NRA Personal Protection Inside the Home Course

Who Can Take the NRA Basic Personal Protection in the Home Course?
NRA’s Basic Personal Protection in the Home course is for law-abiding adult citizens, as defined by applicable federal, state, or local law. It is much more than just a routine shooting course. It is important that participants have sufficient maturity and life experiences to be able to assess various situations and make mature decisions.  

The NRA Basic Personal Protection series is based on the building block approach, moving from the simple to the complex. The first course in the series is the NRA Basic Pistol Course, which develops the basic skills of handling, shooting, and cleaning the firearm. The second course is NRA Basic Personal Protection in the Home Course, which builds on the skills already learned in the Basic Pistol Course.  Participants must be experienced shooters (shooters able to show mastery of the basic skills of safe gun handling, shooting a group, zeroing the firearm, and cleaning the firearm) to maximize what can be learned from this course.
​Proof of shooting experience can be one of the following:
NRA Basic Pistol Course Certificate, NRA First Steps Course Certificate, NRA pistol competitive shooting qualification card, Military DD 214 with pistol qualification, or passing a pre-course assessment
​Course Description:
This course teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude essential to the safe and efficient use of a handgun for protection of self and family, and provides information on the law-abiding individual’s right to self-defense.  This is an eight-hour course. Students should expect to shoot approximately 100 rounds of ammunition.

Lessons
Lessons include:
  • Lesson I: Introduction to Defensive Shooting
  • Lesson II: Basic Defensive Handgun Skills
  • Lesson III: Firearms and the Law: Possession, Ownership, and the Use of Deadly Force
  • Lesson IV: Strategies for Home Safety and Responding to a Violent Confrontation
  • Lesson V: Selecting a Handgun for Self-Defense
  • Lesson VI: Sport Shooting Activities and Training Opportunities
  • Lesson VII: Course Review and Examination

Gun Safety Rules
NRA Rules for Safe Gun Handling:
  • ALWAYS KEEP THE GUN POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION
  • ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL READY TO SHOOT
  • ALWAYS KEEP THE GUN UNLOADED UNTIL READY TO USE
It is also important to know your target and what is beyond.  You are responsible for every round that leaves the gun.

Student Materials
​Students will receive:
  • The NRA Guide to the Basics of Personal Protection In The Home Handbook
  • NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure
  • The Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet
  • Course completion certificate suitable for framing upon successful completion of the lessons