Lambda Defensive Firearms Training
Welcome to Lambda Defensive Firearms Training. We provide a variety of firearms safety classes for handguns and shotguns, including Permit to Carry classes. Whether you are a novice or experienced shooter, we can meet your training needs in a professional, safe, and fun environment.
We tailor our classes based on the skill and experience levels of all of our students and focus on content understanding over speed. This way, we make sure that all of our students come away with an informative experience that they enjoyed.
For Minnesota residents, our instructors are certified by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to meet your training requirements to apply for the Minnesota Permit to Carry a Pistol.
Class Offerings
Whether you are a novice or an experienced shooter, our classes can offer everyone a learning opportunity. We have a variety of courses from which to choose with descriptions below. See our current class schedule below and contact us to register.
We look forward to meeting all of your training needs!
Elemental Handgun Shooting
Elemental Handgun Shooting is a Lambda designed course that is built for those who are starting from little or zero knowledge, and desire both basic handgun knowledge and hands-on training in the classroom and on the pistol range. The live fire portion of the training includes real time coaching on safe handling, proper stance and grip, and marksmanship. The class is shorter in duration than our other handgun offerings, but spends comparatively more time on the range putting newly acquired knowledge to use right away. If you are completely new to handguns and are looking for an introductory class before taking a more detailed or a carry class, Elemental Handgun Shooting is a great option for you.
What you will learn in Elemental Handgun Shooting:
- Essential gun safely rules
- Types of handguns, operation, and correcting malfunctions
- How to select a handgun for purchase
- Ammunition basics
- Proper positions, grip, sighting
You do not need your own handgun to complete this course. Handguns and needed ammunition can be rented from the instructor for a small fee.
$100 - Class fee includes classroom materials and targets
Minnesota Permit to Carry a Pistol
Minnesota Permit to Carry Class is an intermediate to advanced class where students must be 21 and have previous experience with safe handling and shooting a handgun. Successful completion of the class will allow for MN residents to apply for the Minnesota Permit to Carry a Pistol. The class also meets the requirements for non-resident Florida Concealed Weapon License if desired. This course includes a live fire shooting qualification.
What you will learn in Minnesota Permit to Carry a Pistol:
- Essential gun safety rules
- Basic fundamentals of handgun use: loading, unloading, clearing malfunctions, safe storage.
- Children and firearms and developing a family safety plan
- Shooting fundamentals: stances, grip, sight alignment
- Aspects of carrying a handgun: holsters, open vs concealed, maintaining control of your firearm
- Situational awareness, de-escalation and avoiding conflict, encounters with law enforcement
- Legal aspects of pistol possession, carry, use, self defense, castle doctrine, and restrictions on the use of deadly force
- What to do in the aftermath of an incident
- Instructions on application submittals and process
You do not need your own handgun to complete this course. Handguns and needed ammunition can be rented from the instructor for a small fee.
$125 - Class fee includes classroom materials and targets.
NRA Basic Pistol Shooting
NRA Basic Pistol is a good way to learn the basics of pistol shooting if you are completely new to handguns or have some very limited knowledge, and are looking for a comprehensive class that includes a certificate of completion. The class is basic but detailed and we spend the necessary time needed for all participants to come way informed and proficient in the class content. The class does have a live fire exercise, but ownership of a handgun is not required to take the class. NRA Basic Pistol Shooting can fulfill class requirements for residents of some states besides MN for licenses to conceal/carry a firearm. Contact the instructor for details.
What you will learn in NRA Basic Pistol Shooting:
- Essential gun safety rules
- Different types of pistols and which one is best for you
- Basics of ammunition
- Fundamentals of pistol shooting
- Pistol shooting positions
- Common shooting errors
- Proper gun cleaning and maintenance
- How to maintain your skills
$120 - Class fees include course content, targets, classroom materials, and NRA certificate upon successful completion.
NRA Basic Shotgun Shooting
NRA Basic Shotgun is a great way to learn about shotgun shooting if you have never been hunting or broken clay targets before. The course is designed with beginners in mind and like other NRA based classes and is content and comprehension based, so we spend the time needed to make sure all students get the training they need. The class is basic, but very detailed. The class does have a live fire exercise, but ownership of a shotgun is not required to take the class.
Note: NRA Basic Shotgun Shooting does not replace requirements for youth high school shooting sports, e.g. MN DNR Firearms Safety.
What you will learn in NRA Basic Shotgun Shooting:
- Essential gun safety rules
- Shotgun types, parts and operation
- Ammunition components
- Clearing malfunctions
- Shooting fundamentals including different angles
- Basic cleaning and care
- Opportunities for improving skills
Contact the instructor for fees and schedule.
Elemental Clay Target Shooting
Elemental Clay Target Shooting is a Lambda designed course that is put together for those who are starting from little or zero knowledge, desire some basic shotgun knowledge and some hands on training both in the classroom and on the range. The class includes a full round of American style trap shooting so participants can put their new knowledge into immediate practice. The live fire portion of the training also includes real time coaching on the line. If you have a middle or high school aged student who is interested in joining their school’s clay target team, this is a great class for parents to get some baseline knowledge and experience.
Note: this class does NOT replace MN DNR training required for students to participate in the Minnesota Clay Target League.
What you will learn in Elemental Clay Target Shotgun:
- Essential gun safety rules
- Shotgun anatomy, types, operation, and clearing malfunctions
- Basics of ammunition, safe storage and transportation
- Considerations for purchasing a shotgun
- Shooting fundamentals and clay target games
You do not need your own shotgun to complete this course. Shotguns can be rented from the instructor for a small fee.
Contact instructor for fees and schedule.
NRA Range Safety Officer
NRA Range Safety Officer training is a nationally recognized program that will give you the necessary knowledge for organizing, conducting and supervising safe shooting activities and range operations.
What you will learn in NRA Range Safety Officer Training:
- Ensuring a range is safe to use
- Conducting range safety briefings for shooters
- Handing ammunition and gun malfunctions safely
- Supervising safety aspects of shooting activities
- Handling emergency procedures as established by the range management
There is no live fire component in this class.
Contact the instructor for fees and schedule.
Class Schedule
Contact us to register for an upcoming class:
12/21/2024 MN Permit to Carry - only 2 seats left!
12/27/2024 Elemental Handgun Shooting (WOMEN ONLY)
1/18/2024 MN Permit to Carry
March 2025 TBA: Elemental Clay Target Shooting
Registration, Fees, Cancelations
Registration fees reserve a seat in a class and are required 2 weeks prior to the class date. Fees are non-refundable. In the event of a student cancelation, a class may be rescheduled up to 6 months after initial booking with no additional charge if the class is offered again during that time period. Fees may be paid via check or via Venmo. If you intend to pay via Venmo, contact the instructor to coordinate. Venmo transactions will include an additional 1.9% surcharge. Fees for rental of instructor owned firearms and use of instructor ammunition for live fire exercises vary by class and are cash or check only the day of the class.
Resources
Contact Us
Whether you're looking to get added to our mailing list, want to register for an upcoming class, or just have general questions, use the link below to drop us an email!
Blog
Check out our blog where we chat about various relevant firearms topics. If there is something you'd like us to write about, let us know!
Join the NRA
Lambda Defensive Firearms Training is affiliated with the NRA. Click the link below to learn more about NRA member benefits and special discounts we can offer you. You don't even have to register for a class!
About Us
We tailor our approach to each and every class offering to the skill and experience levels of our students. Our training philosophy is focused on content and understanding in a safe and fun environment.
My name is Daniel Jamison, and I am the Owner and Chief Instructor at Lambda Defensive Firearms Training, LLC. I am a certified NRA Instructor, a certified NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, a Minnesota DNR Firearms Safety Instructor, Chief Instructor and Executive Board Member at the Oakdale Gun Club, a Member of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, and an Assistant Coach for the East Ridge High School Shooting Sports Team. Lambda Defensive Firearms Training, LLC is a recognized training organization with the MN Department of Public Safety, teaching required classes for the Minnesota Permit to Carry a Pistol.
I grew up around firearms in my youth, shooting mostly with my brother and with the Boy Scouts. My brother and I would mow neighbors’ lawns, and then take some of our profits to the local hardware store to buy ourselves .22 short ammunition for target practice. We put thousands of rounds through a Browning semi-automatic .22 rifle, targeting one of my Dad’s spent cans of Folgers coffee hanging on a stick in the back pasture. (That rifle is still in my safe.) When I was at scout camp during the summers, countless hours were spent on the rifle range, shooting .22 long rifle rounds through single shot bolt action rifles.
Fast forward to adulthood, I began to pass on my love for target shooting to my two boys, teaching them safe handling of firearms at an early age. The three of us spent a good amount of time plinking and practicing at our local club with our Ruger 10/22 rifles. As my boys entered high school, I spent a lot of time supporting both of them on their high school shooting sports team, first as a spectator, and then as a board member and eventually as a coach. I learned a lot from some really great clays coaches along the way on how to be a better shooter myself, but more importantly, I learned how much I enjoyed coaching people, many of whom had never held a firearm. Watching the kids “get it”, develop good safety habits, show good form, and then watching their scores improve was really satisfying and struck at my core. I began to feel a desire to coach and teach safe handling of firearms to a broader audience. So, I spent some time in training classes to become a Certified Instructor and Range Safety Officer and I launched Lambda Defensive Firearms Training LLC.
I look forward to meeting you and helping you with your firearms training needs. No matter what level of previous experience you have, Lambda Defensive Firearms Training, LLC can help you gain the knowledge and experience you need.