Welden Andersen Self Defense Solutions

Welden Andersen started shooting in 1958 at age 12 through the Junior NRA at the Marine Corps range in San Diego. He volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps at 17 and qualified as an expert in both pistol and rifle. That foundation shaped everything that followed.

In 1997, his 24-year-old son was kidnapped at gunpoint. In 1999, a gunman opened fire at the Salt Lake City Family History Library. These events crystallized something for Andersen: the choice of whether you live or die may rest entirely in your hands unless you've trained to prepare for that moment. He founded Self-Defense Solutions in 2004 to train everyday civilians.

Certifications and Training: - Utah Certified Firearms Instructor - NRA Instructor (Basic Pistol, Personal Protection in the Home, Metallic Cartridge Reloading) - Nationally Certified IDPA Safety Officer - GLOCK Safety Officer for Utah matches - Graduate of Salt Lake County Sheriff's Citizens Police Academy, FBI Citizen's Academy, Utah Highway Patrol Citizen's Academy - Trained by Suarez International (Pistol Marksmanship, Combative Pistol Concepts I & II, Close Range Gun Fighting, Force on Force, Combat Pistol Instructors School) - Front Sight Firearms Training Institute Honorary Ambassador with Distinguished Graduate Certificates in Defensive Handgun, Practical Rifle, Tactical Shotgun, Precision Rifle (Sniper) I & II, Advanced Tactical Handgun, Advanced Integrated Handgun, Empty Hand Defense, Edged Weapons - Additional training from Warrior SOS (retired Air Marshal), Combat Tactical Academy (Layton SWAT), Unified Police Dept (handgun, pepper ball, TASER, OC spray), Randy Watt/Ogden Police SWAT, Krav Maga Alliance (John Whitman), and more

Utah Concealed Firearm Permit (CFP) Classes

Utah permitless carry became law May 5, 2021—you don't need government permission to carry concealed. But Andersen still teaches CFP classes because most people carrying a gun with minimal knowledge isn't a good outcome. The CFP course covers firearm familiarity, Utah firearm laws, use of force laws, and federal firearm laws. More importantly, it covers material that would help if you ever have to use your firearm in self-defense and then interact with police afterward. Classes explore mindset—both yours and the criminal's—and how it affects outcomes.

In March 2018, following the Parkland school shooting, Andersen and over 50 Utah firearms instructors trained 600-700 students, teachers, and staff for free CCF permits. Since 1997, Utah teachers have been able to carry loaded firearms in school buildings and on grounds.

Tactical Firearms Instruction

These courses teach civilians how to safely handle and fight with a gun. The phrase is direct: "If you don't know what you don't know, you cannot expect to prevail in the fight of your life." Tactical courses build progressively and cover: - How to run your gun (handling, mechanics) - How to run WITH your gun (movement, position, cover) - Defensive responses using your firearm - Force-on-force scenarios - Defensive handgun and rifle tactics - Edged weapons defense

Other Training

• •Permit-less firearm safety training
• •Personal protection in the home
• •Metallic cartridge reloading instruction
• •Handgun, rifle, and shotgun fundamentals

Andersen doesn't teach the minimum viable knowledge to pass a test. He teaches what you'd actually need to survive a violent encounter and navigate the aftermath. Classes include legal framework, psychological aspects, tactical decision-making, and the realities of fighting with a firearm.

• •Core Philosophy: Training. Your life may depend on it.