Frequently Asked Questions

1. I have been shooting for years. Why do I have to start at a basic level?
Many people who have been shooting for years either never had any real instruction or may have had the wrong kind of instruction. It is actually easier to teach someone from scratch than break old habits that prohibit a shooter from being really accurate. In our experience, the people who accelerate the fastest are the ones who come to us with an open mind and the willingness to learn new skills to become more accomplished shooters. Our basic class is our most important one. It is the class upon which you will build all your shooting skills and upon which you will advance the fastest. If you have already attended other firearms schools, you may qualify for an intermediate or even advanced course with us. See the "rating your skills" section on our home page.

2. How is your training different from other schools?
Very simply, the quality of instruction, cost of classes, equipment we use, and teaching techniques. We train everyone to draw from a holster in a specific manner. We teach use of deadly force and how to survive in a shooting. While other schools might teach methodology, everything we teach has been field-tested and works in the "real world". Our equipment has been designed and fabricated by us to simulate real life shootings. Over the last year and a half, 16 of the police officers we have trained have been involved in shootings using our techniques. They have all survived without serious injury and had "clean" shootings. That kind of success speaks for itself. It works.

3. How are your instructors different than at other schools?
Our instructors are active duty law enforcement officers from elite divisions of the LAPD who are all certified by the department to teach Handgun, Shotgun and Rifle. Many of them have been instructors and operators on the S.W.A.T. team. They are up to date on weapon systems, trends in crime that may affect you, and will keep you informed on the latest shootings that have transpired. While many schools use instructors from small police departments who have had little or no experience in the use of deadly force, or civilians instructors who have attended some firearms schools, we use only very seasoned officers. Our instructors are not clones of one another who recite a lesson plan given to them, but each brings his or her own knowledge and experience to a class. You will get many different perspectives on training. Our advice to you is that before you attend any school, find out the credentials of the instructors and verify that they are who they say they are. You'd be surprised at how many "well-known" instructors are not who they appear to be. Let's leave it at that!

4. How come I've never heard of your school if you have such great instructors and
courses?
While many schools have enormous budgets for marketing and advertising, they pass that expense on to you. Our students come to us by word of mouth and we are able to pass on that savings to you. Our one-day classes are only $150. And most of our courses pack two days of training into one because we usually run several ranges at once. Our courses are highly dynamic and will challenge you.

5. How do I know which class to take and where to start?
Go to our link marked "Rating your skills" on the home page. It will give you a guideline of what skills you will need to enter a specific level of training.

6. What is the closest airport to your facility and are there hotels and restaurants
near by?
LAX is approximately 40 minutes from our range and Burbank Airport is
only a 15 minute drive. There are numerous hotels within 15 minutes of the
range and also a great many restaurants and shops. If you go to our "directions" link on the home page, it will take you to map quest and give you driving directions.

7. How do I sign up for a course?
Go to our home page and click on the navigation bar on the left that says,
"How to enroll". It's very simple and there are several payment options.

8. What if I want to take a specific class but don't own the appropriate weapon?
We rent out every kind of firearm so you don't need to bring your own.
Please let us know in advance if you will need a specific firearm.

9. I work for a police agency and several of us want to take a class that we don't
see listed on your schedule. Do you put on classes for private groups?
We do a great deal of private training, both for individuals and groups. If
you want private training, we will be happy to set it up for you at your range or ours. Our instructors travel to locations around the world to put on courses. We will be very happy to set up private training based on your needs for law enforcement, military or civilian groups. Contact us for details.

10. I will be flying in from out of town. Can I ship my gun to you before the class?
Firearms cannot be shipped to anyone except a gun dealer. You can, however,
rent one from us at a nominal fee but this should be arranged beforehand.

11. What do I need to bring to a class and what should I wear?
Wear sensible clothing appropriate for a rustic outdoor setting, the same as you might wear hiking. For example, 4-inch high heel boots and a tank top are not a good choice, especially for you guys, but comfortable loose-fitting pants and a t-shirt that tucks into your slacks would be appropriate! Wear comfortable, sensible shoes and a top that covers your shoulders and mid-section and bring a jacket or sweatshirt. The weather can change quickly on the range. If you are coming to a basic class, wear a sturdy leather belt at least 1 inch thick and bring sunscreen and a hat to keep the sun out. Be sure to bring some kind of eye protection such as sunglasses or shooting glasses. No one is allowed on the range without eye and ear protection. If you are attending an intermediate or advanced level class, you should bring a holster, spare magazines, the appropriate rounds, a magazine pouch, and a well-cleaned and oiled firearm.

12. I purchased a package of classes from ITTS. Can I use this package to attend specialty classes or those offered by guest instructors?
We regret that we are no longer offering the series of classes. If you have already purchased a series, you must keep track of which classes you have attended as we don't have the resources to do so. Please note that any courses offered by guest instructors are not covered in the series. The series covers only regular courses taught by staff instructors. Any courses or series of courses that include guest instructors do not qualify. We also expect students to attend classes within a reasonable period of time. Class packages are not transferable to friends or family members and can only be used by the person who originally purchasing the series. Thank you for your understanding.