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Train Your Clients To Use Firearms?

Plaxico Burress

Professional firearm training is important for individuals that constantly find themselves in positions where their lives are in danger. However, their use of a firearm must be protected in the form of insurance. When you have to protect yourself or your family in a self-defense scenario, the trouble has often only just begun. Insurance can mitigate some of these troubles. That is why it is understandable that all American diplomats get such training before starting their work in foreign countries. There have been many attacks/planned attacks on American embassies overseas. One of the things that should be covered when discussing firearm safety is the importance of maintenance, like that covered on Smartguncleaning.com, which can help prevent potential catastrophic failure.
But what about professional athletes? Are their lives so threatened that professional firearm training should be suggested to them? This could even start with something as simple as training with an air gun first (click here to learn more) to get some shooting practice in. Apparently, there is a market to train said athletes, even though up to this point, no athletes have signed up for the service.

Blackwater Worldwide has four locations within the United States; however, the athlete training program will take place in April at its Moyock, North Carolina compound. The company cites the Plaxico incident and Sean Taylor’s death as reasons why the program is necessary for professional athletes. I am not sure how Taylor’s death is applicable. And yes, if Plaxico knew how to handle a gun correctly, he might have not shot himself. But should professional athletes be carrying guns at all, especially if they have bodyguards with them?

Blackwater is a trusted company in the professional firearm training and safety community, but I am just not so sure that making the trip to Moyock, NC for a session is necessarily worth it for a player. Additionally, I am not positive that I believe we should be promoting that athletes carry firearms on their person all the time. In the heat of the moment, no matter what kind of training you have, you could use bad judgment and let the gun off in a club. Why have that additional responsibility in your pocket?

“I don’t see any negative in learning more,” said Bob Myers, a sports agent with Los Angeles-based WMG, who estimated that up to half of the 14 NBA players he represents have guns and has at times suggested they seek out training in how to safely use and store them. “I certainly don’t think you can get enough training in that respect.”

I’ll agree with Bob that if your client is already carrying a gun around, you might as well promote this program to him. But if your client has no intention of ever carrying around a gun for protection, I am not sure that pitching Blackwater to him is a great idea.

Firearm ownership for the purpose of personal or property protection is not uncommon. If you are someone who owns a gun or are looking into buying one, Outdoor Empire can help you find the gear you need with articles like this – https://outdoorempire.com/best-ar15-hard-cases/

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

2 replies on “Train Your Clients To Use Firearms?”

Darren,

Interesting post. I strongly concur with your statement about athletes carrying firearms in the first place (or “promoting” them to, at least). I also wanted to see what your opinion was, as well as others in this community, on the possibly irony of Blackwater promoting ideas like gun safety, responsible training, and solid judgement with respect to firearms.

Blackwater doesn’t exactly have the most impeccable resume. As hired “contractors”, they have earned a reputation that is notorious for aggressive and unprovoked violence. Without going into detail, please see:
1. http://tinyurl.com/2cft2t
2. Atban v. Blackwater
3. Helvenston et al v. Blackwater

If an athlete absolutely insists on carrying a weapon (for whatever the case may be), is a company like Blackwater the right person for the job? More importantly, if you were representing a player, would this type of relationship (Player + Blackwater) have any negative risks involved (ex: public perception, etc)? After all, “image” is huge in this industry.

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