AITA for not training folks for free?

[1gunsnotenough]

I made a comment a while back, stating that I don't train folks for free, and that I guess I'm an ass for stating so. Apparently, it pissed at least a few folks off.

It COSTS me money to train someone. Costs me money just to take a friend to the range to plink around. Costs me money to take myself to range and just train MYSELF, all by my lonesome.

As a professional Instructor with an LLC, I maintain over $3 million in professional liability insurance, which I pay a yearly fee for. Goes everywhere I go.

I train on a piece of private property that isn't open to the public. I pay to use that.

My paper/cardboard/steel/moving targets, 1x2's, spray paint, batteries, timers, and target frames are all paid for by me. They get shot up/wore out/used up, they have to be replaced. Fuel to get to the range and back, and whatever ammo I shoot while demonstrating.

By far, the biggest expense to me is the time that I expend. Now that I'm "retired", I have 4 jobs. I'm at my full-time job 5 days a week. I try and take care of what I need to do for my other 3 jobs on the 2 days that I am "off".

My go-to plan for my 2 days off per week is to spend as much of that time as possible with my family. If I'm going to do anything for anyone for free on those 2 days, it will be my family, not a stranger I met on the internet. Folks that want me to take time away from my family will have to pay for that time. To do otherwise would mean that I value time spent with strangers as much as the time I spend with my family. Not even close.

I never ask anyone to do anything with compensation. To do otherwise means that I do not value their time, which is an insult.

Semper Fi!

People don't understand self employment. When your self employed everything you do has a cost associated with it. I've been self employed 23 years. I understand what your saying.

 

[Bypass]

When I stated that I don't train folks for free, I got called:

-someone who has never seen combat (damn, gotta call Kansas City and tell the USMC to take back that Combat Action Ribbon)
-a KKK member
-a racist
- an anti-Semite
-"washed up marine with no skills"..........OK, I am a bit washed up, I can't do some of the stuff now that I could do when I was in the Corps.........

And that was just by 1 member! LOL

WTF who said that ****? Most people on the internet are assholes for sure. Just ignore them my friend.

 

[Fatal_Bert]

It was one of the most disjointed, incorrect rants I’ve ever seen. I still think he’s got me confused with someone else.

I asked him to show me the posts that show me to be a KKK member/racist/anti-Semite, but there’s been no reply for several weeks now.

Obviously, somehow this nutcase has confused you with me

 

[Bypass]

Obviously, somehow this nutcase has confused you with me

How's your Baby man? You doing alright?

 

[Fatal_Bert]

How's your Baby man? You doing alright?

She's great, crawling all over the place, and we're working on walking now.

 

[Bypass]

She's great, crawling all over the place, and we're working on walking now.

Awesome!!!

 

[Horsehat]

Man should never apologize for charging for his work. If it was free it would be worth what people paid for it.

 

[Asbestos]

I’m offering my time and services to any gunsmith, armorer or shooting instructor (tactical, self defense or long distance) that wants to solve the age old mystery of “Is it good or bad to train people for free”.

You’re welcome.

 

[USMC6542]

**** 'EM.
SEMPER FI BROTHER!

 

[Rolling_trip]

Some of the best money I’ve ever spent was taking one of his classes, and wouldn’t mind doing it again…….