The Tactical Conference

The Tactical Conference originally began as a major mid-winter indoor pistol match. Most shooting clubs are based on outdoor ranges and shut down for the winter, so we created a competitive venue people could attend during the cold months. The match began as a major IDPA event in 1998, but within a couple of years we changed the format to use more realistic, mannequin type targets and actual carry gear.

Once we made those changes, it became obvious that the attendees were more self defense oriented than purely competitive shooting oriented. Also, a number of self defense trainers were in attendance. It occurred to me if we could have those trainers present blocks of instruction during the match, the attendees who were not busy shooting could be learning useful skills. At the same time, the trainers could showcase their teaching skills to an interested group of potential students. Thus was born the Tactical Conference.

The annual Polite Society/Rangemaster Tactical Conference started out at Rangemaster and was conducted there its first eight or nine years. Seeking more room, we held this event at the Memphis Police Academy a couple of years, and the last few years at the fabulous facilities of the United States Shooting Academy in Tulsa, OK. For 2012, we are returning to our roots, and will be conducting this event at Rangemaster, in Memphis.

Until the last few years, we held this event in February, so students would have a training opportunity in the Winter, taking advantage of our heated indoor range and classrooms. We are going back to that, with a date of 24-26 February 2012, Friday through Sunday. We will make use of the indoor range’s ability to control the lighting, and scenarios will be in low light conditions. We have added some finished space upstairs, so we now have more room for training. By making this a three day event, participants can attend a variety of training segments.

Some of the best trainers in the United States will be offering training blocks throughout this event. Participants may attend as many of these training blocks as time allows, on a space available basis. By making this a three-day event for 2012, participants will be able to attend even more training segments than in past years. The trainers for 2012 include:

Tom Givens, John Farnam, Southnarc, Claude Werner, Jim Higginbotham, William Aprill, Paul Gomez, John Hearne, Dr. Martin Topper, Steve Moses, Skip Gochenour, Glenn Meyer, Karl Rehn, Chuck Haggard, and several others. Training segments will be a mixture of classroom lectures; hands-on training in the mat room for hand to hand skills; and airsoft simulations. The live fire match will be conducted with your every day concealed carry gear and full power ammunition, in low light.

Entry will be strictly limited to 100 participants. Register early to avoid disappointment. This event will fill well in advance. Cost is only $249.00, which includes match entry, all training segments, and a prize drawing.

Don’t delay!