‘An investment in yourself’: Former police officer and military veteran brings gun safety education to St. George

ST. GEORGE —Is it a fear of guns or a lack of knowledge?

Rustin Staheli stands in his military uniform, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Rustin Staheli, St. George News
Rustin Staheli stands in his military uniform, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Rustin Staheli, St. George News

Rustin Staheli, a National Rifle Association Certified Instructor, said he completed nine years in the military which involved everything from artillery to military intelligence and combat engineering. After completing a combat tour in Iraq, he went on to become a police officer for the Washington City Police Department.

“I’m very, very pro-second amendment and your right to carry and own, but I’m also very big on that it’s your responsibility to learn how to use that and if you don’t, don’t put it in those situations,” Staheli said about gun ownership.

In order to spend more time with his family, Staheli transitioned from law enforcement into sales. As he continued to see the purchase of guns by those too afraid to use them, he could see the significant lack of education and training becoming a harrowing problem. With a passion to teach home defense and gun safety, he began teaching gun courses outside of his full-time sales career. He turned Modern Shooting Solutions into a full-time business in August of this year.

Modern Shooting Solutions offers a variety of classes that range from introductory courses for gun education to advanced classes for those who have years of experience. Classes are mainly held at the Sweat Springs shooting range in Hurricane.

Rustin Staheli instructs during a training course by Modern Shooting Solutions, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Rustin Staheli, St. George News
Rustin Staheli instructs during a training course by Modern Shooting Solutions, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Rustin Staheli, St. George News

Staheli said when it comes to guns, there are many misconceptions, especially about guns such as the AR-15. He created informational-based courses that include PowerPoints along with interactive activities that include training pistols and lasers. These classes teach attendees how to shoot a firearm without actually shooting the gun.

After the initial introductory class, Staheli said many people find comfort in education and choose to move on to various courses where they learn proper gun training and hands-on shooting. Courses include the type of gun a person should purchase by testing multiple pistol calibers to determine the best fit. At the beginning of class, students look at the guns and are asked to pick which one they would initially like to own.

“I can’t tell you what gun you should buy until you learn to shoot, how you work, your hands work,” Staheli said. “You can’t just go to the gun store and pick one out. After going through the course and learning the basics, the safety and how to fire different calibers of pistols, every person has changed which one they would pick from their initial choice.”

As a former member of the Washington City Police Department, Staheli said the community tends to turn a blind eye or simply not realize the escalating crime rates. For those that do carry a concealed weapon without the proper training, it can create potential dangers and risks to themselves and the community. 

Rustin Staheli puts together a home defense plan as part of Modern Shooting Solutions course options, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Rustin Staheli, St. George News
Rustin Staheli puts together a home defense plan as part of Modern Shooting Solutions course options, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Rustin Staheli, St. George News

“When things go bad, you go back to your level of training and below. If your level of training is zero, you’re hosed,” he said.

Staheli said that he does not advocate gun fights, and they are meant to be used as a last resort in order to protect individuals and their families. While these situations don’t arise every day, he wants people to be prepared in the case of an emergency.

Another common misconception of gun ownership, Staheli said, is the assumption of innocence when shooting an intruder during a home invasion. Repercussions such as criminal and civil suits will likely occur afterward, and the proper training beforehand mitigates this risk.

Modern Shooting Solutions offers a specialized home defense course, which includes a home visit with the creation of a safety plan catered to individuals and their families. The plan includes how to safely move through and “clear” the home, observing and removing potential threats both inside and outside and teaching the whole family, including children, what to do in the case of an intruder emergency.

“It’s crazy we have plans for things like a fire, but nobody has a plan if someone breaks into their home,” he said. “It gets very scary when it’s just, ‘I’m going to shoot them.’ You should also be able to know how to move through and clear your own house to give you the best odds of surviving and doing it safely, and we teach that.” 

Rustin Staheli poses with his wife in front of his police car, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Rustin Staheli, St. George News
Rustin Staheli poses with his wife in front of his police car, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Rustin Staheli, St. George News

To give back, Staheli offers a free training course specifically for teachers. He’s also working with a variety of stores in Washington County that provide ammunition, with a goal to provide free or discounted ammo for these classes.

“I think if they understand it and become proficient at it they should be able to carry because that’s your first line of defense,” he said. “These teachers are willing to put their lives on the line for the kids but they have no way to protect themselves.”

Whether community members get trained by him or someone else, he hopes they choose to gain the knowledge and understanding of firearms for the safety of themselves and those around them.

“It’s an investment in yourself,” Staheli said about firearms training. “You invest in insurance, but when’s the last time you actually got to use your car insurance? When something happened, you were glad you had it. This is an investment in yourself and your protection, especially if you’re planning on carrying a gun.”

For more information on Modern Shooting Solutions and to sign up for a class, see their website or find them on Instagram. For custom-tailored classes or questions, contact Rustin Staheli at (435) 668-4859.

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