Welcome to the community! Hope you’ll find the answers you’re looking for and hope you’ll establish a Chapter in your area.
Thank you, Ronald. I appreciate the welcome. I’m definitely interested in learning more about what it takes to establish a chapter here in the Hampton Roads area. We have a strong military, veteran, and firearms-training community, so I think there could be real interest if the opportunity is there.
Hello everyone, I’m Brian “Doc” Bowen, a 17-year U.S. Navy veteran and former Hospital Corpsman. I’m also the Founder and Chief Instructor of Firearms Safety First, LLC in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
My interest in self-defense grew out of a mix of military experience, personal experience, and a belief that responsible firearm ownership starts with judgment, awareness, and accountability, not just marksmanship.
I’ve been around firearms for many years, but I continue to train because I don’t believe this is something you ever completely “finish” learning. My formal training includes USCCA instructor and Range Safety Officer certification, along with concealed-carry instructor credentials in Maryland and Delaware.
The best advice I’ve learned is that carrying a firearm is a lifestyle. The decisions you make before a problem ever starts matter just as much as what you do in the moment.
I train regularly, both for my own development and because I teach others. I also spend a lot of time working with students on situational awareness, conflict avoidance, decision-making under stress, and understanding the responsibility that comes with carrying.
I’m hoping to learn from the experiences of others here, especially around training, community education, chapter development, and ways we can help responsible gun owners keep improving.
Glad to be here.
Welcome @Brian603 , thank you for your service 
and for taking the time to introduce yourself, we appreciate it!
Welcome Doc. From a fellow DD-214 Alumnus, we’re glad you found us.
Welcome Doc glad to have you with us
Hi Doc, great to have you aboard, congratulations 
on your Naval Service. I had a friend who listened to the Village People and took their suggestion “Join The Navy” and realized he should “Never Again Volunteer Yourself” 
He gave me a tour of his assigned ship USS Coral Sea prior to their “Wespac (1980)” He became a “squid” 
in 1978. The same summer 
learning I “Ain’t Ready to be a Marine Yet” so I joined the Army . I never did trust those Air Force pilots. They seemed to always kick us out in the middle of a night 
flight 
while never allowing us the courtesy to land with them in the plane. I suppose none us trusted them to land the plane much less fly. This was especially true when they always told us to “Aim High” and us grunts told them “Are you trying to disqualify us on the range?” Following their advice would mean never hitting our M16A1 targets . So, welcome aboard, I definitely give you credit for putting up with all those Jarheads .
Is there a Local Cook County- Chicago chapter
If 30 miles away from Cook County counts… 