Meet Ed Raastan, N.R.A. Certified Instructor

 

October 7, 2020

Lura Pitman

When you meet Ed, you feel like you've stepped into an old Western. Tall, kind, and easy talking, Ed seems like a cowboy from ages past. A gun enthusiast, member of local gun range, and N.R.A Certified Firearms Course trainer, Ed came from a 30 year long career in law enforcement and continues to shoot as a hobby, as well as training others to learn firearm safety and proficiency. He is a retired Law Enforcement Officer, United States Air Force, Smith & Wesson Armorer school graduate, and prior Arizona DOC firearms training coordinator.

In a world of growing unrest, Ed's philosophy is that it is good for people to defend themselves but they should know what they are doing when they go about it. He says he has seen many people who thought they were doing the "right thing" but they weren't doing the "legal thing" and got themselves into trouble. "People mistakenly feel that if they have a a gun they can take on the world and they are not at all prepared to do so" Ed says. "This is why I teach the class." "A lot of people OWN guns, yet aren't FAMILIAR with guns. Ed's class will teach safety, proficiency, and how to stay out of trouble legally. He explains that people need to learn when NOT to shoot, that in any situation the firearm is the last resort. If you carry a weapon, always avoid situations where you could be in any kind of conflict. Ed says that anyone can learn HOW to shoot, but he can get any shooter to a better level of proficiency and safety.

Ed teaches an eight hour NRA Certified Handgun Course, this is in preparation for concealed carry permits, which includes classroom and range instruction. You will learn safety, care, handling, function, maintenance, ammunition, and proficiency with firearms. He teaches you how to buy the right gun for what you will be using it for. Ed says, "The comment should never be, "Are we done yet?", it should be "Are we out of ammunition already?".

Eds course is $50 per class. He will work with all ages but you have to be 21 to purchase a handgun or have a concealed carry permit. Ed provides a variety of guns to use for the class as well as the ammunition. Ed prefers that no one run out and purchase a gun to take the class. You will have a better knowledge of the gun that is right for you after taking the class. "Confidence comes with knowledge" Ed says.

Ed likes to have 10-12 people per class. He asks that if you are interested in taking the course that you preregister. He will usually do the class on the 3rd Saturday of the Month. The completed course provides you with a card that states you have passed the class. You can take this card to the Sheriff's office and they can issue you a concealed carry permit. Ed will enter your info into the NRA database and issue a certificate of completion that you can hang on your wall. He also recommends that people planning to carry a firearm for protection get insurance that covers gun owners. He says most homeowner policies will not cover potential situations with guns and you want to cover all legalities.

I inquired how Ed found his way to Musselshell County and where he came from. He explained that he completed high school in New Jersey, then joined the Air Force. He then went to a place that he discovered didn't have humidity and mosquito's. After he got married he lived in Arizona but missed the seasons but still wanted no humidity or mosquito's so decided on Montana. Well, I guess Ed hasn't realized we have mosquito's here, but we wont tell him because we want to keep him here.

Ed spent five years in law enforcement and certified in New Jersey State Police Academy, he then went to Arizona for one year to work in the Coolidge PD, then he went to the Pinal County Sheriff's office where he worked till he retired as the administrative lieutenant. From there he went to State Department of Corrections as their Firearms Training Coordinator, where he would review and oversee all Use of Force Policy. He also put on a Firearms Instructor Academy, for officers who would in turn do the annual qualifications for the rest of the correctional officers.

I asked Ed to tell me more about the local gun range. He explained that the last 6 to 8 years has seen many improvements at the gun range. They have a club house, a meeting room, two port-a-potties, a trap range, a rifle range, and six bays dedicated to hand gun shooting. The Range provides room for shotgun, rifle, handgun, and archery shooting. The range sponsors shooting matches as well. The matches make money for the association, and it goes back into the facility. One match is the USPA match-United States Pistol Association, action shoot, held the 4th Saturday of each month. On average, 50-60 people attend this shoot. The Fifth Saturday, when there is one, the range has a steel shoot challenge. Anyone can show up to compete for a match, it is not limited to members but you will not be rated in match unless you are a member of the USPA, the fee is $20 to sign up for a match. Monday evenings at the range are reserved for the ladies 6pm.

The Gun Range is open to members and their guests. An annual membership is only fifty dollars. To find out more, contact Sharron Eliasson, Justin Russel, Sharon Shrump, or Lee Buttler. Anyone wanting to be a member can go to location on Golf Course Road and pick up an application on the gate. Members meet on first Tuesday of every month.

Ed loves the attitudes of the community here. He wants to encourage more people to get out to the range. "If you have a gun, you need to be practicing with it". He says.

To contact Ed about taking his Firearm course, you can contact him at 406-947-2520, or email at [email protected].

 

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