Concealed weapon instructor's license revoked

BISMARCK - Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem revoked Melvin Heilman's instructor license, effective today.

Heilman is no longer licensed to conduct classes or training for North Dakota concealed weapons licenses. Heilman had previously been warned by the BCI for other violations.

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) conducted an investigation after receiving reports that classes taught by Heilman did not comply with state regulations.

BCI investigates reports of non-compliance, monitors classes and surveys applicants to ensure the integrity of concealed weapons classes, said BCI Director Dallas Carlson.

Applicants for concealed carry permits must pass an open book test based on the Concealed Weapon Manual, testing knowledge of concealed weapons requirements, weapons laws and deadly force laws. Applicants must score 70 percent on the concealed weapons and weapons sections, and 100 percent on the deadly force section.

BCI received complaints that Heilman provided applicants with manuals that were marked to correspond with test questions, and that he did not score the test sheets.

Upon investigation, BCI determined that Heilman was providing information about Utah’s laws during the classroom instruction for the North Dakota license, also a violation.

Heilman is the fourth concealed weapons instructor whose license has been revoked in the past two years.

“Demand for the classes is high, but that’s no excuse for an instructor to take shortcuts or to put quantity over quality,” said Stenehjem.

The BCI will accept applications from individuals who took classes from Heilman through March 10 2013.

The action against Heilman does not affect applications already submitted for processing. Individuals who registered with Heilman for upcoming classes for the North Dakota concealed weapon license will need to make alternate arrangements.

Information on concealed weapons licenses and classes is available from the Concealed Weapon page of the Attorney General’s website, http://www.ag.nd.gov/.

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