All year long I'm hearing about what the kids want for their next birthday or for Christmas.  I ignore most of it, with the exception being when the calendar creeps to within a month of the actual date.   "Dad, I want to go to the gun range".  That... I can do. 

Luckily for me, Matt Betros of Aaron's Gun Shop in Cameron was starting a show on one of our stations in Central Texas all about guns and the 2nd amendment.  I scheduled us a time the Friday night after his birthday.  I officially had a 13-year-old, and it might be one of the last few times he speaks to me for the next seven years, with the exception of telling me how horrible of a parent I am, of course. 

When we got there we found out Matt got a cake for Tyler's birthday, and even though you're not gonna get a room full of guys at the gun range on a Friday night to sing "Happy Birthday", it was still an incredible gesture.  The next door neighbor to the gun range even brought a load of watermelons over and gave Tyler a melon so big he could barely carry it.  As a matter of fact, at the following night's sleepover the watermelon was dropped by a friend of Tyler's and busted all over the floor.  We still salvaged and ate most of it, given it was so huge.

Matt had three of his personal gun ready for Tyler to use, which was sweet because I don't think he would have gotten a thrill out of shooting the only guns I have, a 12-gauge and an Annie Oakley .22 special edition still in the box with the tag attached.  It's never been fired, and I wasn't going to start now.  That's Tyler's college fund.  I can probably get $800 for it on Craigslist, so he better hope tuition doesn't run much more than that. 

Matt was nice enough to let Tyler use his souped-up .22 M4 Carbine.  It had the look of a bad-daddy of a weapon but with the recoil of a .22.  Perfect for Tyler.  He had his fun with the .22 (as did I) before moving on to a 9-mm on steroids.  It had quite a bit more kick, and that meant me and my bum shoulder wouldn't be messing with it.  Yes, I know, I'm a girlie-man, but walk a mile in my shoes before you judge me on the shoulder pain.

I have to say, I give Tyler a lot of crap as his dad.  I expect perfection.  He knows it.  He's not perfect and neither am I, but I have to toughen him up for the real world.  You won't get a pat on the bat for making your bed as an adult, so you won't get it from me.  Kids are sent out into the world not prepared for the slap in the face adulthood has in store for them.

I just point this out to say that I'm far from the, "OMG, look at Tyler... he just brushed his teeth without asking", dad.  With that being said, Tyler is a damn good shot with a gun.  Matt gave him a moving target to hit and Tyler nailed 7-out-of-10 on his first try.  The 2nd try netted a full 10-out-of-10 on the target.

Jamie Garrett
K-Rock 101.7 FM  On-air Personality

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I consider it a privelege to recommend Matt Betros to anyone or any organization, who cares more about common sense survivability, realistic professional training, and a personal “one on one” Concealed Weapons Course, rather than a Hollywood-Rambo shooters awards show, and a certificate showing that they didn’t shoot their foot off.
After 30 years of operating with the US Army Special Forces and conducting numerous missions in small underdeveloped countries, I’ve had to train and assess indigenous militias, guerilla fighters, and the occassional barefoot and uneducated villager in order to conduct often high risk covert operations.
Small Unit Tactics and Weapons Training are the keys to Survivability, these are Matt’s keys to Mission Success.
Matt Betros not only teaches “Real” Tactics and Techniques that the world’s leading Special Operations Forces utilize, but he also teaches the “Real” consequences of being accountable for every bullet that leaves your weapon.
Matt’s Training in attaining a Concealed Hand Gun License should be the new national standard and is a Special Tool in my Close Quarters Survival Kit.
As a 20 year Special Operations Weapons Instructor, I am proud to say that Matt’s CHL course is by far, the most Professional, Efficient and Resopnsible weapons cource of its kind, that I have ever seen, or had the Privelege and Honor to participate in.
Sincerely,
Mark JM Boyer
International Recon & RecoveryDirector of Operations

Taking a CHL course, is a choice for every individual. Taking this class with Matt Betros, instructor at Aaron's Gun Shop is the BEST choice. Matt not only delivers a great understanding about the subject, but is very passionate about your rights and the rights bestowed upon Americans concerning the right to bear arms. The class attendance may be in double digits but he takes personal interest in every single person taking the CHL course. He is very knowledge and is very thorough in education of the course but also with individual's choice of firearm. At the conclusion of the training, one not only leaves earning their CHL certificate but has a renewed faith and trust in our freedom.
Susan Reinders,
Milam County Homeland Security/Emergency Managment Coordinator

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Matt's class was awesome. I have taken a different one before that was so boring. Watched a ton of videos. I liked the way he made the fear of the weapon fade away with the safety of it improved. He was very hands on. Very good class. Especially for women.
Thanks for letting Dustin and I be a part of it.
SP