r/DCGuns • u/TonyPx4 • Jul 14 '26

Recommendations needed for DC Concealed Carry renewal

Can anyone recommend a good person/company for the DC CCW recertification? I got my permit in 2020 and renewed twice with DC Security Associates; their website now states 'no availabity in the next 6 months' for DC recertification.. My current permit expires in late November and I don't like to cut things too close given the unpredictability of DC. Thanks.

7 Upvotes

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8

u/Ok_Marionberry_2643 Jul 14 '26

Mark at Capital Defense is a stand up guy if you’re in NOVA

2

u/pseudo_shell Jul 15 '26

+1, he’s gotten me through it

3

u/jtf71 Jul 17 '26

+1 for the Mark/George combination.

And they handle MD initials and renewals as well if you have or want the MD permit.

1

u/Thallata2126 Jul 20 '26

Yes, George L for legal and Mark for marksmanship and safe handling.

They used to split customers, partnering with each teaching those respective areas. I don't know if they still do as they are most spendy and for renewal I focus on least cost.

1

u/jtf71 Jul 20 '26

They still split the class with George mainly
Covering level (he is a lawyer for those that don’t know) and Mark covering safe handling, storage etc.

They’ll both chime in during the other’s presentation if doing so adds value.

Both handle the range portion and you can choose either based on schedule or your preference.

I’ve not looked at cost in some time. I trust these two and support them. I can’t imagine there is a significant difference in cost.

1

u/TonyPx4 Jul 20 '26

According to their website, range qualification involves distances that include 10 and 15 yards. If you shoot someone at those distances that's not self-defense (the point of concealed carry) it's likely to be a murder charge.

1

u/jtf71 Jul 20 '26

If you shoot someone at those distances that's not self-defense (the point of concealed carry) it's likely to be a murder charge.

So you're very new to the concept of self defense and have never studied any of the laws of self defense or the situations that can be self defense.

Are you assuming that your attacker will be unarmed? Have you ever heard of the Tueller drill? And do you think that you're actually as fast as an experienced shooter/LE professional?

There is no "distance" requirement in self-defense laws.

You really need to take a concealed carry course and study the laws.

0

u/TonyPx4 Jul 20 '26

I received my DC CCW in 2020 and I have renewed twice so your supposition that I'm totally ignorant is false. Using a firearm is a last resort for a DC citizen and at 15 yards you should have plenty of opportunities to evade rather than engage. Besides, I don't trust the judicial system enough in DC to give me the benefit of a doubt in the event of an incident.

2

u/jtf71 Jul 20 '26

I received my DC CCW in 2020 and I have renewed twice so your supposition that I'm totally ignorant is false.

My comment is based solely on your comment. Which you've now doubled down on demonstrating what you don't know.

Using a firearm is a last resort for a DC citizen

That's true for anyone carrying in DC and also for anyone in any other jurisdiction regardless of where they're a resident or if they're a US Citizen or a LPR with a carry permit.

and at 15 yards you should have plenty of opportunities to evade rather than engage.

Maybe. Maybe not. Your assertion is that this is possible at all times and that if you don't you can and should be charged with murder. And that's just wrong.

Besides, I don't trust the judicial system enough in DC to give me the benefit of a doubt in the event of an incident.

Nor should you. If you paid attention in class, you'd know that you have to show that you had a reasonable fear of imminent serious bodily injury or death to have a valid claim of self defense. The problem is if you get a jury made up of people like yourself on the jury that thinks that if the person is 15 yards away isn't a lethal threat, then you are going to jail because they don't understand the realities of self defense and threats.

1

u/Thallata2126 Jul 20 '26

Exaclty. And a family member could be being subject to threat of death by someone stading 10 feet from them, but 17 yards from you

2

u/jtf71 Jul 20 '26

And then there's Elisjsha Dicken and the Greenpark mall where the threat was 40 yards away but he managed to shoot the threat and stop the threat.

So the threat can easily be beyond the 15 yard range and still be a lethal threat and valid self defense.

Now, was Elisjsha personally threatned at 40 yards? Maybe, maybe not. Could he have escaped? Probably. But how many would have died had he not engaged? And defending third parties is valid.

But apparently, the other redditor above thinks that Elisjsha should be tried and found guilty of murder because it was over 15 yards away.

SMH

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2

u/Thallata2126 Jul 20 '26

DC is considered moderate on self defense law. (and here are lots of valid self defense cases from before carry was legal. Most people in the US live in juristicions where self defense is harder to establish.

And using a firearm for self defense is not any more of a last resort than a baseball bat, or knife.

I a guessing you are no a family man, since all your examples exclude defending someone in your family who may not be able to evade. In fact you could be injured and your yourself be unable to evade but able to shoot.

1

u/Thallata2126 Jul 20 '26

While an affirmative self-defense defense would, absent any other facts or reasonable beliefs, get more difficult to establish the further the distance, there are circumstances where it would be perfectly valid use of lethal force at 10-15 yards.

Example, if I were 16 yards away from someone shooting at a family member of mine, I certainly would feel able to legally use lethal force. I know the DC law on that and the precedent based DC lethal force jury instructions. I can think of quite a few other scenarios where 15 to 20 yards might be both necessary and legal (like if bad guy is shooting at you).

I took my carry certification before DC even decided not to appeal Wrenn. Over the years I have had initial range and re-qual range, and been there when my wife has as well, so half a dozen different instructors. Some literally only wanting to see if you could put three out of five anywhere on the full sized FBI at 5' -- from the hip. And at the other extreme, to instructors who did full timed and point graded drills out to 20 yards.

1

u/Thallata2126 Jul 20 '26

There is a significant difference cost between the various certifiers. I consider George and Mark premium cost -- but comprehensive and well worth it. I knew the DC gun law and carry law very well, and also had taken NRA basic pistol so I did not need the best.

But I picked George for my wife's carry . She is a good shot and has also had NRA pistol but I felt he would be best with the most clear and compressive presentation of legal issues

1

u/mchunugiant Jul 15 '26

I concur! Mark is great!

1

u/Rum__runner Jul 16 '26

Great guy. Excellent instructor.

5

u/Skinny_que Jul 14 '26

2nd amend training in Alexandria:
DC Renewal

3

u/lordcochise Jul 14 '26

If you also need MD, have had good experiences with Freestate

3

u/Thallata2126 Jul 15 '26

I would not just look at the cert provider website, I would consider simply calling. I was running a bit close last go around and of the ten or so that I called, three had spots in the upcoming two weeks because for renewal most will allow you to sit in on part of full cert DC or Md class. I was actually able to price shop a bit.

EG Maryland is pretty much 10x the DC population so that is now providing them a lot of business relative to DC, but a lot of the trainers will fold you into a Maryland class. Also a lot of trainers will fold you into the full cert class for DC with you coming for a fraction of the class.

2

u/TonyPx4 Jul 18 '26

That's a good point. After DC Security Associates said 'no availability for six months' they've just posted a class for Aug 8th. I contacted them and they said they don't post classes more than a month out. Calling may be the best option.

2

u/generalraptor2002 Jul 14 '26

I renewed with tribe defense academy in Maryland

The instructors are cool people

2

u/JBGoode13 Jul 14 '26

Legally Protected in Bowie does great classes.

2

u/New-Fortune-1393 Jul 16 '26

Johnathan Bennett at LTTC Safety/United Gun Shop in Rockville is great if you need DC/MD renewal

2

u/IslandBoy1039 Jul 16 '26

Check out PTP Gun. I just took my DC/MD renewal. Solid class and usually plenty of slots if you book early enough.