Shooting Profile
Larry D. McWhirter

My early childhood was spent on a farm in rural Missouri and like most boys of my generation, was taught to shoot by my father at the ripe old age of 6. He would support the muzzle end of the .22 and, although he didn't know the terminology, gave me an early introduction to sight alignment, sight picture, trigger, and breath control. When my family moved to Western Colorado I began hunting with my father & his brother's group at the age of 12 or 13 carrying an old .30-.30.

My first serious introduction to handguns came from Ray Rose, a Gunsite Graduate, who was teaching classes in Montrose,. This was a very thorough class lasting 16 weeks and I loved it. On graduation, I immediately signed up for his advanced class. With the exception of my scuba diving activities, I had never enjoyed a hobby so much in my life. On graduation from this class, I signed up for and attended Gunsite Academy. Because Ray & his teaching abilities were known by the folks at Gunsite, I was allowed to use his classes as the necessary prerequisite for their basic class and was allowed directly into their "Intermediate 350" class. I spend a full week there, again having the time of my life. This is one dedicated, no nonsense, serious and down to earth teaching facility.

At this point I decided I wanted to teach shooting. (I have been actively teaching scuba diving classes for over 31 years.) The NRA recommended an instructor by the name of Linn Armstrong in my area who was teaching instructor classes. A friend and I attended and became certified "Basic Pistol" and "Personal Protection in the Home" Instructors. Almost immediately I began teaching my own classes, and since I was so enthralled with Gunsite theology, my classes were based heavily on their doctrine. Shortly thereafter, Linn made arrangements for an NRA Rep from National Headquarters by the name of Charlie Bassett to come to our area to train and certify "NRA Training Counselors." I was invited to join and I eagerly accepted. So I became a Training Counselor in the above two referenced disciplines.

Paul Miller, who owns San Juan Shooting Range in Montrose, brought in Rob Letham during one of their shoot-outs & I got the opportunity to take a day long class from him. That was a fantastic experience.

The next year Linn, who is now a "Senior Training Counselor", offered two additional disciplines, "Basic Rifle" and "Basic Shotgun." I signed up and graduated from these and applied to the NRA for the additional discipline of "Home Firearm Safety." I have recently obtained an Instructor and Training Counselor rating for the new NRA “Personal Protection Outside the Home” course, also from Linn Armstrong. That makes a total of six disciplines in which I am certified as both an instructor & training counselor. According to Charlie there are only about 1800 or so training counselors in the entire nation.

I certified 6 instructors in "Basic Rifle" for our local Gun club, the "Montrose Rod & Gun Club" and with the help of Richard Frantz, the club president, they immediately reinstated the Junior Program and have trained a number of junior shooters. These classes are continuing.

I am actively teaching, carry CCW permits from 5 states and, of course, am an active NRA member. I offer regular scheduled classes in all the listed disciplines, and an advanced class which concentrates heavily on real world shooting scenarios. I have spent many hours entering all my class information into Microsoft® PowerPoint which I use with a large screen video projector. I have studied both Massad Ayoob & Col. Jeff Cooper's writings extensively and incorporate many of their ideas into my classes. For me this is literally a labor of love.