Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank Tooker.
Hi Frank, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Frank Tooker, I currently live in New Braunfels and am the owner / operator of Frank Tooker Firearms Training. I am originally from Long Island NY where I grew up and worked until 2018. I was a Police Detective with the NYPD and later retired as a Police Officer with the Suffolk County Police Department in NY after 25 years of service. I served in the US Army for over 30 years in various positions and units, both Active Duty and the Army National Guard. I retired in 2015 as a Sergeants Major for a well-known Infantry Battalion in NY. Sometime around 1995 I found the sport of competition marksmanship, and I was instantly hooked. It became my sole hobby for many years. I was an active competitor in the United Stated Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) where I rose to a rating of an A shooter. Once I became hooked on the sport, I proceeded to learn everything I could about being a responsible firearm owner and competitive shooter. I was active in several types of competitive shooting over the years and even took home some trophies. in 2007 I became my National Guard unit’s Marksmanship team coach and manager, where I helped to mentor numerous junior soldiers in US Army marksmanship competitions. Our team went on to win several interservice shooting matches and many of my team members received the Excellence in Competition medal. I found that I enjoyed instructing others in safe and practical marksmanship skills and enjoyed seeing others grow to become highly proficient with their firearms. In 2011 I became an NRA (National Rifle Association) firearms instructor. I started a small side business instructing gun owners in safe practical firearms use and taught numerous NRA courses. My small side business quickly grew to be a part time job with my own business (Frank Tooker Firearms Training) as well with a local NY firearms training company. In 2018 we (I, my wife and our dogs) relocated to New Braunfels. I restarted my instruction business here in New Braunfels and also found a position as an instructor with The Range at Austin where I regularly conduct classes. I am proud to say that my part time side business has now grown to a level that has me with students just about every day. We hope to continue this growth to the point where we need to hire other quality instructors to help us train others. I am currently an NRA pistol and rifle instructor and teach several other classes from the NRA such as Refuse to be a victim. I am certified by the TX Department of Public Safety (DPS) to conduct the TX License to Carry class which I have taught over 1600 students to date. I am also a DPS certified firearms school, certified to instruct and certify armed security officers. We also instruct people that want to learn to be safe and comfortable with their firearm or just want to improve their skills and become a better firearms user. I have also had the privilege to be certified as a Master Firearms instructor by Range Master in Lakeland Florida. When I am not on the range, I enjoy scuba diving, working in my yard and relaxing with my wife and dogs.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Working and starting a business inside the firearms industry has not been easy. Originally being from NY, the license restrictions placed on gun owners and companies has never been easy to navigate. Starting a firearms related business in a climate unfriendly to firearms ownership means that you are always being regulated, and triple checked to ensure you are in compliance with the laws and local rules that seem to change overnight. I have had several associates in the industry have licenses removed for very minor infractions of the rules, some that almost appear to have been made up in the moment. Operating a firearms training business in TX is not as easy as it seems either. In order to teach certain things like the License to Carry course or the Security officer courses, there are multiple licenses you must apply for and be qualified to receive from the state. You will not last long in this industry if you bend rules. Other challenges that we have had are things like needing to learn how to rebuild and maintain a website after waking up one day to find the company that had been hired to do that no longer existed. The good challenges that we are currently experiencing are finding enough time to schedule and run training classes. Our student list has doubled since last year, but I guess that is a good problem to have.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a firearms instructor, I find it rewarding to work with a student and over time watch them become safe, comfortable and proficient with the firearm. Most people are apprehensive when they first decide to purchase a firearm. I find it rewarding to be able to guide a student that is nervous through the learning process and watch them have a big smile on their face when we finish the lesson. While I offer courses in Handguns, Rifles, and Shotguns, I tend to specialize in handguns. This is mostly due to my handgun competition background. Past students have said that I have a very good method of presenting the subject material. I attribute this to some of the instructor training I have had with the Army. I have also been told that I have a gift of being able to break topics down to the smallest pieces, so it is easy to understand, and being able to explain the “why” we do certain things with a handgun.
I feel one of the things that sets me apart from other firearms instructors is that this is my sole occupation. While there are other instructors that fit that description, most are employed in another industry, and only conduct training in their free time. Being a full-time instruction company allows us to stay more current than most others, and lets us dedicate more time to helping students.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I come from a family where work ethic was valued above most other things. My favorite childhood memory was going to work with my grandfather building houses in the family business. It is the memories of working with “Pop” that built the work ethic I strive to continue today.
Pricing:
- our base rate is currently only $120
Contact Info:
- Website: https://FrankTookerFirearmsTraining.com
- Instagram: frank_tooker_firearms_training
