Ed Monk: Active Shooter Basics

This class is designed to improve and assess the basics of knowledge and skill for fighting an Active Shooter. This class is suitable for armed citizens, armed school staff, armed church security teams, armed guards, and law enforcement officers. Class consists of 4 hours of classroom lecture (including a working lunch) and 4 hours of live-fire range training.

Classroom instruction starts with a broad study of the Active Shooter and his attacks. It exposes our country’s 4-decades failure in responding to it, trends, lessons-learned, what is most likely to occur, and how attacks differ in different places. It covers details of attacks at schools, churches, businesses, government facilities, and other locations. The instructor gives options and recommendations for both organizational & individual response to this threat. Classroom instruction ends with considerations for armed responders. This includes gear, skill, tactics, training, and mindset. 

Range training focuses on prioritized skills for the armed responder who counterattacks an Active Shooter. This is not a “how to shoot” class. Range training focuses on how to optimize your current skill in a fight against an Active Shooter with 100% accuracy.  It starts with a basic skills assessment. Next is a drill for learning best speed for 100% accuracy, followed by an exercise to determine each student’s max distance for 100% accuracy. Time permitting, we cover alternate positions and accurate shooting while advancing.

For 2026 we are hosting Ed Monk for two classes:

Active Shooter Basics Sat 5/16 (This Class)

Riot & Violent Protest Survival Sun 5/17

Pre-requisites:
This is not a beginner-level class. Students must be completely safe in handling their handgun on a firing line, including drawing, holstering, shooting, loading, reloading, unloading, and malfunction clearing.

Students must have previous training, at a level of at least the Firearms Academy's Level 2: Defensive Handgun course of fire or the equivalent from a reputable shooting school. Please call with any questions about the pre-requisite. Do not sign up unless you are sure you qualify for this class.

Requirements:
Students must also present a valid state issued concealed carry permit/license upon sign in for class. It CANNOT be stressed enough that students enrolling in this course should have the above skills mastered. We will not slow the class down because students cannot keep up. If you question your skill level for this course, please consider enrolling in our other training courses first, before attempting this class.

About Ed Monk, Co-Owner of Last Resort Firearms Training:
Ed Monk is a police officer, firearms trainer, former schoolteacher, and retired Army officer.  He has researched and provided training on the Active Shooter threat for over 17 years. He has trained law enforcement agencies, schools, churches, and businesses nationwide.  He has been an invited speaker at international, national, and state conferences across the country.  In 2007, Ed retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel and battalion commander after 24 years of active-duty in the US, Europe, and Iraq. He then taught high school and served as a deputy sheriff in Kentucky. He now serves as a part-time police officer in Arkansas.  Ed has a BS in US History from West Point, an MS in Adult Education from Kansas State University, and he is a graduate of the US Army’s Command & General Staff College.

TUITION: $325

Equipment:

1. Defensive handgun and at least 2 magazines (more is better)
2. Secure waist holster that covers the trigger guard and allows for 1-handed re-holstering (stays open when gun is removed)
3. 300 rounds of FMJ and 10 rounds HP (your carry) ammo
4. Eye and ear protection
5. Cap or hat with brim
6. Clothing & footwear adequate for outdoor range training
7. Notetaking material
8. Your lunch, snacks, and beverages--we will eat during classroom lecture.