PHOENIX—Working in pairs, the team members approached the “shoot house” at Arizona Tactical Adventures with their nonlethal rifles raised and bright flashlights pointed at the doorway.
The object on June 3 was to confront and subdue an unknown threat lurking inside the building without having to fire their weapons.
Communication with an assailant—direct and effective—and forcing compliance with words is the key.
“Armed security! Step into my light! Show your hands! Do it now!”
Another student shouted, “Armed homeowner! Come out with your hands up!”
Throughout the day, a dozen students practiced under the watchful guidance of Director of Adventures Mike Simpson, dressed in black T-shirts and camouflage pants.
He told The Epoch Times that whether it was learning how to safely clear a room or obtaining a working knowledge of tactical tools and techniques, such skills could prove critical in a life-or-death situation.
Simpson said that while danger is always with us, people are more aware of it due to rising crime, violence, and political instability.
“These are all cyclical, and we have short memories. COVID made everyone have skin in the game. They’re looking around, saying the world is very insecure,” he said.
Simpson has taught tactical training classes since 2003, after serving four years as a military security officer in the U.S. Air Force.
Perceived or Real Threat?
The question is whether training in using military-style weapons and tactics poses a threat to society.At least 25 states currently ban tactical training camps linked with paramilitary or militia groups.
On May 8, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed state legislation prohibiting active paramilitary training or facilities.
Act 13 grew out of a community uproar over the training activities of Slate Ridge owner Daniel Banyai in West Pawlet, Vermont, which residents regarded as a public threat.
The conflict arose in 2017, when Banyai applied for a zoning permit to operate the tactical training school.
In March, an environmental court judge ordered the school to shut down and slapped Banyai with $53,000 in fines for noncompliance.
Banyai is now suing the town of Pawlet, the judge, and others for decisions that led to the closure order.
Act 13 (S.3) prohibits “paramilitary” training facilities from using incendiary devices capable of causing injury or death, except for “legitimate law enforcement.”
Violating the act carries penalties of five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.
Simpson said state laws banning tactical camps prohibit individuals from engaging in training to disrupt government activities or to use violence against any government organization.
Constitutionally Protected Activity
In tactical training operations, there are three business models, Simpson said. The first involves self-defense instruction in the use of firearms. The second involves tactical training, learning to move and shoot, and solving problems under stress.The third model involves small unit tactics—learning to clear rooms as part of a team or executive protection. This model is less common.
“My company does all three of those,” Simpson said.
“Unfortunately, what happens is you get mission creep. They all start thinking they’re like-minded and want to protect themselves.
“They form a community defense organization. Then somebody gets excited about the politics in their area and shows up to this march all dressed up in tactical gear and carrying weapons.
“Now, you have individuals who had a noble mindset—who are augmenting law enforcement or military through an unorganized militia—that they'll call themselves a community defense group.
“They straddle the line where breaking the law is simple because you don’t know the law, putting a group in fear for their safety.”
Simpson said these groups have a right to operate under the U.S. Constitution. However, their presence often intimidates people who “feel they don’t have the right to come out.”
“They have the right to be there with their weapons. It’s when they start intimidating or stopping freedom of movement. Now, they’re breaking the law,” he said.
“The short answer is they have the right to organize and do training. It’s whether they start taking actions based on that training.”
Simpson said that in his professional experience in tactical training, having an ongoing dialogue and relationship with law enforcement can help build trust.
As long as people aren’t seeking knowledge on how to build explosives, commit robbery, or kidnap training, tactical training groups have every right to exist.
Compared to right-wing militias, left-wing militias linked to Black Lives Matter and Antifa aren’t well organized. Simpson said they’re more interested in intimidating and pushing a political agenda.
“Both sides have similar structures in organizing and pushing political messaging; if I had to say who has the better training, it’s the extreme right-wing,” he said.
“The real threat comes from the individual actors who might attend some programs. They want to get self-radicalized and spread that message.”
Simpson said his clients fall into three types: tactical tourists on vacation wanting to be a Navy SEAL for an afternoon, groups seeking team-building experiences, and individuals desiring a skill set for self-defense or community defense.
Simpson said that during the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots, many small business owners he knew called friends who underwent these tactical training programs.
“They knew law enforcement wasn’t going to provide them anything,” he said.
The global war on terror also spurred interest in acquiring tactical training skills, which eventually “morphed” into concern over a possible civil war of right versus left and now, financial collapse and the globalist vision of a new world order.
“The dates change; human nature doesn’t. People like to fracture themselves into tribes,” Simpson said.
His clients are blue- and white-collar individuals, mostly men, although more women are becoming involved.
The dozen students gathered for training on June 3 included three women. Most wore tactical gear.
Simpson said his tactical training classes utilize real firearms with nonlethal rounds to avoid causing serious injury or death.
The day’s lessons included hands-on training and a “hybrid” theoretical model combining the most effective techniques in dynamic and deliberate room clearing.
Hank, a student from Phoenix, said his goal was to improve his existing skill set.
“I pray every day I never have to see these kinds of things,” he told The Epoch Times.
“The world’s been violent our entire lives. It does appear to be going down certain trends that lend itself to violence.
“It’s a shame they’re banning” tactical training facilities in some states.
Hank said much of the tactical training lost in media translation is the effective communication that goes into it.
“If you have to resort to firearms, you’ve lost. When they ban classes like Mike’s, you’re forced to go into a firearms class where they don’t teach all the other stuff,” he said.
While Simpson doesn’t see a similar ban on businesses such as his, he’s realistic about the government’s goals.
“Do I believe the government will try to seize control of areas that might challenge their control? Of course. They’re never going to err on the side of freedom anymore,” he said.
“I can envision that states will claim there is a perceived threat from law-abiding citizens exercising their ability to gather together and conduct like-minded training. Would that happen? Yes.”
