Permit & Protect was founded on a simple belief: if you carry a firearm, you deserve real training. After earning his first Nevada CCW permit, founder Ed McSwain realized something alarming. Even after passing the course, he did not feel fully prepared for the responsibility of carrying a concealed firearm or using it in a defensive encounter. If he felt that way, thousands of other permit holders likely felt the same.
Most CCW courses in Nevada require only a short lecture and a 30-round shooting test. That level of training may satisfy the legal requirement, but it does not prepare anyone for a real gunfight or the consequences that follow. Ed saw a critical gap in the training industry and set out to create a program that truly protects the people who choose to carry.
This is how Permit & Protect was born.
From the beginning, the mission has never changed. Permit & Protect refuses to teach to the minimum standard. We are not here to check a box, issue a certificate, and send you home with a false sense of security. We want every student to understand how to safely, confidently, and effectively use a handgun as a defensive tool.
This is why our CCW Plus and foundational courses require more time, more hands-on coaching, and more real-world application. Instead of the basic 8 hours required by Nevada, we ask students to commit 13 hours, so they leave with knowledge and skill they can rely on under pressure.
You are trusting us with something serious. We take that responsibility seriously.
Every class is taught with the same mindset that started it all: never teach to the minimum, always teach to the maximum of our ability. Our instructors share the same commitment to safety, clarity, and real-world skill development.
Whether you are a brand-new gun owner or a seasoned shooter, you will experience a higher standard of instruction and a supportive environment that builds competence through repetition, coaching, and practical application.
