Queer Trans BIPOC Firearm Instructor Training
The context:
Current uprisings against police violence in Minneapolis have created a climate where white supremacists and fascists have felt emboldened to target marginalized communities. It is important now more than ever that people of color, queer people, and trans people have equal access to education and resources to defend and protect ourselves and each other. The vast majority of gun safety and permit trainings are not spaces that marginalized people feel safe in. These programs operate on a for-profit model as well. The goal of this fundraiser is to eliminate as many barriers to safe, legal firearm ownership for Minnesotan BIPOC, queer, and trans people as possible.
Who we are:
We are a group of four queer working class firearms owners. Three of us are trans, two of us are Black, and we all feel passionately about helping to protect our collective communities. Our plan is to become certified firearms instructors.
Our collective will provide sliding scale gun safety and permit to carry classes, as well as scholarships for these classes to BIPOC and trans people who cannot afford them. We would like to be a friendly approachable resource for anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable attending other classes that are primarily taught by conservative white firearms instructors.
What we need:
USCCA Certified instructor classes: $3,000 ($750 x 4)
Two 9mm training pistols: $1,100 ($550 x 2)
Our first 10 scholarships: $1,000 ($100 x 10)
UPDATE. We increased our goal to $10k so we can pay for the following:
-Website development and management
-Registering our business
-Creating a national directory of friendly firearms instructors
-Creating educational content such as web pages and YouTube videos
-More free training sessions as we are already receiving a lot of interest
