LIcenses for Minn. certified weapon instructors revoked in ND

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem announced that the licenses for three certified firearm and dangerous weapon instructors have been revoked, effective Tuesday.

Manual "Manny" Ramirez, Laura Ramirez and Daniel Lendborg of Menahga, Minn., doing business as PermitToCarry.Org, are no longer licensed to conduct classes or training for North Dakota concealed weapons licenses.

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which certifies the instructors and issues the concealed weapons licenses, conducted a review after receiving reports that classes from PermitToCarry instructors may not have followed proper procedures. Under state regulations, classes and testing for the North Dakota concealed weapon license may not be held in conjunction with any other state’s concealed weapons laws or procedures, and all instruction and testing must be conducted within North Dakota.

“The Bureau of Criminal Investigation takes seriously its responsibility for ensuring that certified instructors comply with all state laws and regulations when providing instruction to applicants for concealed weapons licenses. Although these violations may seem minor, the regulations are there for a reason,” said BCI Director Dallas Carlson.

The BCI has issued warnings previously to PermitToCarry about the way it advertised and conducted its North Dakota concealed weapon training classes.

“Applicants have the right to expect that the instructors they have paid to teach them about responsible gun use and compliance with concealed weapons laws are themselves following the rules,” Stenehjem said. “These rules form the basis of our reciprocity with states that impose their own training requirements.”

North Dakota has reciprocity for Class 1 license holders with 35 states.

The revocation action does not affect applications from individuals who took classes from PermitToCarry.Org instructors before Oct. 11, 2011. Individuals who have registered with PermitToCarry.org for upcoming classes for the North Dakota concealed weapon license will need to make alternative arrangements. For information on available classes, contact the local law enforcement agency or download the list of licensed civilian test instructors from the concealed weapon page of the attorney general’s website (www.ag.nd.gov).

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