Category Archives: Action Training Group

The Action Training Group

Church safety has become a huge issue across the United States. Many training programs and support operations have sprung up offering training and information for security teams.  The development of armed church safety teams and the relatively new industry  that has grown up to equip and train church teams is part of a massive moveContinue reading “The Action Training Group”

Idaho: Attracting Gun and Knife Manufacturers

Republished from Sandpoint PR January 29,2014

Mark Knapp, a Federal Way and Spokane, Washington firearms lawyer, believes strongly in our Constitutional right to bear arms. He is passionate about firearms safety and proper training. As with any contributing writer, Knapp’s opinions are his own and not necessarily those of SandpointPR.com.

Idaho Beckons Gun Manufacturers

In September of 2013, the Idaho Firearm and Accessories Manufacturers’ Association announced that Idaho needs to find new workers for its $500 million firearms and ammunition industries. Idaho presently has an expanding manufacturing base for guns and ammo that cannot expand without a skilled workforce.

Jeff Sayer, director of the Idaho Department of Commerce, told a forum at Boise State University that one Idaho manufacturer would triple in size if it could hire more machinists with gun manufacturing skills. The Idaho Department of Commerce was at the 2014 Shot Show in Las Vegas along with Idaho manufacturers like MGM Targets, Nightforce Optics, Buck Knives, ATK, Integrity Ballistics, Riverman Gun Works and Unique ARs, to name a few of the many exhibitors and businesses that booth space with Idaho Commerce.

The Idaho Constitution and state statutes provide a protection for Idaho firearms and ammunition manufacturers that protects the industry from the kind of lawsuits that are designed to wear down manufacturers and drive up the price of the product for gun owners. This may be part of the reason that the state of Idaho has seen 50% growth of firearms and ammunition manufacturing over the last 10 years. Additionally, the largest producer of .22 and .223 caliber ammunition in the nation, CCI, a brand within the ATK Sporting Group, is located in Lewiston, Idaho.

There are also over 2 dozen manufacturers of custom arms, aftermarket parts, and specialized ammunition. For example, Riverman Gun Works, located in Coeur d’Alene is a manufacturer of MP5 Clones, ARs, custom 1911’s and a spring-loaded bolt action rifle which disassembles in two easy steps.

The Modular Breakdown Rifle can convert to multiple calibers. I visited their shop recently and picking up and handling their custom built AR-style rifles is a pleasure that will be understood by anyone that appreciates modern sporting rifles.

Knife companies are also finding Idaho to be hospitable to manufacturing. Buck Knives, also mentioned above, relocated to Post Falls after years in the San Diego area and even brought many of its workers from California several years ago.

MGM Targets of Caldwell hosts the MGM Ironman 3-Gun Competition in Parma, Idaho every year. Their hosting has become a premier event that brings many competitors and their sponsors in to shoot rifles, pistols and shotguns at hundreds of steel and paper targets. The shooting challenge ranges from firing from a zip line, shooting while running through trenches and firing while perched on top of a tower. Targets for the Ironman 3-Gun Match are arranged from close-quarters battle formation out to hundreds of yards. The 3-day event challenges the endurance of competitors and their equipment alike.

The whole state of Idaho is benefiting as more manufacturers find their way into the state. PNW Arms relocated from Issaquah, WA, to an area 2 miles north of Potlatch. The City of Potlatch has now announced that guns are a natural fit for its economic development plan. The City is working on converting the old Potlatch mill into a location for firearms-related manufacturing and other outdoor recreation companies. There may even be gun shops and residential development included in the mix!

But other states like Montana are busy doing the same thing and the competition to attract manufacturers is fierce. That is why the time has come to create venues that will offer the potential to showcase shooting sports in ways that make the world stand up and take notice.

“Shooting while dangling from a zip line two stories up in the air is something folks will pay to see and experience. Add full automatic weapons and moving targets that simulate real-life tactical scenarios and every manufacturer in the world will sit up and take notice.”

~Mark Knapp

It starts with a friendly business environment and the vision to make things happen. But Idaho schools need to make sure students drill down on reading and arithmetic. Vocational programs at all levels that include specialized machinist courses, gunsmithing and other manufacturing skills will balance out the equation for Idaho’s prosperity during a time that has seen much of the rest of the world drifting in the doldrums.

ATG Presents Safety Team Programs for North Idaho & Spokane Area Churches

Action Training Group Monthly Membership Meeting. Kenny Moore spoke at our monthly ATG Membership Meeting at the Post Falls Cabela’s on May 26. Kenny led the security team at the Candlelight Church team in Coeur d’Alene when they got started. Kenny, a retired Lt. Colonel, USMC, shared that the best approach is to look atContinue reading “ATG Presents Safety Team Programs for North Idaho & Spokane Area Churches”

The Beef in Your Marketing Arsenal?

The LAW OFFICE OF MARK KNAPP provides NFA Gun Trusts, protects the gun rights of individuals and represents those who are charged with crimes in the State of Washington; i.e., criminal defense work. We have also been very involved in forming and promoting the Action Training Group in North Idaho and the greater Spokane area.Continue reading “The Beef in Your Marketing Arsenal?”

Action Training Group Reaching Shooting Public & Veterans in Post Falls

On Tuesday, April 25, my wife and I visited a Disabled American Veterans meeting at the American Legion in Post Falls, Idaho. The objective was to invite the members to get involved in the Action Training Group, a shooting club that focuses on Church Safety training drills. We need volunteers to train new shooters, organizeContinue reading “Action Training Group Reaching Shooting Public & Veterans in Post Falls”

Armed Citizen Group Forming in Spokane Valley

http://www.armeddefense.org/

We started the ARMED DEFENSE TRAINING ASSOCIATION several years ago. We met for many years in a church in Federal Way. The Federal Way ADTA chapter presently meets in a Senior Community Center. When we start a similar group in Spokane Valley or even North Idaho, it could be a great opportunity for professional trainers who are willing to come in and help us on a volunteer basis. This will give trainers an opportunity to create relationships with potential clients. We should also reach out to churches and other community organizations.

We need 5 or 6 men and women that are committed to attending a meeting to discuss feasibility and create the structure. Participating in action shooting drills is a challenge for any organization because it can be time consuming and costly. We do not take the place of professional shooting schools. Nevertheless, we will have members that have the professional experience and credentials to help all the volunteers work safely and effectively implement training programs!

A church- or even a library- is an ideal location for monthly membership meetings and some occasional classroom education. We need names of potential members and leaders, that might be interested in such a self-defense group.

The ADTA is completely apolitical and simply encourages experienced shooters to help inexperienced shooters. A new Spokane area program modeled on the ADTA concept with similar objectives and protocols would present monthly live-fire events. Most ranges do not permit shoot-on-the-move or even rapid fire from the holster.

We will seek to arrange exclusive use of a range for 2-4 hours in order to set up drills for shooters to engage multiple targets on the move and from cover. The new group will present other educational activities like New Shooter Clinics, Firearms Law seminars, Personal Protection in the Home classes, etc, that can occur on the range and/or in a classroom or larger facility.

What we propose is to start a group in the Spokane Valley and/or North Idaho area that will be similar to the ADTA. We can present events that are similar to IDPA matches. We plan to start out without the competitive aspect of IDPA which often intimidates even experienced shooters. Nothing would prevent us from presenting competitive shooting events in the future, however. If the interest exists and we have a range facility that is practical to host such matches, we will be discussing these and other programs.

The ADTA, with about 100 members, has a new chapter in Mount Lake Terrace and may be close to starting another chapter.

Please also forward this message to friends- especially church members, members of law enforcement and other community oriented organizations that might be interested. I encourage those with questions to call me or send me an email. Contact information is at http://www.firearmsLawyer.net.