Firearms Training 
Below are the training classes to be offered by Paul and Susan Piscator.
Register today for all of our training opportunities. These courses are definitely top notch, and you can never know too much about the safe handling of a firearm!
Defensive Shooting Tactics
Program
As a licensed individual carrying a firearm one of the primary requisites is be trained to face sudden close quarter lethal encounter(s). Unfortunately, a serious gap exists between qualification training and what actually works or is employed in the real world. Separating life from death your survival depends on a quick and decisive response and at the same time not effectuating or executing innocent lives. This course teaches how to react and deploy a handgun quickly and accurately against armed suspect(s). The program carries out specific preparation and advanced firearm training. Immortalize: “Your performance is directly related to your ability to avoid panicking and trying to think of what to do, instead of doing. Connect and adapt to the situation.” This is the course purpose.
Required Student Equipment:
- Eye Protection
- Hearing Protection
- Billed Cap
- Carry Handgun
- Holster
- 200 – 250 Rounds of Ammunition
Schedule:
- Day 1 Saturday, April 28, 2018
- Day 2 Saturday, May 5, 2018
- Day 1 Saturday, August 11, 2018
- Day 2 Saturday, August 18, 2018
- Course Length: 1 & 1/2 days
- Course conducted: between 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM on day one and 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM on day two
- Handouts: Reference and Lecture Material; Gun Safety Rules Brochure; Chapter 5, General Principles of Justification Criminal Code of Pennsylvania and Student Certificate
- Registration Fee: $175.00. $25.00 refundable deposit required with registration application
For further information on these courses and other programs available, please contact Paul Piscator, S&W Certified Instructor at (610) 847-5396 or padona@epix.net
Advanced Defensive Shooting Tactics
Program
Once we leave a safe environment we need to recognize a bad situation, evaluate, and effectuate the proper response consciously, proceeding from compulsion or necessity lethal force and dealing with the aftermath. This program’s purpose is being able to handle competently, threat evaluation/recognition, weapon presentation, target isolation, low light shooting and tactical illumination. Additionally, moving target acquisition, shooting on the move, less than ideal shooting positions (on the ground, prone, supine, kneeling, regaining mobility), shoot/no shoot decision making and ambidextrous shooting and one hand reloading will be covered in the course.
Required Student Equipment:
- Eye Protection
- Hearing Protection
- Billed Cap
- Carry Handgun
- Holster
- 200 – 250 Rounds of Ammunition
Schedule:
- Day 1 Saturday, November 3, 2018
- Day 2 Saturday, November 11, 2018
- Course Length: 1 & 1/2 days
- Course conducted: between 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM on day one and 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM on day two
- Handouts: Reference and Lecture Material; Gun Safety Rules Brochure; Chapter 5, General Principles of Justification Criminal Code of Pennsylvania and Student Certificate
- Registration Fee: $200.00. $25.00 refundable deposit required with registration application
For further information on these courses and other programs available, please contact Paul Piscator, S&W Certified Instructor at (610) 847-5396 or padona@epix.net
Additional Training Opportunities
Introduction to the Handgun for – Women Only
The purpose of this program is to educate women who have no knowledge or limited knowledge of handguns and want to become informed and understand the basic operation of the handgun, safe handling of the firearm and proper shooting techniques. Additionally, the program will address the use of the handgun for personal protection.
This educational program will be conducted in two half day sessions. The first half is comprised of lectures, hands on demonstrations, questions and answers, open discussion, reviewing the various types of handguns with personal defense in mind. On the second half day session will be shooting exercises focusing on the correct procedures for shooting a handgun as well as covering the basics in a defensive situation.
Course Instructors – Paul & Susan Piscator are Smith & Wesson Certified Firearms Instructors including Basic Firearms, Home Firearm Safety and Personal Protection Instructors for the NRA. They are Stress-Fire Instructor graduates from LFI and Instinctive Point Shooting Instructors from Rayburn Law Enforcement Training. Paul is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association and a member of the International Association for Counterterrorism & Security Professionals. Susan is Certified in Homeland Security – Level III and is pursuing her Master’s degree in Terrorism – Counterterrorism Studies at Henley-Putnam University.
Location: Hellertown Sportsmen Association, 1793 Meadows Road, Hellertown, PA (It is not necessary to be a member of the Hellertown Sportsmen’s Association to attend.)
Course: Limited to 8 women
Registration Fee: $100.00
Dates: Saturday, June 2, 2018 & September 15, 2018;
Questions: E-mail – padona@epix.net or Phone – 610-847-5396
New To HSA
Intro to Archery Class
Open to ages 8 to adult. No prior experience needed. All equipment will be supplied. Course taught by a USA Archery Level 3 NTS Coach. This class will be taught when there is sufficient interest. Limited to the first 20 who register. Send all participants’ names, ages, and a phone number where you can be reached.
Send info to:
HSA
Attention: Intro to Archery Class
PO Box 30
Hellertown, PA 18055
Firearms Training Instructors
Paul Piscator – S&W Certified
Firearms Instructor
Paul Piscator is a Smith & Wesson Certified Firearms Instructor and Reduced Light Training Instructor. He is a Basic Firearm Training Instructor, Home Firearm Safety Instructor, and Personal Protection Instructor for the NRA. Paul is also a StressFire Instructor graduate from LFI and Instinctive Point Shooting Instructor from Rayburn Law Enforcement Training. He is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA).
Susan Piscator, RN S&W
Certified Firearms Instructor
Susan Piscator is a Smith & Wesson Certified Firearms Instructor and Reduced Light Training Instructor. She is also an NRA Refuse to be a Victim Regional Counselor, Basic Firearm Training Instructor, Home Firearm Safety Instructor, Personal Protection Instructor and Refuse to be a Victim Instructor. Susan is a Stress Fire Instructor graduate from LFI and Instinctive Point Shooting Instructor from Rayburn Law Enforcement Training. Susan Piscator is a Registered Nurse who is extensively involved in crime avoidance strategies.
Articles From the Instructors
Decision Making Under the Threat of Assault
Paul Piscator
Smith & Wesson Training Instructor
NRA Certified Instructor
International Association Counter-terrorism & Security Professionals
Decision making is not only the physical act of responding to a threat but most importantly the mental process or judgmental procedure to appropriately respond and not jeopardize taking someone(s) life inappropriately. Responding properly is initiated though experience. Training is another way to reduce human error and to accelerate the acquisition of higher judgmental decision making skills. We must recognize the fact that we now control success or failure in our hands governed by our experience and knowledge. If we err in our decision while under stress an innocent life may be taken. It has happened. Training should include scenarios to reflect good judgment and discretional use of force. Training needs to reflect the way you will need to defend yourself and others in your accompaniment. The fundamental concept is to keep thinking, reassessing, adjusting and reassessing again. Lessons learned will be reflected or transferred in the way you respond. Training scenarios introduce situational evaluation, risk management and decision making, giving the trainee more control over the situation ensuring a successful outcome. We reflect on our past decisions to make current decisions.
Standing in front of a target shooting at the “10 ring” and seeing how accurate you can become is good fundamental practice of the basics. We all do it including myself. Unfortunately when the threat is two arm lengths away you will not have time to study the sight picture. Use of cover, if available, threat identification in dim light, creating distance, communicating to those with you, shooting from difficult positions while protecting others and functioning under stress is what defensive shooting is all about. You will not be thinking about your stance, extending your arms to get a good sight picture in relation to your target while the threat is advancing and practically on top of you. Defensive situations are about critical decision making, responding appropriately and competently without escalating unnecessary force or responding inappropriately.
