Lethal Force Institute

Lethal Force Institute

Massad Ayoob – Director

While many who own firearms for self-defense have become skilled shooters, there remains a high degree of confusion as to when the use of deadly force is legally justified. This is not surprising considering the myths surrounding the subject and the complexity of the laws concerning the use of force. In addition, the study of a complex and violent subject is often such an unpleasant and sobering experience that many would prefer to avoid. Yet in today's political climate it is all to common for both police officers and normally law-abiding citizens to find themselves being prosecuted for actions they believed were both reasonable and justified. One way to avoid being in this situation is to give up any attempt at self-defense. We feel a better, and safer, way is to become fully versed in how the system works. Fortunately the information needed is readily available in an easy to learn format.

Massad Ayoob, LFI's founder, is the acknowledged expert on the use of deadly force in self-defense by civilians. Massad had long been an advocate for the armed citizen but his experience as a police officer illustrated to him how poorly the average citizen understood the laws concerning deadly force. In an attempt to correct the dangerous misconceptions on the subject, he wrote In the Gravest Extreme. The success of the book and flood of requests for additional training it generated led to the creation of the Judicious Use Of Deadly Force (LFI1) course and the establishment in 1981 of LFI as a full time training academy.

Over the years Massad's LFI1, continually refined and updated, has remained the preeminent training course of its kind. Thousands of his students have used the knowledge they have gained to prevent being injured, arrested or sued by simple changes in their lifestyle and their response to the actions of others. In a time when self-defense is not always politically correct and a criminal defense lawyer's retainer can start at $50,000, the cost of attending an LFI class is a small financial investment to protect your freedom and/or assets if you ever must use, or even threaten to use, deadly force in self defense.

We have been conducting LFI1 in Connecticut since 1987. The instruction and facilities here equals or exceeds those anywhere else the course is offered. Massad personally conducts the live classroom instruction with staff instructors handling most or all of the range work. In addition we offer special rates to those taking both LFI and ASAA courses here in the same season. Dates for LFI courses held in other parts of the country can be found by going to their web site from our link page.

If you keep a firearm for self-defense and could only attend one training course, this is without a doubt the one it should be. It not only includes practical shooting techniques and exceeds what law school covers on the subject as stated below, but introduces "after action" concepts that have amazed experienced criminal defense attorneys with their simplicity and effectiveness.

LFI 1 - Judicious Use of Deadly Force - This is the most famous of all the Lethal Force Institute's courses, 40 hours of immersion training that, lawyers and police who have taken it agree, goes well beyond law school and the police academy in this critical decision making area. Includes, but is not limited to:

When you can/cannot use a gun in self-defense
How deadly are edged weapons?
What is the safety zone against contact weapons?
Proper conduct after being involved in a shooting in public.
Interacting with police at home/on the street
Shooting stances including one handed

Street gun-fighting tactics
How to take a criminal suspect at gunpoint

Active and passive tactics for home defense

Psychological preparation for violent encounters

Selecting a defense attorney

Justifying your actions in court and why "you" and not your lawyer or an "expert" must be prepared to do so.

While not a "shooting course", most of the first two days deals with the use of the handgun with both classroom lecture and live fire included. Heavy emphasis is placed on safe gun handling and a variety of stances and field positions are covered as well as an introduction to Massad Ayoob's "Stress Fire" system. Range sessions are custom tailored to match each class's experience level.

Instruction is by Massad Ayoob and Staff Course Tuition $800 Sept 11 - 14, 2008

Special LFI/ASAA offers - We believe attending both LFI1 and the ASAA 3 Day Handgun Course are required to develop the minimal skills needed for effective armed self-defense. As this is not an inexpensive undertaking we offer several options to reduce your cost:

1. Take both courses in the same year and receive a $100 discount on the total tuition.

2. Because many of our LFI students live outside of commuting distance, we are offering a special version of our 3 Day ASAA Handgun class beginning Sunday Sept. 7th. This class will be limited to, and custom tailored for, those who have or are attending LFI1. This allows those attending LFI1 to complete both classes over an 8 day period and saves them both on travel cost and tuition. The cost for both courses will be only $1100. Past LFI1 graduates can attend the ASAA part of the training for $75 off the regular price. This class will only run if we have a minimum of 5 students enrolled.