Is Florida Firearms Training Enough?

Both Sutherland Springs and Sinai both have seen the worst of humanity this past few months, with large scale death and despair inflicted on communities a world apart. In one of the most violent years for terrorist attacks in recent memory, a lot of attention has fallen upon security measures, from both the people and companies in charge of protecting individuals, to those wondering how they can stay safe in such a cruel world.

And Florida is no different. We have an intimate history with the failings of security training, or even the shortcomings that can come with security who managed to get by without any security training courses. We know about incidents in our communities, incidents in our cities (be it Tampa, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, or Miami), and the incidents that have rocked our entire state, such as the Orlando tragedy only a couple years ago.

The rules and regulations of the security training industry are worth looking at. Are you aware that it takes a forty-hour unarmed security course to work any security position in the state? Further, another twenty-eight hours and a passing proficiency on a live range can certify security officers to work armed posts. This firearms training, if given by accredited security schools who believe in the effective and immeasurable worth of engaging instruction.

Hands-on, focused firearms training is not the problem, however. While many suggest the twenty-eight hour minimum for this firearms training may be too lax, but this isn’t the problem either.

Florida security training is inundated by fraudulent, dangerous ‘licensors’ who feel that, for the right price, anybody should have their license. Bypassing psychiatric evaluations, ignoring range requirements, and providing only video instruction to students before they are handed a live firearm, all present massive risks to an industry whose duty is to mitigate those risks.

We at Invictus Security & Firearms Training believe in leading through example, which is why (as any of our G license graduates can tell you) we spend over a third of our firearms training giving students the mechanical dry fire training that our military gave our veteran instructors. We give students firearms to dry-fire and train in four-step draw, malfunctions, the basic engineering of a firearm along with beginner’s marksmanship, to have them be knowledgeable as they can be.

Because any licensed security professional in the state of Florida shouldn’t just know how to fire a weapon – they should know the ins and outs of their firearm, they should recall their firearms training frequently in reference to laws and use of force, and, most importantly, they should be prepared for anything they may be required to handle.

None of which can be given to students in a video.