• On the Courses webpage select an available class option.

• Select the Venue (i.e., the shooting range for your class).

• Select the Date & Time.

• Select the Quantity (i.e., the number of persons attending)

• Click the “Blue Sign Up” button.

• This will add your class to the “Orange Shopping Cart” located on the top right screen of the webpage.

• Click on the “Orange Shopping Cart,” to review your order and then click the “Black Checkout” button.

• Submit your “Payment Information.” After submitting payment, you will receive a confirmation email verifying your purchase.

• NOTE: The online courses titled, “Online MN CCW” and “USCCA Defensive Pistol” require students to sign up through the USCCA’s website. Sign up instructions and course requirements are provided within these individual course descriptions.

• On the Courses webpage select a listed “private class” option.

• Select the Venue (i.e., the shooting range for your class).

• Select the Day & Time.

• Select the Number of Participants (i.e., the number of persons attending your class, including yourself)

• Select the Quantity (i.e., the number of private classes/lessons you want to schedule.) (Select only “1” for Quantity unless you want to schedule multiple classes/lessons, on multiple days, for multiple persons)

• Click the “Blue Sign Up” button.

• This will add your class to the “Orange Shopping Cart” located on the top right screen of the webpage.

• Click on the “Orange Shopping Cart,” to review your order and then click the “Black Checkout” button.

• Submit your “Payment Information.” After submitting payment, you will receive a confirmation email verifying your purchase.

• Within 24 to 48 hours, you will be contacted (email and/or phone) by our lead instructor with available class dates/times. We will make every attempt to meet your selected criteria. After confirming your class date/time with the lead instructor, the lead instructor will provide any other specific class details, so that you may communicate them to your guests.

• NOTE: Howe Safety & Defense, LLC. uses outdoor shooting ranges in Southern Minnesota. Please understand that we must work with our range partners to schedule our trainings in conjunction with their hours-of-operation and shooting events.

• NOTE: Howe Safety & Defense, LLC. will attempt to schedule your private class or lesson within 2 to 4 weeks of your purchase date unless you request a later training date.

• NOTE: You may also first call (651) 472-3256 or email info@HoweSafetyDefense.com to request a specific training date. We recommend providing 2 weeks’ notice of your specific date, so we can attempt to accommodate it.

• Must be at least 18 years of age

• Must complete an application form

• Must not be prohibited from possessing a firearm under Minnesota State Statute 624.714

• Must not be listed in the criminal gang investigation system

• Must be a resident of the county from which you are requesting a permit, if you reside in Minnesota. Non-residents may apply to any Minnesota county sheriff.

• Must provide certificate of completed authorized firearms training. Training by a certified instructor must be completed within one year of an original or renewal application. (624.714, Subd. 2a)

The Minnesota Concealed Carry class goes into great detail to discuss these items as it is part of the curriculum. However, if you’re unsure about enrolling please contact info@howesafetydefense.com or (651) 472-3256 for assistance. In addition, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) maintains an excellent, “Permit to Carry FAQ,” page. This webpage does a great job of listing the common questions persons have about the MN carry permit.

Having some familiarity with firearms is beneficial, but specific firearms experience is not a prerequisite. A conceal carry class isn’t really designed to teach persons how to shoot a handgun properly. These classes’ are primarily for educating persons on: the legal aspects of handling and defensive use of firearms; situational awareness and conflict avoidance; the psychology/physiology of violent encounters; and overall fundamentals of firearms safety. However, we expect the majority of students coming to our permit classes are inexperienced with firearms (or handguns in particular). Consequently, our presentations put a strong emphasis on safety and proper shooting fundamentals.

If you own a handgun you are encouraged to bring and use your own gun. It is important to use and train with the actual firearm you intend to carry. If you don’t own a handgun, you may use ours for free.

This is a frequent question we receive, and we’ve had several students confide that they are hesitant in pursuing their concealed carry permit due to the shooting qualification. We expect the majority of students coming to our permit classes are inexperienced with firearms (or handguns in particular). Consequently, our presentations put a strong emphasis on safety and proper shooting fundamentals. To improve the student’s odds of successfully completing the class, we incorporate SIRT training pistols and rubber simulation pistols into our classroom curriculum. By allowing students hands-on training in the classroom we’ve found it helps students immediately acquire feedback and then transfer their developing skills to the shooting range. The actual shooting qualification is achieving 70% accuracy on a 8”x11” target at a maximum distance of 21 feet. We work with each student individually to ensure safety is always maintained, and we will provide some coaching on student shooting fundamentals as needed.

A student could fail the shooting qualification by a few different ways. Failure by: intentionally/unintentionally operating a firearm in an unsafe or reckless manner; failing to follow directions from the instructor(s) or Range Safety Officer; or failing to achieve an accuracy of 70%. However, if a student fails they may ask to schedule a private lesson at an additional cost. Please see, “Private Shooting Lesson: Handguns” for details. This private lesson will be used to work on the student’s shooting fundamentals, so the student can safely achieve an accuracy of 70% and complete the course.

Yes. we understand that persons may be somewhat nervous on attending a firearms training class with other persons, or they may just desire 1-to-1 training with an instructor. We can conduct any of the listed training courses for individuals or small groups of students. We can also develop customized training solutions to meet students’ training needs. Please see our course listings or contact info@howesafetydefense.com or (651) 472-3256 for assistance and pricing.

No, we do not provide this training. However, the following link “Hunter Education/Firearms Safety Certification for Youth” provides direct access to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website. From here, parents can review and select a training option for their child..

There are many excellent firearms training companies and instructors in Minnesota, and you should research to find a company/trainer that fits your specific needs. Howe Safety & Defense strives to educate and empower our students in preparation for protecting themselves and their families from violent encounters. To facilitate our training mission our classes are kept small, so students can readily ask questions and interact directly with the instructor. This type of classroom environment facilitates discussion, assists with material retention, and promotes student learning and engagement. Finally, various training tools and practical exercises are incorporated directly into the curriculum, so students can start applying the learned materials. Howe Safety & Defense is a good choice for students that are serious about their personal protection. Remember, when looking for a class you’re not just investing your money for a permit to carry or how to learn to shoot better… you’re primarily investing in yourself and your education to help survive a violent encounter and its aftermath.

No. A Minnesota Carry Permit is recognized by several other states. The website Handgunlaw.us is a great resource for what states recognize your Minnesota permit.

There are a variety of shooting ranges located throughout Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) maintains a searchable “Shooting Range Directory.” This tool is useful in helping find a range near you.

Our recommendation is to contact the range’s owner or board of directors to learn what the range’s specific requirements are, and what shooting activities are offered. The following list provides some questions to consider when selecting a range:

• Is it indoor or outdoor?

• What are its days/hours of operation?

• Is the range staffed during normal business hours?

• Is the range open to the public or does it require membership?

• Can members bring guests (e.g., spouse, kids, friends, etc.)

• What is the cost (e.g., range fees, memberships, equipment rentals, etc.)?

• What are the range’s specific safety rules, and what range commands are used?

• Any spoken or unspoken shooter etiquette (e.g., being respectful, sharing facilities with other members, picking up spent casings, removing used targets and trash, etc.)?

• Does the range restrict certain equipment or shooting activities (e.g., types of targets used, ammunition or caliber restrictions, no rapid-fire shooting, no drawing/firing from holster, etc.)?

• Who can you contact for questions, concerns, or additional help?

Howe Safety & Defense is located in Owatonna Minnesota. However, Howe Safety & Defense does not have a permanent office or training facility that is open to the public. We conduct scheduled classes at the following public location(s); as well as, other privately owned venues.

New Richland Area Sportsmen's Club

23236 State Hwy 13

New Richland, MN 56072

Cedar Valley Conservation Club

25026 US Hwy 218

Austin, MN 55912

The "20" Rifle & Pistol Club and Straight River Archery Club

1675 Northwest 50th Street

Medford, MN 55049

We will generate and send a replacement certificate at a cost of $10.00. Please contact info@howesafetydefense.com or (651) 472-3256 for assistance.

We proudly recommend to our students interested in learning more about the legal aspects of self-defense, to pursue further training with Attorney Andrew F. Branca, and “The Law of Self Defense, LLC.” Attorney Branca has three decades practicing law, and he is highly specialized in the areas of self-defense law. He has worked numerous cases advising lawyers on strategies to optimize their clients’ affirmative self-defense claims.

Attorney Branca and LOSD provide excellent training courses that are delivered in “plain-English” and thoroughly cover the legalities of self-defense. In addition, we also highly recommend his bestselling book, “Law of Self Defense Principals.”

To quote Attorney Branca, "You carry a gun so you're hard to kill. Know the law so you're hard to convict."

Website: The Law of Self Defense, LLC

Due to limited seating, we request that you cancel at least 48 hours before your scheduled class. This gives us the opportunity to fill these empty seats. Cancellations in advance of 48 hours are eligible for a refund (minus any transaction fees).

Cancellations with less than 48 hours’ notice are not eligible for a refund and will result in a fee of 100% of the course price. Student “no shows” are not eligible for a refund and will result in a fee of 100% of the course price. There are no refunds if a student fails to complete the course in its entirety. This means students must meet attendance requirements and pass any required examinations or shooting qualifications.

If Howe Safety & Defense must cancel a training class, the student will be issued a full refund (including all transaction fees).

To cancel please contact: info@howesafetydefense.com.