You must have a license (permit) to have reciprocity.
Avoid the rush. Do not be left on a waiting list, trying to get in a class, with inflated prices. Get your required training before the rush.
President-elect Donald Trump urges Congress to pass a national concealed carry reciprocity bill and announces that he will sign it into law.
Official Florida recognized concealed carry license and firearms training classes conducted in Winter Haven weekly.
In-Gauge of Polk County is located in Winter Haven and licensed to conduct business in Polk County. We are not an out-of-town operation that visits Winter Haven to conduct classes at a local hotel.
Click on the button below to see our class schedule and to register for a class.
At the invitation of the Liberty Link Foundation 360, Bartow, Florida, In-Gauge of Polk County, a private, non-profit organization, chartered by the National Rifle Association, conducted a free youth gun safety class, for the participants of Liberty Link 360’s summer youth program. The class was conducted Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at the Liberty Link Foundation 360, facility in Bartow, Florida.
Recognizing the alarming rise of accidental child shootings, the Liberty Link Foundation 360 invited In-Gauge of Polk County to educate the teenage participants of its summer youth program on gun safety.
Using an audio visual presentation and physical props In-Gauge emphasized the importance of gun safety.
The overall message was: If you are not authorized and trained in the use of a gun, don’t touch it and always assume that every gun is loaded.
At the completion of the presentation, each participant was issued with a gun safety lock to accompany their certificate of training.
In-Gauge of Polk County routinely conducts gun safety training classes for the public and child gun safety seminars throughout the year, making available free gun locks to the public. The locks are provided through the generosity of local businesses that are concerned with child gun safety.
In 2023, In-Gauge of Polk County distributed over 500 gun locks, free to the public. In-Gauge of Polk County relies solely on the financial generosity of local businesses to fund its child gun safety program.
For information on how to donate to In-Gauge of Polk County’s child gun safety gun lock program, call 863-206-1996 or send an email inquiry to: robert_admin@ingaugepolkcounty.org
Arming themselves, the 2 women rushed to the aid of an elderly woman being viciously mauled by two pit bull terriers.
In-Gauge of Polk County, in Winter Haven, Florida recognized two women for their quick and decisive actions that saved the life of a 72-year-old woman, who was being viciously attacked by two pit bull terriers, at its monthly meeting, Tuesday, May 14th.
The incident occurred the evening of April 29th, in Brandon, Florida. While in her kitchen, preparing dinner, Cierra Medina heard screaming coming from the street in front of her house. Looking out the kitchen window, Cierra saw her 72-year-old neighbor on the ground being attacked by two pit bull terriers. One dog biting and tugging at the woman’s left arm the other clamped on to the woman’s right leg, pulling in the opposite direction.
Retrieving her 9mm pistol, Cierra rushed out the front door of her house to the woman’s aid, firing one round into the ground, hoping to frighten the dogs into releasing their grip on the victim. Regrettably, the dogs were undeterred and continued to attack the woman. Attempting to fire another round, Cierra discovered her gun had jammed.
It was then Cierra was joined by Kristy Parks, who lives across the street and also responded to the screams for help. Kristy, armed with a .380 took aim and fired one round, point-blank, into the larger, more aggressive dog’s frontal chest. The dog was unaffected. As the dog turned, pulling backward on the woman’s thigh, Kristy fired a second shot broadside into the dog’s chest. Being struck a second time, the dog broke its grip and backed off. Both dogs stood back growling at the two rescuers.
As Kristy held the dogs at gunpoint, prepared to fire again, Cierra assisted the victim inside a chain-link fence and gate. With all three safely inside the closed gate, Cierra helped the victim into her home where Cierra administered first aid until law enforcement and EMS arrived. The victim was transported to Tampa Regional Hospital Trauma Center for the treatment of her injuries.
Cierra and Kristy were each presented with Citizen Hero Awards, a STOP THE BLEED emergency blood loss control kit and a gift certificate from the Wild West Arms Gun Store, for the replacement of the two guns confiscated by law enforcement as evidence.
Cierra and Kristy received official STOP THE BLEED training and were certified during Tuesday evening’s meeting.
May is National STOP THE BLEED Month. Being a licensed STOP THE BLEED training provider, In-Gauge of Polk County conducts free, open-to-the-public STOP THE BLEED training clinics throughout the year.
Up date: The victim has been released from Tampa Regional Hospital and will remain confined to a wheelchair and has lost mobility of her right arm, due to nerve damage sustained in the dog attack. The dog owner was issued a fine by Hillsborough County Animal Control, with other charges pending by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
* The victim’s name is kept anonymous under Florida’s Marsy’s Law.
According to Hillsborough County Animal Control, the victim sustained multiple lacerations and deep puncture wounds to both her right and left upper and lower legs, lower right arm, wrist and hand.
Two Pit Bull Terriers had the woman on the ground viciously attacking her. One with its teeth locked onto the woman’s leg, the other biting and pulling her arm. Grabbing their pistols, they ran to the elderly woman’s aid.
April 29, 2024
Busy in her kitchen preparing dinner, Cierra Medina’s evening was shattered by screams for help coming from the street in front of her home.
Looking out her kitchen window, Cierra saw her 72-year-old neighbor on the ground being viciously attacked by two Pit Bull Terriers. Shouting to her husband to watch her 8-month-old daughter, Cierra rushed out the front door of her home, with her Taurus 9mm in hand.
Screaming at the dogs to ‘STOP‘ and running up to the victim, who had one dog attached to her left arm and another with its jaws firmly locked onto her right leg, Cierra fired a shot into the ground hoping to scare the dogs and stop the attack. Regrettably, that did not occur. The dog clenched onto the woman’s arm, released its bite and backed off, but did not flee. The second dog with its grip on the woman’s leg was not deterred.
Cierra was then joined by her aunt Kristy Parks, who lives across the street.
Hearing the victim’s screams from inside her house, Kristy grabbed her Ruger LCP .380 and rushed out to join Cierra and assist the woman on the ground being mauled by the two dogs.
Cierra attempted to fire a second round at the dog that would not release its grip on the victim’s leg, only to discover her gun had jammed. Kristy then fired one round from her Ruger LCP .380, loaded with jacketed hollow points, striking the dog in the frontal chest. The dog remained unfazed and continued to bite and pull at the victim’s leg. Kristy fired again, striking the dog the second time broadside in the chest, causing it to release its grip and retreat.
While Kristy kept the dogs at bay, holding them at gunpoint, prepared to fire again, Cierra assisted the victim in crawling on her hands, elbows and knees to the front door of her home and inside to safety, leaving a trail of blood on the driveway sidewalk and porch.
With Kristy holding her gun on the two growling and snapping dogs, Cierra helped the victim into the house. The victim covered with blood, bleeding profusely from both her right arm and both her right and left leg. Cierra quickly administered what aid she could, fashioning improvised tourniquets in an attempt to control the bleeding.
During the commotion and hearing the gunshots, other neighbors appeared on the scene and called 911, while Kristy and Cierra rendered aid to their injured neighbor. Upon the arrival of EMS and a quick initial examination, the victim was immediately transported to Tampa General Hospital Trauma Center for treatment.
According to a written report by the Hillsborough County Animal Control, the victim sustained multiple lacerations and deep puncture wounds to both her right and left upper and lower legs, lower right arm, wrist and hand, which included “significant” tendon and arterial damage.
The wounded dog was euthanized on the scene by Hillsborough County animal control officers, after having been tased several times in an attempt to control it. The other dog was taken into custody and transported to Hillsborough County animal control.
There will be a ceremony recognizing Kristy and Cierra for their selfless, heroic actions Tuesday evening, May 14th, at3812 Cypress Gardens Road, Winter Haven, FL beginning at 6:30 PM. The public is invited. Seating is limited.
The WFLA News Channel 8 – Tampa, FL news broadcast can be viewed HERE.
Florida, Brandon, Hillsborough County, pit bull, dog attack, animal attack, gun, pistol, GLOCK, Taurus, Kristy Parks, Cierra Medina
National retailer installs emergency STOP THE BLEED equipment stations in stores.
STOP THE BLEED emergency blood loss control kits can now be found in the customer service area of Florida Walmart Stores.
Located in the customer service are of your local Walmart Store.
May is National Stop The Bleed Month. Locally and nationwide, free STOP THE BLEED emergency blood loss training classes will be conducted. To find a training class to near you, go to STOPTHEBLEED.org at: https://cms.bleedingcontrol.org/class/search
In-Gauge of Polk County will be conducting free STOP THE BLEED training clinics throughout the month of May. For clinic dates and times, use the link above or go to: In-Gauge STOP THE BLEED or
This a free 1 to 1-1/2 hour hands-on training clinic on the control of traumatic blood loss due to work place or home accident, traffic accident, shooting or any other incident that results in injury with blood loss.
This is a nationally recognized program, developed by the American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma and provided by BleedingControl.org . A nationally recognized certificate of training is issued upon successful completion.
There is no cost for this training class. This training is provided free of charge, as a community service, by In-Gauge of Polk County.
Stop the Bleed training – In-Gauge of Polk County, Winter Haven, Florida
If you would like to have a FREE Stop The Bleed training clinic conducted at your place of business, church, civic group or community organization, go to CONTACT US on our website and we will be happy to conduct an on-location training clinic at your convenience.
To date, ours are the only free Stop The Bleed training clinics conducted south of Orlando and east of Tampa.
Next free training clinic: Tuesday, May 14th – 6:30 PM
The only thing more tragic than a life lost is a life needlessly lost that could have been saved.
In observance of National STOP THE BLEED Month, In-Gauge of Polk County will be conducting FREE, open to the public, Stop The Bleed tourniquet raining clinics during the month of May, beginning May 14th.
How it works:
Simply complete the FREE, 20 minute, Stop The Bleed online ‘Interactive Training‘ class
Then schedule your FREE Phase 2, in-person, skills training and assessment session
You can take and complete the online, ‘Interactive Training‘ at your convenience, any time prior to your scheduled skills training and assessment appointment.
We look forward to your participation in the 2024 National STOP THE BLEED Month.
The only thing more tragic than a life lost is a life needlessly lost that could have been saved.
This is not a scene from a Hollywood movie. It did not happen in some far away stated. In happened right here in central Florida, in broad daylight.
This is not a scene from a Hollywood movie. It did not happen in some far away stated. In happened right here in central Florida, in broad daylight, at a busy intersection, in front of numerous witnesses.
Regrettably, the victim was found dead in her burned out vehicle hours later.
Every law abiding citizen needs to know how to defend him or her self and be able to do it. We want to train you how to do it, which involves more than owning a gun. It involves knowing how and when to use it. It involves recognizing a potential threat, recognizing a real threat and reacting to that threat. We want to train you to defend your life and the lives of your loved ones. Contact us for real life self-defense training . . . www.ingaugeofpolkcounty.com
You may be aware that a license is no longer required to carry a concealed firearm in Florida. Not that a license ever was required to have a gun in your vehicle. But, if you carry one or plan to carry one, you need to be proficient in its use and know when you can legally use it. Our ARMED ASSAILANT/ACTIVE SHOOTER DEFENSE COURSE does just that.
Our ARMED ASSAILANT/ACTIVE SHOOTER DEFENSE COURSE not only trains you in the safe use of you firearm to defend your life and the lives of your loved ones, it develops in you a defensive mindset, trains you in situational awareness, how to recognize a potential threat and avoid that threat. And, if necessary, how to use your firearm to neutralize a threat.
Our ARMED ASSAILANT/ACTIVE SHOOTER DEFENSE COURSE is an advanced level training class that takes the beginning, novice shooter from the introduction of a handgun for self-defense to the advanced level of defending his or her life against an armed assailant.
At the completion of our ARMED ASSAILANT/ACTIVE SHOOTER DEFENSE COURSE the participant is awarded an official NRA certificate of training recognized in all 50 states and is good for applying for a Florida concealed carry weapon and firearm license.
Contact us at: 863-206-1996 or through our website at: CONTACT US
In-Gauge of Polk County is an NRA chartered, non-profit organization located in Winter Haven, Florida. All training course proceeds go to support the shooting sports in central Florida.
Florida, carjacking, Seminole County, Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas, Winter Springs
This is an official, gun safety course that fulfills the requirements, for those person who have had a little brush with the law and are required to complete a gun safety course ordered by the Court.
Online Gun Safety Course for Court Ordered Persons
This is an official, completely online, gun safety course that fulfills the requirements, for those persons who have had a little brush with the law and are required to complete a gun safety course ordered by the Court.
COST: $60
This is course is specific to Florida. It cannot be guaranteed that the certificate of training issued upon completion of this course will be recognized by an an out of state court.
It is guaranteed the certificate of training issued upon successful completion of this course will be recognized by any Florida court.
For more information and to register for the course, click on the button below.
Red Flags Before the Defensive Carry Course:
Before registering and paying for the class, I emailed Focused Fire Training to obtain the instructor’s name and qualifications. As of this writing, I still have not received an email response.
Beth Baumann – Armed American News: Nov 22, 2022
One of my goals for 2022 was to take as many training courses as possible. After receiving numerous Facebook ads for a women’s only “defensive carry course” conducted by Florida-based Focused Fire Training, curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to sign up for the course.
A member of the armed church security team shot himself in the leg.
A Michigan church safety team experienced an accidental shooting at the Howell Gun Club in Marion Township, Livingston County, MI, on Sunday December 17.
During firearm qualification training, a member of the armed church security team shot himself in the leg.
The negligent discharge occurred while the team was practicing drawing and re-holstering their weapons. The team member suffered a gunshot injury while he was re-holstering into a groin type holster.
Others team members provided first aid and the firearm instructor drove him to St Joseph Hospital for treatment.
The Livingston County Sheriff Office investigated the shooting (report #23-06152) interviewing the victim and the firearm training instructor. Both were career law enforcement of the State of Michigan.
It is unknown if the instructor had any MCOLES or NRA certifications or qualifications to conduct a civilian security firearms training course other than law enforcement work experience.
The above described incident will not happen with In-Gauge of Polk County. All of our advanced firearm training is conducted to the strict standards of the National Rifle Association and conducted by NRA certified, advanced, tactical firearm instructors.
Our Church Guardian training consists of over 15 hours of ‘active shooter’ training that includes: situational awareness, mental preparedness, threat recognition, mitigation and de-escalation, the drawing from a holster, advanced live-fire handgun training, that included the use of cover and concealment, moving, shooting, reloading, moving between cover and concealment, managing firearm malfunctions, while engaging single and multiple assailants and Stop The Bleed emergency wound care training.
Below is an example of what their training looked like. If you or other members of your congregation would like to receive similar training, do not hesitate to contact us . . .
Regardless if you have already taken a concealed carry class or you have a Florida concealed carry license, contact us for official NRA firearms training that will prepare you to defend your life and the lives of your loved ones.
Our advanced CHURCH GUARDIAN TRAINING teaches more than just how to shoot little round holes in a piece of paper hanging from a string. Our GUARDIAN TRAINING trains you how to defend your life and the lives of others, and go home at the end of the day.
There is no substitute for official . . . .
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Polk County, Lakeland, Winter Haven, self-defense, concealed carry, focused fire, shooting lessons, gun training, gun classes, concealed carry, conceal weapon, lead feather, gun permit, church security
