About

A. Dean Craig – Certified Defensive Firearms Instructor.

Specializing in intuitive defensive firearms training for law-abiding US citizens who are interested in personal protection for themselves and those they love.

I was granted my first Michigan Concealed Pistols License (CPL) in 1991 in Lapeer County.

Before July 1, 2001, most people in Michigan (other than law enforcement and rich people who know someone high up in the government) were generally not permitted to conceal carry.

As the Director of the administrative division of a police department in Oakland County, I experienced many interesting training opportunities, but I quickly learned that the way police officers were trained had little to do with their own survival and more to do with a municipality’s liability. Learning how to articulate the “facts” in court was more important than shooting skills.

Military and Law enforcement have very different rules when it comes to the use of force. I found that in training as a civilian, I always had to test what I was taught in a law enforcement training environment against a different set of rules than the government employee used.

Many of the training courses I have attended (that were lead by police officers) taught incorrect information from a civilian’s perspective. Most police officers are trained to be police officers, not teach … and especially not teach civilians.

It is tempting to be drawn in by credentials of military and law enforcement, but these are a completely different context compared to what applies to your civilian life. Traffic stops, riot control, room clearing, raids, setting up tactical ambushes, or boarding and seizing a boat are tactics that are taught in the military, and although are exciting to think about, they won’t help you much when someone sticks a knife in your face when you’re alone in a dark parking lot.

Our training courses are designed specifically for civilians. Class sizes are limited, to ensure you can get all the help you need to learn how to defend yourself in an attack.

Defensive shooting skills, along with the drills and gear used, are also inherently specialized and distinct from those of target shooting, competition, or hunting.

I believe that the best instructor is an avid student, and I strive to continually upgrade my own skills and knowledge. As part of this belief, I understand that my own teachings need to be subject to critique and open to evolution. [more]

How to choose a Michigan CPL Course Instructor

You should be asking your instructor more than “how much does it cost?” …

I would suggest asking things like;

  • Do you have any formal training other than an NRA certificate?
  • When is the last time you attended a training course where the focus was on improving your teaching abilities?
  • What have you changed your mind about?
  • How many people have you trained in the last year?
  • Can I talk to your previous students?

Based in Attica, Michigan (Lapeer County) we conduct Intuitive Defensive Firearms Training on our private range where you won’t have the typical restrictions of ranges that are normally open to the public.

Realistic and Intuitive firearm training in practical tactics of self-defense for the responsible citizens of Michigan.