because there is a prevailing state interest in ensuring that no citizen is arbitrarily denied a concealed handgun permit.”

and

"The general assembly does not delegate to the sheriffs the authority to regulate or restrict the issuance of permits provided for in this part 2 beyond the provisions of this part 2. An action or rule that encumbers the permit process by placing burdens on the applicant beyond those sworn statements and specified documents detailed in this part 2 or that creates restrictions beyond those specified in this part 2 is in conflict with the intent of this part 2 and is prohibited."

It couldn’t be clearer. The legislature specifically prohibited sheriffs from adding their own restrictions or criteria. Their role is administrative—processing applications, verifying instructor credentials, and issuing permits when applicants meet the requirements. They are not lawmakers.

Local Government (not sheriffs) does have some local control, but only over where concealed carry is allowed within their jurisdictions—not over who and/or how one qualifies for a permit.

Instructor Verification

Another point of confusion raised in the KDVR/US Law Shield discussion was about verified instructors. Colorado law spells out exactly how instructor verification works:

• A sheriff shall verify an instructor whose principal place to conduct firearms training is in the sheriff’s county and who: holds a valid CHP and is certified by a recognized firearms training organization (like Guns For Everyone National), a law enforcement agency, or a firearms school.
• That verification is valid for ten years.
• The sheriff’s office must maintain and publish a list of verified instructors.

Nowhere in statute does it say sheriffs can pick and choose which instructors are allowed to teach—or require all classes to be taught by verified instructors from within their county. The law gives applicants the discretion to choose their training class in 18-12-203 (1)(h)(VI).

Why This Matters

Misinformation like this is more than just an annoyance. It actively harms the Second Amendment community in Colorado. When people believe sheriffs have unlimited discretion, it strengthens the hand of those who want to restrict carry rights further. It also undermines trust in instructors and organizations who actually know the law.

It only takes a quick read of the Colorado Revised Statutes—or even a basic search—to prove the US Law Shield president wrong. Instead, a false narrative got broadcast to the public, and now Coloradans are left confused.

The Bottom Line

Colorado is not a “may-issue” state. Sheriffs cannot invent new requirements for concealed handgun permits. The law is uniform across the state, and the role of sheriffs is administrative, not legislative.

When powerful organizations and media outlets get this wrong, it’s on the rest of us to set the record straight. The Second Amendment community deserves facts, not fearmongering or sloppy legal takes.

Call to Action

If you saw the KDVR story or heard US Law Shield’s claims, don’t take them at face value. Read the law yourself: Colorado Revised Statutes Title 18, Article 12, Part 2.

Then, let KDVR know they got it wrong—politely but firmly. Journalists need to hear when they’ve misled the public. And if you’re a US Law Shield member or instructor, demand accuracy from the people who claim to represent you.

The Second Amendment fight in Colorado is hard enough without bad information coming from inside the gun community. Let’s hold each other accountable.