| Experience Level | Description | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Novice | Students without an understanding of firearm safety, shooting fundamentals, or experience handling and shooting firearms | Beginner Pistol AR-15 Fundamentals Women's Clinic Maryland Handgun Qualification License (HQL) Private Range Lessons |
| Beginner | Students with knowledge of firearm safety, shooting fundamentals, and minimal experience handling and shooting firearms | Beginner Pistol / Defensive Pistol AR-15 Fundamentals / AR-15 Personal and Home Defense MD Wear & Carry Multistate Carry Private Range Lessons |
| Intermediate | Students with a good understanding and demonstrable use of firearm safety, shooting fundamentals, and adequate experience handling and shooting firearms (e.g. security personnel, law enforcement, hobbyists) | CCW/HQL Renewals Defensive Pistol AR-15 Personal and Home Defense MD CCW Private/Group Range Lessons |
| Advanced | Students with a demonstrable understanding of firearm safety, shooting fundamentals, and a substantial amount of experience handling and shooting firearms (e.g. armed security personnel, police, competition shooters). Students in the advanced category shoot consistently on a weekly (bare minimum bi-weekly) basis for work or competition. | G Tactical instructors conduct range exercises for advanced students using live-fire drills suited to maintain, enhance, sharpen, and test students' skill sets; however, G Tactical does not offer courses catered to advanced students at this time. G Tactical will gladly make course recommendations for advanced students. |
The training requirements to own a gun vary from state to state. Maryland residents are required to obtain a Handgun Qualification License (HQL) prior to purchasing, renting, or receiving a handgun in the State of Maryland. You do not need to take a class to purchase a gun in Virginia and Washington, DC. DC requires you to register your firearms with the District, and a Federal Firearms License (FFL) dealer will be able to assist with this process.
Do I need a permit to buy a gun?
What class should I take to obtain the training required to apply for an HQL?
G Tactical offers two courses that meet the training requirements for a MD HQL: the Handgun Qualification License (HQL) and the MD Wear and Carry courses.
What class should I take to obtain the training required to apply for a Maryland Wear and Carry permit?
G Tactical offers the comprehensive MD Wear and Carry Permit course. This course consists of 16 hours in the classroom and two hours on the range.
Do you have to take the HQL and the MD Wear and Carry?
No. You are not required to take both classes. The HQL course meets the training requirement for students to apply for a MD Handgun Qualification License (HQL), which allows you to buy, rent, and receive handguns in the State of Maryland. The MD Wear and Carry course meets the training requirements to apply for a MD wear and carry permit, which allows MD residents and non-residents to carry concealed on or about their person in non-restricted locations. The HQL course will not meet the training requirements to apply for a MD wear and carry permit; however, the MD Wear and Carry course does meet the training requirements for students to apply for both the MD HQL and the MD wear and carry permit.
Do I need to have my own gun to train with G Tactical?
No. G Tactical has firearms for students to use for training in the classroom and on the range. If you do have your own firearm, we encourage you to bring your firearm to your training classes to increase your familiarity with your gun. If you do not own a firearm, G Tactical will give you personal recommendations based on your needs and intended use.
How often should I train live-fire on the range?
Individuals who own firearms for home protection or carry concealed for personal protection should participate in live-fire training as often as possible. For individuals who carry concealed for personal protection, G Tactical recommends weekly/bi-weekly firearms training. At a minimum, individuals who carry concealed should conduct live-fire range training monthly. For perspective, those who choose to attend the range once per month are only live-fire training with a handgun capable of inflicting serious bodily injury and/or death to another human being 12 out of 365 days. Similarly, those who are training bi-weekly are only practicing 24 out of 365 days. How proficient do you want to be in an intense, life or death situation where innocent bystanders can be injured or killed due to your negligence? Are you prepared for such a liability?
Can I obtain a concealed carry permit and use marijuana?
Most states, including the State of Maryland, prohibit habitual users of marijuana (or any controlled substance) from possessing and carrying firearms.