Top Notch Policy
I fully believe that all American citizens who have not previously demonstrated a violent nature (convictions for assault, robbery, domestic violence, etc...) should be able to obtain and use firearms or any other reasonable means of self defense in the protection of themselves and others and for leisure activities such as hunting and target practice. As such, here at Top Notch Training all people are welcome and encouraged to better their knowledge of safe and proper use of firearms, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation, physical handicap, or prior firearms experience (or lack thereof). As such, any student that should make statements or gestures or otherwise demean or insult another student will immediately be asked to leave the instruction setting.
All students are expected to contact instructor via telephone or email at least 24 hours prior to their course to confirm their registration.
All safety rules are expected to be adhered to at all times regardless of the condition of the firearm (loaded, unloaded, dummy/snap-cap ammunition). Special attention will be given to muzzle direction – in very plain English... Do not allow the muzzle of any firearm to ever come in line with another student or instructor or anyone else in the training environment. Repeated failure to observe this important safety rule during classroom training and a single occurrence during a range session may be cause for dismissal and failure of the course.
Most training will be conducted in private or semi-private classroom settings with a maximum of 2:1 student to instructor ratio during range sessions.
NRA, MD HQL, and MD Wear & Carry course curriculum will meet or exceed the minimum standards set forth by the relevant agency (if the course requires 4 hours of instruction, expect a minimum of 4 hours of instruction time – not less).
Students are expected to arrive for training in a good physical and mental state. Please do not attempt to attend class intoxicated, hungover, sleepy, or angry. You will be asked to leave.
Unless prior arrangements are made, classes will be taught at the Westminster training facility and the range sessions will be taught immediately thereafter at the Hap Baker Firearms Facility in Carrol County, MD (approximately 5 minutes away from the training facility). Students will be provided a copy of the range rules at or prior to their arrival to the range. Students will be expected to heed the range rules at all times during training at the range.
Students who may legally carry loaded firearms (W&C permit holders, off duty police, etc...) may retain their firearms during training, but in concurrence with MD and NRA training guidelines, no live ammunition shall be present in the classroom. A lock-box will be present during classroom sessions for the storage of ammunition and loaded magazines, only when the classroom portion of a training session has ended will qualified students/instructor(s) have access to live ammunition.
All Maryland firearms laws are expected to be adhered to at all times – before, during, and after classroom and range training sessions.