Illinois Concealed Carry Class at Bass Pro Shops EAST PEORIA, IL

• •Location: Bass Pro Shops, 1000 Bass Pro Shops Drive, East Peoria, Illinois 61611

This is a full 16-hour, 2-consecutive-day concealed carry permit class and gun law seminar that qualifies you to apply for permits from Illinois, Arizona, and Florida. Legal Heat has trained over 200,000 students since 2006 and brings that experience to the classroom and range.

Day 1 covers firearm fundamentals using hands-on SIRT training pistols (no live ammo in the classroom). You'll master the 4 basic firearm handling safety rules, marksmanship principles including stance, grip, sight alignment, and trigger control, plus weapon handling and dry-fire practice drills. The curriculum also covers gun identification (revolver vs. semi-automatic), ammunition selection, cleaning protocols, and equipment care.

Day 2 is mandatory for everyone. You'll start at a range (address provided by your instructor on Day 1) at 8 AM for live-fire qualification. The range portion requires a minimum of 30 rounds shot at a B-27 silhouette target: 10 rounds from 5 yards, 10 from 7 yards, and 10 from 10 yards. After shooting, you return to the Bass Pro Shops classroom for the final 4 hours covering state and federal law, including:

• •Illinois Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66) in full detail
• •Appropriate interaction with law enforcement while carrying
• •Prohibited carry areas and parking lot exceptions (430 ILCS 66/65)
• •FOID Act requirements
• •Use of force law (720 ILCS 5/7-1 through 7-3)
• •Castle doctrine and stand-your-ground vs. duty to retreat
• •Vehicle and home storage
• •Self-defense principles and escalation of force
• •Deadly force, brandishing, and concealed carry techniques
• •Home and vehicle transport, interstate and air travel

Designed for shooters with no prior training or those who've completed 4 hours of approved training (such as Legal Heat's Utah permit course). You do NOT need a FOID card to attend, but you will need one to apply for your Illinois permit.

• •Complete classroom instruction (16 hours)
• •Hands-on SIRT pistol training
• •Live-fire range qualification
• •Free passport-size photo for Utah application
• •All necessary paperwork and materials
• •Fingerprinting services (nominal $10 per card fee)
• •Range fees included in course price

• •Valid photo ID
• •Printed email ticket
• •Pen and paper for notes
• •Bottled water
• •NO firearms or ammunition in classroom

• •Fully functioning, unloaded, cased semi-automatic pistol or revolver (no antiques, no steel cased or armor-piercing ammo)
• •Minimum 50 rounds of ammunition
• •Ear and eye protection
• •Auto-loader or speed-loader (optional)
• •Comfortable clothing with full range of motion (no V-necks or low-cut shirts)
• •Flat-soled, fully enclosed shoes with good traction (no flip-flops or sandals)

• •Important: As of February 2017, only residents of Illinois, Virginia, Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas can take this Illinois CCL class. Check the Legal Heat app or "50 State Guide to Firearm Laws and Regulations" to verify reciprocity before traveling with your permit.

Legal Heat was founded in 2006 and specializes in concealed carry education using a curriculum developed by firearms law attorneys who also serve as instructors. Their 60+ instructors are NRA-certified and certified by USCAA, Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification, and multiple states. Instructor backgrounds include:

• •Attorney and prosecutor experience
• •FBI, SWAT, and DEA service
• •All branches of US military (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Special Forces)
• •Executive protection
• •National competitive shooting (USPSA, IDPA, 3-Gun, NRA competitions)

Legal Heat operates 150+ class locations in 35+ states in partnership with Sportsman's Warehouse, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, North 40, CAL Ranch, Scheel's, and others. They also publish the attorney-written "50 State Guide to Firearm Laws and Regulations" available as an app (recommended by U.S. Concealed Carry Association, Massad Ayoob, and ITS Tactical) and softcover book.

• •Firearm safety and 4 basic handling rules
• •Parts and operation
• •Shooting fundamentals (stance, grip, sight alignment, breath control, trigger control)
• •Ammunition selection and identification
• •Gun care, storage, and maintenance
• •Malfunction clearing
• •Range rules and etiquette
• •Vehicle transport (local and interstate)
• •Airplane transport
• •Firearm purchase and transfer
• •Police encounters and duty to inform
• •Open vs. concealed carry
• •Concealed carry techniques and holster selection
• •Self-defense and perceived threat reaction
• •Situational awareness and conflict avoidance
• •Deadly force and legal ramifications
• •Suicide prevention resources

• •Punctuality: Classes start promptly and instructors must cover required material by law. Late arrival may result in dismissal without refund. You can reschedule once free, then $15 per additional reschedule within one year.

• •Safety: Zero tolerance for unsafe or disruptive behavior. Dismissal due to safety violations results in no refund.

• •Refunds: Class fees are non-refundable. Classes rescheduled due to weather or store closures are rescheduled, not refunded. COVID-19 rescheduling is also non-refundable; you reschedule for a future date.

"Just wanted to thank you for the great women's class. It was very informative. I feel like I really learned a lot." — Dawna F.

"We left the class with much more knowledge about gun safety AND the law, which is exactly what we were hoping for. Paul is a gifted instructor who used humor and real-world examples to help us retain the information." — Daniel and Shirley C.