MAG-40-Armed Citizens' Rules of Engagement + Livefire Course

Taught in person by Massad Ayoob

A high intensity, four-day, 40-hour immersion course in rules of engagement for armed law-abiding private citizens, emphasizing legal issues, tactical issues, and aftermath management. Classroom topics will include understanding lethal force issues, interacting with suspects, witnesses, responding police officers, threat recognition and mind-set, how to deal with violent opponents at gunpoint, management of social and psychological aftermath after having had to use lethal force in defense of self or others, and "Courtroom Survival" including preparing beforehand for legal repercussions and minimizing exposure to them. Situations in the home, at the place of business, or "on the street" will all be covered.

Prerequisite: This class is suitable for shooters of all levels. Concealed Pistol License or LE Credentials must be presented the first day of class.

For 2026 we are hosting Mas for an overlapping MAG-40 and Deadly Force Instructor. There are multiple registration options below including being able to take MAG-20 Live Fire and MAG-20 Classroom separately. Please Contact Us if you have any questions before registering and consult the links below for more information about the individual classes. Please do not register for overlapping classes.

MAG-20 Live Fire Sat/Sun 7/18 to 7/19

MAG-20 Classroom Mon/Tues 7/20 to 7/21

MAG-40 Sat-Tues 7/18 to 7/21 (Register Below)

Deadly Force Instructor Mon-Friday 7/20 to 7/24 (Can be taken in combination with MAG-20 Live Fire)

TUITION: $1000

Live fire instruction includes

• Core Pistol and/or Revolver techniques
• Emergency reload techniques
• Several Stances and different grip techniques
• Shooting with strength and speed
• Cover positions
• Shooting at distances from 4 yard to accuracy out to 15 yards
• Strong hand only as well as weak hand only techniques
• Alternate sighting techniques for speed and accuracy

About the instructor:
For over three decades, the Firearms Academy of Seattle, Inc. has hosted Massad Ayoob in the Pacific Northwest, making his exceptional training courses accessible to area residents. Ayoob's qualifications to teach this material is unparalleled--

• Nationally recognized as an authority on use of deadly force
• Sought-after expert court witness
• Fully-sworn police officer, involved in law enforcement since 1972
• Holds numerous state and national titles for pistol competition
• Chairman of firearms training for the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers
• Trainer for police and private citizens in variety of skills and topics including use of deadly force, armed and unarmed combat, threat management for police, and advanced officer survival
• Appears selectively as court-appointed expert witness in areas of dynamics of violent encounters, weapons, self defense, police training, and survival and threat management tactics and principles
• Author of many books, monographs and articles too numerous to list; author and key instructor in eight instructional videotapes

Equipment list:

1. A good quality handgun (we suggest the gun you normally carry). A second handgun is not a bad idea, either. We have seen students' guns break down during these classes. At least three spare magazines or speedloaders (the more the better), with belt carriers.
2. 500 rounds of FMJ handgun ammunition.
3. Belt holster with covered trigger guard (no fanny packs, shoulder holsters, small-of-the-back holsters or soft, collapsible inside-the-pants holsters, please). The holster must be rigid, and you must be able to holster one-handed.
4. Ear muffs and wrap-around eye protection plus baseball type cap with visor (all 3 mandatory).
5. Clothing suitable for spending all day outdoors in the Pacific Northwest. The range is outside, but has covered shooting positions
6. Notepad and pen for note taking; laptop computer allowed, recording devices not allowed.
7. Food and beverages for lunch and snacks.