A Day In The Life

A reader writes in and asks:

"What is a day in the life like (for a firearms instructor)?"

I can’t speak for every instructor on Earth. But I am the world’s leading authority on what it’s like to be me. So here’s a snapshot, lifted from one random day.

The Good

A 21-year-old young man I’ve known for years stopped by the house. He’s one of my son’s closest friends. He wanted to show us the Smith & Wesson he just purchased.

Would I have chosen that exact model? Probably not. But it fit him. And more importantly, he knew this was a place where he could share, ask questions, and get encouragement instead of eye-rolling.

I taught his carry permit class a few years back. Watching students grow into thoughtful, responsible gun owners never gets old.

Elsewhere in the day:

• Someone registered for an upcoming class.
• Someone else emailed with questions about whether a course was right for them.

Those moments may look small, but they’re signals: people want to learn, and they trust me enough to ask. And I must endeavor to never violate that sacred trust. And requests like this are 70 - 100 per week. 

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The Bad

I also found out another instructor quoted me publicly. Except… he didn’t quite quote me correctly. He lied. 

What he claimed I said:

“I cannot see a situation in which a civilian would fire from a high compressed ready.”

What I actually said:

“Teaching civilians high-compressed ready for movement is an invitation to disaster. A high ready is more fitting for most situations.”

Context matters. Words teach, but context keeps people from getting hurt.

And for the record, I do have students shoot from high-compressed ready. It happens in every Essential Pistol class, early afternoon on Day 2. It’s a tool, used appropriately, inside a system.

If anyone wants to discuss or disagree, I’m all ears. But accuracy isn’t optional. If you choose to intentionally misquote me, there's nothing I can do to stop that - AND you and I both know that makes you the liar.

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The Ugly

Later, I heard from a widow asking for guidance on selling one of her late husband’s guns.

There’s nothing tactical or glamorous about that conversation. It’s quiet, weighty, and full of memories she didn’t ask to carry alone.

Neither she, nor her late husband were ever a student of mine. Nevertheless, I’m honored to help. And I’m reminded that guns live inside real human stories: loss, love, protection, and legacy.

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Closing Thought

So, what does a day look like?

A little celebration.
A little frustration.
A lot of responsibility.

Some days are louder than others. But the thread running through all of it is this: people are trusting me with something that matters to them.

If you’d like more “day in the life” posts, just say the word. There’s plenty more behind the curtain.