​ NATIONAL TRAIN A TEACHER DAY BRINGS FREE TRAINING TO EDUCATORS

Gun owners listen to a free seminar about concealed carry techniques. (Photo: Jacki Billings)

Firearms instructors across the nation will band together to provide free training courses to teachers as part of the annual National Train a Teacher Day on July 20.

The second year running, the day looks to encourage medical, concealed carry, firearms and tactical instructors to offer free training opportunities to anyone who works in a school. The hope is to better prepare school staff for unfortunate events. A collaborative effort originating from ScotShot instructor Grant Gallagher and Trigger Pressers Union founder Klint Macro, the grassroots initiative emphasizes the movement is all-encompassing and doesn’t just set its sights on firearms classes.

“We have an open agenda that if these people are ever in a horrible situation they should have something that they can go to that suits their personal interest,” Gallagher told Guns.com at the Concealed Carry Expo. “For some people that might be getting armed. Some might be interested in using a tourniquet. Some people might want to know tips to secure a classroom.”

The idea formed after the Parkland school shooting. Gallagher said that many organizations were offering free training to school staff but there was no cohesiveness to it. To rectify that, Gallagher and Macro teamed up to focus free training on a national level by coordinating it on one day.

“We felt it would have more impact and would get more people if there was a one day focus. It would spread the word through a variety of different things and that was really the inspiration — to bring free training to teachers.” He added. “It’s happening all over the country on the same day, July 20. For people who are looking after children, it’s free. If you are a trainer anywhere in the country and you’ve got something that you’re offering then we would encourage you to help.”

Taser is helping with the endeavor by providing cartridges to students. (Photo: Jacki Billings)

This year Gallagher says more companies have joined to lend their support including the U.S. Concealed Carry Association and Taser Self-Defense. For their part, Taser Self-Defense is sending two free cartridges per student in addition to brochures and information.

“We think it’s a great opportunity and a great cause to get behind. It’s important to support teachers,” Sara Morrell told Guns.com. “Training is so important. Competence breeds confidence and we want teachers to be competent with their device — whether it’s a Taser device, gun or pepper spray. The more confident and trained you are, the more effective and safe you are.”

Any instructor in the tactical, firearms, concealed carry or medical training fields interested in providing free training to school staff is invited to register a course online for National Train a Teacher Day. Teachers and staff looking for free training opportunities can also visit the National Train a Teacher Day website to find resources nearby.