LANSING, Ill. (November 27, 2023) – Local gun owners do not have to go far to receive training required by state law to carry a concealed firearm in Illinois.
Demond Warfield and Kimberly Wright opened the Kimond Training Center in July at 1965 Bernice Road, Unit 1NW.
The name “Kimond” is a combination of the first name of the two co-owners.
Firearm training
“Different states have different requirements,” said Warfield.
He said while neighboring Indiana requires no firearm training, that is not the case in Illinois.
“In the State of Illinois, for you to carry a firearm, you have to go through a concealed carry class,” Warfield said.
Any Illinois resident can go to the Kimond Training Center for the 2-day, 16-hour course at a cost of $125.
Veterans and former law enforcement officers can attend for a discounted rate of $75.
Warfield explained that once a person obtains a certificate of training, he or she must then apply to the Illinois State Police who conduct a background check before issuing a license to carry a firearm.
“Every five years, with the state, you have to renew,” Warfield said.
The cost for the three-hour course necessary for renewal is $50.
Expertise
Warfield is a former Marine and current law enforcement officer in Phoenix, Illinois who also offers courses for fellow officers in things such as the proper way to handcuff individuals.
“I am a rifle instructor for the State of Illinois, so police can come here and get trained,” Warfield said.
Wright is a former student of Warfield’s who went on to become trained as an instructor herself.
She said people learn a lot in the course offered at Kimond.
“We have the gun cleaning,” Wright said. “We have the firearm fundamentals, and how to use the firearms, and how to load magazines.”
The actually shooting parting of the training is done at a gun range in Posen.
“In addition to the firearms training, they get a ton of laws,” Warfield said. “Because we teach them a lot of the state and federal laws.”
Warfield said people are surprised to learn of the restricted areas in which they cannot carry a gun in Illinois, including: schools, park districts, any governmental facility, sports arenas and on public transportation.
“People will actually go to other people that actually had a concealed carry class and tell them about us, and they’ll come here and retake the training,” Warfield said.
Warfield said while there are many businesses that offer concealed carry training, there are not too many competitors nearby.
Those interested in taking a course at the Kimond training center can email [email protected] or call either 708-715-3355 or 708-772-4261.
