---

Featured Article

I’m Not a Gimmick Guy

When Convenience Gets in the Way of Safety

I’m not a gimmick guy.

I’ve been teaching firearms safety since 2010, and one thing I’ve learned is that there’s no shortage of companies trying to reinvent something that already works.

Recently, a student arrived with a clip attached directly to his handgun. Instead of using a conventional holster, the clip allowed him to attach the handgun to his clothing.

It’s a clever idea. It’s also something I wouldn’t recommend.

My concern isn’t whether the clip holds the handgun in place. It’s what the clip doesn’t do.

A properly designed concealed carry holster should securely retain the handgun, protect the trigger from unintended contact, and allow the owner to carry it consistently.

A clip attached directly to a handgun doesn’t necessarily provide those protections.

And that brings me to a bigger issue.

The firearms industry is full of gadgets promising to make shooting, carrying, cleaning or handling a firearm easier. Some innovations are genuinely useful. Others solve problems that never really existed.

Before purchasing any accessory, ask yourself three questions:

• What problem does this product actually solve?
• Does it introduce a new safety concern?
• Am I sacrificing something important simply for convenience?

I’m not opposed to innovation. I’m opposed to replacing proven safety practices with clever marketing.

When it comes to carrying a loaded handgun, equipment needs to do more than look convenient.

Don’t confuse a clever idea with a safe one.

---

Training Tip

Practice Doesn’t Always Make Perfect

You’ve probably heard the expression that practice makes perfect.

Not necessarily.

Practice makes permanent. If you’re practicing something incorrectly, you’re reinforcing the very habit you should be trying to eliminate.

That’s one reason I distinguish between practice and training.

Training is where you learn a skill, understand the correct technique and receive feedback. Practice is where you reinforce what you’ve learned.

You need both.

Five minutes spent practicing correct handgun handling can be more productive than repeatedly practicing a technique you haven’t properly learned.

---

Student Question of the Month

When Should I Take My Concealed Carry Renewal Class?

Here’s a question worth asking before your permit is about to expire.

Colorado law and county procedures can change, so confirm the current renewal window, required documents, fees, and submission method with the sheriff’s office that issued your permit. Do not rely on a general 120-day or 180-day rule without verifying that it applies to your permit and circumstances.

A sheriff’s office may accept a renewal application before expiration and may have a statutory post-expiration renewal period, but an expired permit should not be treated as valid for carrying. Any late-renewal fee, deadline, or additional requirement must be confirmed with the issuing agency.

Before registering for a class, ask the issuing sheriff’s office whether a renewal course is required, what course content or documentation it accepts, whether fingerprints or other records are required, and whether the agency requires an appointment or in-person submission. Training providers’ course offerings do not by themselves establish the legal requirements for renewal.

Check your expiration date, complete any training the issuing agency requires and allow enough time to submit your paperwork, fees, and supporting documents to the appropriate sheriff’s office.

---

Colorado Firearm Update

SB25-003: Getting Through the Application Process

Colorado’s SB25-003 requirements and implementation procedures should be verified against the current Colorado Revised Statutes, Colorado Parks and Wildlife guidance and the applicant’s county-sheriff procedures before anyone relies on this summary.

One recurring source of confusion is the application process. Taking a training class may be only one part of the process, and course availability does not establish eligibility or approval.

Before scheduling training, applicants should confirm the current requirements involving Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Colorado Firearms Safety System, and their county sheriff. The order of account creation, eligibility review, approval, and training may depend on current agency instructions and the applicant’s circumstances.

Do not assume that an applicant must receive sheriff approval before attending a course, or that a particular course length is appropriate, unless the current official instructions say so. Confirm the required sequence directly with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the relevant county sheriff.

Hunter education may affect which course or exemption pathway applies, but hunter education alone should not be represented as satisfying every SB25-003 requirement. Applicants should confirm whether their certificate is accepted, whether additional training is required, and what documentation must be submitted.

Have Gun Will Train Colorado offers both 4-hour and 12-hour courses, subject to current program requirements and agency acceptance. Confirm that the course you select matches the applicable official requirement before enrolling.

Official information should be obtained from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Colorado Firearms Safety System, and the applicable county sheriff. Verify all requirements before paying a fee or attending training.

---

From the Training Room

Five Minutes Can Make a Difference

We’re continuing to develop our 5-Minute Handgun Skills Program.

The idea is simple: handgun owners need to become comfortable performing primary handgun handling skills correctly and consistently.

Not every practice session requires ammunition or a trip to the shooting range.

However, home practice requires careful preparation, an unloaded and verified firearm, ammunition kept out of the practice area, and a safe practice environment.

The program focuses on safe handling, familiarity with firearm controls, and developing consistent habits.

It is intended to supplement professional instruction and live-fire training, not replace them.

We’ll have more information about the 5-Minute Handgun Skills Program as it becomes available.

---

Upcoming Training

Find a Class That Fits Your Schedule

• Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit Classes
• Concealed Carry Renewal and Refresher Classes
• Handgun Fundamentals
• SB25-003 Firearms Safety Courses
• Court-Ordered Gun Safety Training

Our SB25-003 classes can be arranged separately from the regular online training schedule, subject to current program requirements and agency procedures.

We also offer in-person court-ordered gun safety training for people who cannot complete an online course. Confirm with the court, supervising agency or attorney that the selected format and provider satisfy the applicable order.

Call 719-821-3958 if you have questions about which class you need.

VIEW THE TRAINING SCHEDULE →

---

Thank You for Reading

After more than 16 years of teaching, one principle hasn’t changed: owning equipment is not the same thing as knowing how to use it safely.

Choose your equipment carefully, learn the fundamentals, and keep your skills current.

Train safely. Practice correctly. Make good decisions.

Rick Sindeband
Have Gun Will Train Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
719-821-3958

---