Gregory Kielma • January 2, 2026
Why People Should Stay Away from Online-Only CCW Training
Why People Should Stay Away from Online-Only CCW Training
Gregg Kielma 1/2/26
A Tactical K Training and Firearms Perspective
I often get calls from people who took CCW classes online and now need me to sign off on their range training. I’m unable to do this. For me to sign your CCW certificate, you must complete my full class, from classroom to range, as required. Here’s why.
Let’s Take a LOOK
Kielma says,
in today’s digital world, it seems like everything can be done online — shopping, banking, even learning new skills. But when it comes to something as serious and responsibility heavy as carrying a concealed firearm, online only CCW training simply doesn’t measure up. The convenience may look appealing, but the risks far outweigh the benefits.
Here’s why responsible gun owners should think twice before relying on online CCW courses.
1. No Online Course Can Replace Hands-On Firearms Instruction
Firearms are physical tools that require physical skills. Safe handling, proper grip, drawing from concealment, clearing malfunctions, and understanding recoil management cannot be mastered through a screen. Online-only courses skip the most critical part of CCW training: real-world, supervised practice with a qualified instructor.
At Tactical K Training and Firearms, we see firsthand how much correction, coaching, and confidence-building happens on the range — none of which can be replicated by clicking through slides.
2. Online Courses Often Provide Minimal or Outdated Information
Firearm laws change. Use-of-force statutes evolve. State requirements shift. Many online CCW programs recycle the same generic content year after year, leaving students with incomplete or inaccurate legal knowledge. That’s a dangerous place to be when your freedom and future could depend on understanding the law. A legitimate CCW class should include up-to-date legal instruction, scenario discussions, and the opportunity to ask questions — not prerecorded videos with no accountability.
3. No Assessment of Your Skills or Readiness
A CCW permit is not a certificate of ownership — it’s a certification of responsibility. Online-only courses cannot evaluate:
• Your ability to safely handle a firearm
• Your accuracy
• Your judgment under stress
• Your understanding of situational awareness
Responsible instructors will not pass a student who demonstrates unsafe behavior. A website will.
4. Lack of Real Interaction With a Qualified Instructor
One of the most valuable parts of in-person CCW training is the ability to ask questions, get clarification, and learn from real-world examples. Online courses remove that human element entirely.
A good instructor doesn’t just teach — they mentor, correct, and guide. They help students understand not just how to carry, but why certain decisions matter. That level of engagement simply doesn’t exist in online-only programs.
5. Many Online CCW Courses Are Designed for Profit, Not Safety
A large portion of online CCW programs are built to make money, not to build responsible gun owners. They promise fast, cheap, and easy certification — the exact opposite of what concealed carry training should be. Carrying a firearm in public is a life-altering responsibility. It deserves more than a 30-minute online quiz6. Some Online CCW Certificates Are Not Even Valid.
Many states do not accept online-only training for CCW permits. Students often discover this only after paying for the course, printing their certificate, and heading to the sheriff’s office — only to be turned away. In-person training eliminates that risk entirely.
Kielma’s Parting Shot: Your Safety Deserves Better
Online CCW training may seem convenient, but it cannot deliver the depth, accountability, or hands-on experience required to carry a firearm responsibly. A CCW permit isn’t just a piece of paper — it’s a commitment to safety, skill, and sound judgment.
At Tactical K Training and Firearms, we believe every student deserves real instruction, real coaching, and real confidence. That only happens face-to-face, on the range, with a qualified professional who puts safety above convenience.
If you want to carry, train the right way — the responsible way Train with Tactical K Training and Firearms today.
Gregg Kielma
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Being Prepared for the 2026 Hurricane Season By Gregory Kielma, Tactical K Training & Firearms The 2026 Hurricane Season is shaping up to be another year where preparation isn’t optional it’s essential. Florida has seen record heat, rising insurance pressures, rapid population growth, and increasingly unpredictable storm behavior. None of that is meant to create fear. It’s meant to reinforce a simple truth: preparedness gives you control, confidence, and options when the weather turns. Whether you’re protecting a home, a business, or a family, the goal is the same build layers of readiness before the first storm forms. Start With Awareness and a Plan Storms don’t give you time to “figure it out later.” Your plan should be written, practiced, and known by everyone in the household or workplace. Key elements of a solid plan: Where will you go if evacuation becomes necessary Multiple routes out of your area A communication plan if cell networks fail A designated out‑of‑state contact A plan for pets, elderly family members, and anyone with medical needs For businesses, include: Who secures the building Who handles digital backups Who communicates closures and reopening A plan removes panic. It replaces it with action. Strengthen Your Home or Business Before the First Storm Florida structures take a beating every year. Small improvements now prevent major losses later. Exterior protection: Inspect your roof for loose shingles or soft spots Clear gutters and drainage paths Trim trees and remove dead limbs Install or test shutters Reinforce garage doors—one of the most common failure points Interior protection: Surge protection for critical electronics Elevate valuables and important documents Know how to shut off water, power, and gas If you own a business, walk your property as if you were a storm: What can break? What can blow away? What can flood? Fix those points now. Build a Realistic, Usable Supply Kit For Your Home or Business A hurricane kit isn’t about stockpiling, it’s about independence. After a major storm, help may take hours or days to reach your area. For homes and families: Water: 1 gallon per person per day (minimum 3–7 days) Non‑perishable food Medications and medical supplies Flashlights, headlamps, and batteries Battery bank for phones First aid kit Copies of important documents Cash in small bills Tools, gloves, tarps, duct tape For businesses: Backup power for essential systems Printed employee contact lists Hard copies of insurance documents A plan for securing inventory and equipment Preparedness isn’t about fear it’s about not being dependent on luck. Protect Your Digital Life In 2026, digital readiness is just as important as physical readiness. Back up important files to the cloud and an external drive Photograph your home, business, and valuables for insurance Store digital copies of IDs, insurance policies, and receipts Keep chargers, power banks, and a small solar panel if possible When the power goes out, your digital preparation keeps you moving. Understand Post‑Storm Safety Most injuries happen after the storm, not during it. Be cautious with: Downed power lines Flooded roads Carbon monoxide from generators Unstable structures Contaminated water If you evacuated, don’t rush home. Wait for official clearance. Your safety comes first. Mindset: Prepared, Not Paranoid Preparedness is a discipline, not a reaction. It’s the same mindset we teach in every Tactical K class awareness, planning, and responsible action. A hurricane is a natural event. Your response is a choice. When you prepare early, you protect: Your family Your property Your business Your peace of mind And you set an example for your community. Kielma’s Parting Shot The 2026 Hurricane Season will bring challenges, just like every season. But Floridians are resilient, and preparation is part of our way of life. Start now. Strengthen your home, your business, and your plan. Build your layers of safety before the first storm forms. If you need help building a plan, creating a checklist, or preparing your family or business, Tactical K Training is here to support you with practical, real‑world guidance.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking Nine Firearms, Including to Buyer Who Said He Was ‘At War’ Thursday, April 30, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia WASHINGTON - Brandon Smith, 34, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 87 months in prison for conspiring to traffic at least nine firearms to a prohibited buyer over the course of six months, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Brandon Smith was already on supervised probation for a violent felony when he chose to traffic firearms, and he continued even after being told the buyer intended to use them for violence,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Over the course of six months, he arranged the sale of at least nine guns—including one with an obliterated serial number—to a prohibited individual. This was not a momentary lapse in judgment, but a sustained and deliberate effort to arm someone who could not legally possess firearms. My office remains committed to holding accountable those who endanger our communities by trafficking illegal guns.” On Jan. 9, 2026, Smith pleaded guilty before Judge Howell to conspiracy to commit trafficking in firearms. In addition to the 87-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Smith to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 108-month prison term. According to court papers, beginning in November 2023, ATF opened an investigation after a confidential source reported that Smith, then on supervised probation for a violent felony, was actively advertising firearms for sale by texting photographs of guns to prospective buyers, including individuals with prior felony convictions. During the next six months, Smith sold or arranged the sale of nine firearms to a buyer on six separate occasions. During the transactions, Smith sold his own personal carry firearm on multiple occasions when a supplier failed to deliver, then purchased a replacement for himself afterward. In early January 2024, as Smith and the buyer discussed an upcoming transaction, the buyer told Smith he needed the firearms because he was “at war” after his cousin had been killed. Smith proceeded with the sale. The buyer had also told Smith he was serving a criminal justice sentence at the time of the transactions. Smith acknowledged that he, too, was “on papers.” Smith arranged a total of six transactions from Nov. 30, 2023, through May 30, 2024, resulting in the sale of nine firearms. At least one of the firearms had its serial number obliterated. On Oct. 26, 2024, MPD officers conducted a traffic stop on the 1600 block of 16th Street SE and found Smith in the front passenger seat of a parked vehicle. Officers observed open containers of alcohol and discovered a satchel at his feet. Inside the satchel, in plain view, was a loaded Glock Model 19X 9mm handgun with a round in the chamber and 16 additional rounds in the magazine. The bag also contained a bank card and government-issued identification in Smith’s name. Smith has prior convictions for Simple Assault (2011), Attempted Robbery (2013), and Robbery and Possession of a Firearm during a Crime of Violence (2016), for which he was sentenced to five years in prison. He was serving a term of supervised probation from the 2016 conviction at the time of the firearms trafficking conspiracy. This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan. Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking
