Armorer Schools: For cops only

The NRA's Law Enforcement Activities Division (LEAD) offers more than just firearms training for police officers.

In conjunction with some of the nation's foremost law enforcement firearms manufacturers, LEAD plans various armorer schools throughout the year. Active-duty law enforcement officers gather to learn from experts sent by the firearms manufacturers. Classes vary depending on the manufacturer, and content of the class is up to the manufacturer and instructor. The upcoming Oct. 20-22 course sponsored by Ruger, for instance, is limited to 20 students. (Registration is full for this course; see future courses here.) It is held at NRA Headquarters in Fairfax and covers disassembly & reassembly, function, inspection procedures, troubleshooting, and repair of the Ruger P-Series pistols and Mini-14 rifles. Participants earn an Armorer Certificate from Ruger Firearms, good for three years.

According to LEAD Director Glen Hoyer, the tuition-free armorer schools are the manufacturers' way of saying thanks to the officers who put their lives on the line. "We provide administrative assistance for all the courses," Hoyer said. "The firearms manufacturers do everything else. Without them the schools would not exist."

Random drawings select participants, who register online for the chance to attend one of the schools.

In addition to the October Ruger course, manufacturers sponsoring upcoming classes at NRA headquarters include a Nov. 13 Glock school; a Nov. 14 Benelli school; and a Dec. 11-12 Sig Sauer school. The National Police Shooting Championships in Alberquerque also feature some manufacturer-sponsored armorer schools for NPSC competitors.

For more information, contact LEAD at (703) 267-1640 or Lead@nrahq.org.