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I am an NRA Certified Firearms Instructor in Basic Pistol, Personal Protection, and Home Firearms Safety, and also, a Glock Certified Armorer.
As a professional clinical psychologist and a concerned citizen with an astute interest in firearms and shooting, I believe that I bring to my
trainings a unique understanding of the clinical aspects of aggression and fear.
September 11th, 2001
After September 11th, 2001, I felt compelled to get serious, intensive
firearms training, and I embarked on a training odyssey. I repeated the
Basic NRA Pistol Course at a new school, and I took the subsequent NRA
Personal Protection Course. I took both courses at Pistol People, Inc. and
the Pennsylvania Lethal Weapons Institute in Bensalem, PA (www.pistolpeople.com).
I began training at the range regularly and shooting IDPA tournaments (IDPA:
www.idpa.com). As my earliest training was
with a Glock pistol (www.glock.com) and
with a Smith & Wesson .38 special/.357 magnum revolver (www.smithandwesson.com),
these were the firearms I mostly trained with.
As my interest in handguns and long guns developed, I expanded my repertoire
to other quality semi-automatic pistols (e.g., SIGARMS, Heckler & Koch,
Beretta, Smith and Wesson, Kahr Arms, Seecamp, Kel-Tec, North American Arms)
and long guns (e.g., Remington, Winchester, Mossberg and Benelli shotguns,
Colt; ArmaLite, and Bushmaster AR-15 carbines and Kalashnikov AK variants).
Tactical
Training
After September 11th, I sought out and took defensive firearm training
(handgun and shotgun), and tactical training, at some of the finest tactical
training schools (e.g., Firearms Research & Instruction:
www.f-r-i.com; Thunder Ranch:
www.thunderranchinc.com; Yavapai Firearms Academy:
www.yfainc.com);
Defense Training International:
www.defense-training.com; and the Lethal Force Institute:
www.ayoob.com.
The “Essential Guide
to Handguns”
In 2002, I began a collaboration with retired Philadelphia Police veteran
and Police Firearms Instructor, Steve Rementer of Pistol People, Inc. on a
basic book on defensive handgunning. Our little book, Essential Guide to
Handguns: Firearm Instruction for Personal Defense and Protection was
published in 2005 by Looseleaf Law Publications, Inc. (www.looseleaflaw.com/catalog/
list.html).
Concealed Carry Magazine
In 2004, I became a regular contributing editor to Concealed Carry Magazine
(www.concealedcarrymag.com).
I write a regular column entitled The Armed Senior Citizen, and I often do
gun and gear reviews.
I am passionate about our Second Amendment Right to Keep and Bear Arms (RKBA)
and about firearms training for self-defense. This led me, in 2004, to take
the approved NRA instructor training to become a NRA Certified Firearms
Instructor.
I am an NRA Life Member and a proud member of Gun Owners of America.
I obtained my PA Concealed Carry Handgun Permit in 2001 right after
September 11 th.
I obtained my Florida Concealed Carry Handgun Permit in 2003, my Utah Carry
Permit in 2004, and my Virginia Permit in 2005.
Coping with Uncertainty
After our country was attacked on September 11th, 2001, I wrote a book to
apply the principles of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology to help people
cope with anxiety and uncertainty. The book is entitled, Coping With Uncertainty: 10
Simple Solutions (www.newharbinger.com/
searchproducts.cfm).
It seemed that my psychology training and background and my firearms
knowledge could be combined to help people better understand firearms,
firearm safety, and how to prepare oneself to use a firearm to defend one’s
life if necessary. I began to study the psychology of lethal force and
combat preparedness (see “Psychological Preparedness for
Combat Survival”). I began to study how to best train people to be prepared
to survive should the “moment of truth” happen to them.
“RKBA”
I firmly believe in the U.S. Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and the 2nd
Amendment and the citizen’s Right to Keep and Bear Arms (RKBA). The best way
to support it, and preserve our freedom is to own firearms, get properly
trained, and exercise our legal right to obtain a concealed carry firearm
permit in as many states as we can.
THE BEST DETERRENT TO CRIME IS FOR CRIMINALS TO BE
UNCERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT THEIR POTENTIAL VICTIM IS ARMED!
Right now, getting a Non-resident Florida Concealed Carry Handgun Permit,
gives you the legal right to carry in 29 states. This is the most “bang” for
your buck.
Concealed Carry Training
I am passionate about what I do. I have been a psychology professor, workshop instructor, clinical hypnosis and psychology clinician, and psychotherapist for 30 years. I have carried this passion with me in teaching law abiding citizens how to safely use and carry firearms to defend themselves.
Why am I qualified to sell concealment holsters and gear?
Once I got involved in my concealed carry odyssey, after September 11th,
2001, I began to buy and evaluate different firearms, concealed carry gear
and concealment holsters. I accumulated hundreds and hundreds of holsters
and concealment rigs. Naturally, they took up more storage space than I had.
So, I gave away a lot of things.
I also began to advise folks about holsters, and concealed carry options, as
people were coming to me frequently for advice. I learned what was good and
what wasn’t; what worked and what did not. It was a natural for me to
transition into selling concealment products. I also began writing about
concealment gear in Concealed Carry Magazine. (See
“A Concise Guide to Concealment Holsters”).
As with everything else I do, I am passionate about helping you find the
right concealment rig for you. Trust me. I would not sell, or recommend
anything that I would not use myself. We are talking about survival here.
ACT 235 Psychological Lethal Weapons Evaluations of Security Personnel
As a licensed clinical psychologist, I also specialize in performing
Psychological Lethal Weapons Evaluations of Security Personnel under PA Act
235 and Fitness for Duty evaluations for law enforcement.
Clinical and Forensic Hypnosis
As a board certified behavioral psychologist, and Fellow of the American
Society of Clinical Hypnosis (www.asch.net),
I specialize in Forensic Hypnosis, following the FBI model, wherein I work
with law enforcement and investigators in utilizing hypnosis to gather clues
in cold cases.
In my clinical psychology practice, I specialize in Clinical Hypnotherapy
for performance enhancement, habit control and modification, smoking
cessation, weight loss, the treatment of anxiety and phobias (e.g., weapons
phobia, a.k.a., “hoplophobia” and flying phobia), clinical depression, and
pain management. (see www.hypnosisgroup.com).
PDS
I (BNE) am proud to be a part of Personal Defense Solutions, LLC, (PDS)
where I teach concealed carry classes and NRA Basic Pistol and Personal
Protection classes. I also provide one-on-one individual, firearms
instruction at any one of a number of indoor or outdoor range facilities.
My wife, Andrea, and I reside in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. For
your convenience, we are also PA Notary Publics.
In that capacity, her main interest is teaching women self-defense and the safe use, care, and keeping of personal defense handguns. She is also a PA Notary Public.
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