Citizens Defense Research

09/10/2026

ARIZONA — we’re coming your way.

The Armed Parent/Guardian will be at Core Dynamics in Chandler and Mesa on October 17–18.

Defending yourself is one problem. Defending yourself while responsible for a child is another entirely. This course examines how that context changes your tactics—from managing movement and lines of fire to fighting around vehicles and solving close-range problems with someone in your care.

Choose the four-hour lecture or the complete two-day live-fire course.

Details in comments.

A fast-paced course designed around the thought, “What if my children are with me when I get into a shooting?” Contextual Handgun: The Armed Parent/Guardian discusses with students the hard/soft skills necessary to solve the commonly observed shooting problems associated with fighting with our c...

06/15/2026

Just spent two days in lovely West Liberty, Iowa, teaching The Armed Parent/Guardian (TAP/G) at the West Liberty Gun Club. Not only a fantastic facility, but also an eager group of individuals.

My favorite class to teach!

06/09/2026

Chris Cypert is getting on a P&S Podcast in a minute to talk about guns, art, and culture or something with some homies.

Episode sponsor- High Desert Cartridge- https://highdesertcartridge.com/ Our Patreon can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/PrimaryandSecondary Primary & Secondary: Website: https://primaryandseco

10/23/2025

The importance of the handheld flashlight over the weapon-mounted light (WML).

This morning I was rudely awakened by a loud crash somewhere in the house. I grabbed a handheld flashlight and my G***k 19L with a WML already attached.

The #1 best method of seeing through darkness in your own home is turning on the overhead lights, but sometimes that means moving through darkness to a light switch.

As I moved toward the hall and hallway light switch I searched first down the hall with the handheld and the light landed on a pair of legs.

I recognized them immediately as my oldest son’s. He had been awakened by the same noise and also came to investigate.

By searching first with a handheld and not with the WML I was able to completely avoid pointing a fi***rm anywhere in his general vicinity.

I conducted the search of my home without ever turning on the WML, using instead my household lights and, where appropriate, the handheld flashlight.

A WML can be a valuable tool in many contexts, but when guns have lights attached to them, the temptation can be strong to treat a fi***rm like a flashlight rather than a fi***rm.

While there are safer ways to use WML in searching, you’re far better off using handhelds or overhead lights to mitigate the risk of mishandling a fi***rm and pointing it at something you wouldn’t want to shoot—especially if you’re also foggy from being pulled out of sleep.

I never did figure out what made the noise, but to quote my son (after he playfully mocked me at breakfast for my sleepy household search), it was nice knowing everyone in the house was safe and protected… especially from me and my own response by using the correct tool and technique for the job.

-Melody

10/16/2025

Hey Arizona peeps —

Heads up: Oct 25-26 in Mesa Chris Cypert sill ve teaching Contextual Handgun: The Armed Parent/Guardian (at Rio Salado Sportsmens Club).

This course is all about practical handgun skills with family in mind. What to do when your kids or loved ones are around, how to clear lines of fire, one-handed shooting, handling malfunctions in that context, tactics when loading/unloading kids in the car, etc.

Check for the link in comments! And see you there!

07/24/2025

Effective immediately, we will no longer be accepting the SIG P320 (any variant) in our training classes.

This decision comes in response to continuing, well-documented concerns about uncommanded discharges involving the P320 platform. While we recognize that many users have not experienced issues, our responsibility is to maintain the safest possible environment for all students and staff.

We do not want this policy to prevent anyone from training. If you currently carry a P320 and wish to attend a class, please reach out. We are happy to arrange a loaner fi***rm for your use during the course.

Exceptions: While strongly discouraged, we will consider case-by-case exceptions for active-duty military or law enforcement officers using an issued P320 variant, provided it is required for duty and prior arrangements are made with our staff.

We appreciate your understanding as we continue our commitment to safe, effective training. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Citizens Defense Research

05/30/2025

Alex Clark taught his very first performance shooting class with us this last weekend and it was a great success.

I had the privilege of being an AI for him and I cannot wait to take his class as a student.

Erick Gelhaus was also in attendance and wrote this AAR of the class.

See the comments for the link!

Next chance to train with Alex is in August in Burlington, WA.