Our key instructors
Keith's background is based in precision engineering, and firearm/imitation firearm development, developing and running a gun range, running action sports and military simulation businesses, the manufacture of imitation firearms and Airsoft guns, as well as costume development, for movies and action sports.
Prior to becoming involved in the firearms industry, Keith was heavily involved in the production of precision equipment, such as the measuring instruments used at the Olympic Games. Keith’s eye for detail and patience has helped many students or clients gain knowledge of how their firearms work, and how to clean and maintain them.
Keith's passion has naturally become relaying to clients a detailed understanding related to shooting fundamentals, as well as the care of, and maintenance of, their firearms.
Keith's interest in firearms dates back to before college. His interest in how engineering solutions solved the same problems in differing ways, and his eye for detail, lead to Keith becoming involved in the production of movie quality uniforms/costumes, and weapons/firearms.
Keith spent many years as a royal archer, including longbow, in England. The skills he learnt as an archer, such as the various aiming techniques and muscle memory skills, has added to his ability to become a popular instructor of firearm fundamental skills.
Keith has been heavily involved in the running of an action sports company, developing and running one across Europe, then running an Airsoft and action sports field in Las Vegas. Keith has been heavily involved in advising on developments in Airsoft and simulation firearms with companies. His work led him to advise industry leaders, with him working out of Hong Kong in the early 2010's.
One of Keith's achievements was to work with the manufacturer to develop and supply the imitation firearms on the walls in the British SAS mess rooms. Of all his achievements, to be able to do this to help those who give their all for us, was an honor.
In the past five years Keith has been involved in developing Kanga Training, Vegas Airsoft, Tor Action Sports, and has advised others. His eye for detail, British accent and manner! has led Keith to becoming a very popular one on one trainer on firearm fundamentals. His keen interest is in turning new and experienced shooters into experts on firearm fundamentals (such as aiming). As a trainer Keith never forgets his evolution into firearms, and how he learnt, and teaching from that perspective has gained him many fans and clients.
Keith has a unique perspective on many issues, due to him growing up in the United Kingdom. This perspective has made him a keen advocate for the Constitution, American life, and the second amendment. Keith never lets an opportunity go to explain from his own experience that we, in America, are lucky and we must protect the amendment that protects all others!
Keith specializes in -
Firearm fundamentals.
Firearm familiarity.
Individual tutoring and training in firearm fundamentals.
Latest training and fundamental firearm training techniques.
Firearm maintenance and related work.
Maree feeds off the energy and involvement in learning from her students. Her professional background is based in law enforcement, teaching, training teachers, running firearms and self-defense training businesses, running an action sports and military simulation business, developing and managing a gun range, and writing for publications at worldwide firearms, outdoor and law enforcement conventions.
Maree first attended a state police academy at 19. She was also a Police Shooting Club member from the age of 20. After her first period of being a police officer, Maree worked in executive protection for several entertainment industry personalities, such as the head of Nissan. Maree still has her hand in public safety now, years later, and is involved in providing public safety and security in government buildings.
Maree holds a Masters in American and British History and Law-Criminology (teaching), with graduate studies and qualifications in teaching and the psychology of learning (Australia, US, London UK). She spent a decade as a head of department, teaching law and related subjects, in and around London, UK. She has written on policing practices, with articles on the militarization of the police, comparison of de-escalation technique, alternative policing strategies, and wrote her dissertation on Northern Ireland policing and the Stalker Inquiry into the Northern Ireland shoot to kill policy.
Maree often consults, and advises, on the impact of the 1996 Australian National Firearms Agreement. She also contributes to the body of knowledge on the political slide towards similar restrictions in the United States. Maree has been involved in stalking and harassment law reform, related to ensuring the recognition of victims and achieving a victim focus on investigations. She has provided consulting and analysis for the media in relation to active assailants. Finally, Maree has also provided professional witness analysis/assessment to courts.
Maree was admitted to her state law society (bar) in 1998 as an associate member, honor's society in 1998, and the General Teaching Council of England in 2001.
Maree is the United States representative for firearms, hunting and fishing magazines, and is involved in the international firearms rights lobby, advocating for commonsense and evidence based legislative over reactive and political based rights restricting legislative development.
During her time in Europe, Maree developed a firearm parts import and export business, European wide, and established the first gun range outside London in decades. In addition, she ran an action sports and military simulation company, and is a member of the press corps at the Shot Show, IWA Show in Europe, and Milipol (worldwide military and police show) Show in Paris. She has worked in several countries, including in action sports (including organizing and running military simulation events) in Europe, and in the development of training weapons in Hong Kong.
Maree is a range safety officer and has worked events such as the Shot Show in Las Vegas. She is also an NRA pistol instructor, NRA safety inside and outside the home instructor, Nevada State CFP Instructor, Utah DPS CFP Instructor, and holds several other qualifications within and outside the United States, including Counter-terrorism certification, FEMA certifications, Government Security and anti-terrorism qualifications, and Active Shooter/Assailant certification. She has supervised security teams at international conventions in Las Vegas, such as Adobe, and has supervised the armed protection and security teams at international events, such as NASCAR in Vegas. She has also provided risk assessment, and how to upgrade security and develop resident risk minimalization behavior, to leading lifestyle based communities.
Maree delivers all training and learning from the position of experience. Her experience, combined with her vast knowledge, and her teaching experience, makes a totally unique, humorous, and engaging, training or learning experience.
Maree specializes in -
Multistate CCW delivery.
Home defense training (armed and unarmed).
Tactical training.
Unarmed self-defense training and situational awareness.
Self-defense and firearms training for teenagers, and college students.
Training and advice in the client's own home, including the delivery of her unique risk recognition and self-defense course.
Training for companies, such as Tv stations, realtors, on issues such as recognizing risk, incident response and self-defense.
Casino security officer training/ armed team training in excess of Gaming Board requirements.
What People Are Saying
Maree
It is my pleasure to introduce the woman who has introduced me to firearms! I first met Maree when I was looking to learn some self defense techniques, and complete some firearm training due to my husband working out of state. I asked around Lake Las Vegas for recommendations and Maree's name kept coming up. There was one recommendation after another, so I phoned her.
I have never experienced such an interesting and engaging experience as the time I have spent with Maree. She is one of the most exciting and interesting people I have ever met. She injects so much interesting experience and knowledge into her instructing that time disappears.
Over the course of my CCW, and over several private lessons, this is what I discovered. Like a lot of people of her generation, Maree's first experience of shooting was with a 22 semi-automatic rifle, learning safety and other basic shooting principles. She speaks warmly of this time, being quality time with her father, and the memories of this time have stayed with Maree throughout her life. Every time she has had the opportunity to teach, these memories and the love of shooting it taught her, flow into both her attitude towards teaming, and the environment she creates for learning to take place. This, and other parts of her background and experience, just engaged me!
During the CCW, I learnt that Maree joined what was a highly regarded state police department. By 21 she had gained experience as an officer in a city of 4.5 million people. Maree went onto gain experience in outer suburban and rural areas.
Maree injected her own experience into the CCW class. It made us all ask dozens of questions, and debate many things. She made us consider things such as the fact that shooting a person is not like a movie. They can often get back up!
Whilst Maree finds discussing her background embarrassing, during my time with her I discovered that, during the time Maree served as a police officer, her state was experiencing one of the worst violent crime sprees in its history. This period of extreme violence led to what the world now knows as the Australian Gun Laws solution, to which she is opposed.
I learnt that as a very young officer, Maree was on duty the night of what the world now knows as one of the worst massacres in Australian history. Some five years later, she also had to face the dilemma of her life when she was forced to confront a man she had chased and stopped, and who was about to open fire on herself a street of parents and children. At the time she stopped him, he was on his way to commit a copycat massacre with a carload of firearms. I took away many things from Maree's experience, including the fact that you can shoot someone in self-defense, but it doesn't mean they still can't kill you after you initially hit them with your first shot!
Maree left her service to go on and pursue her other dreams in life, such as becoming a teacher. She went onto study teaching, psychology, and law. I found it fascinating that Maree worked on bodyguard teams for well-known celebrities. There are more stories that can spellbound you. You lose time, whilst being fascinated.
Maree and her husband relocated to the United States to be with family. Since then, Maree has become an NRA Instructor and Range Safety Officer, CCW Instructor, works in public safety, and much more. She still writes for publishers; ghost writes material and still reports from the Shot Show for different industry members and publishers. She is also a key figure in developing a unique action sports venue in Southern Nevada, is an Associate Editor of a national magazine for action sports, teaches, lectures and motivational speaks.
While she states that this experience is only that of anybody who undertook her career choices, it is experience that flows into her training and teaching, which is practical, and respectful of, but does not glorify, the role of firearms in our society.
It is hard to underestimate how supportive, calm, relaxed, and humorous, the learning environment she creates. It encourages learning and discovery, while her nearly 30 years-experience with firearms, experience as a police officer, and as a teacher on three continents creates confidence within those present. She peels back the myths, and hype related to firearms, and this makes you relax and creates your desire to learn more, without it being intimidating. More importantly, if you have a fear of firearms, this is put to rest.
Before I met Maree, I had never used a firearm and had no idea how to use or carry one. I proudly now both own and carry a firearm and have the knowledge and understanding to do so in a safe manner. Moreover, I now count Maree as one of my dearest friends. When I ask Maree what she thinks is her greatest life achievement so far, she only smiles and says "America!" This is what I call The Maree Effect!
Monica Polites - Henderson, Nevada and Scottsdale, Arizona.
Keith
My husband thought it was a good idea that I get some training with the pistol he bought me, as travels with his job as a pilot. To be honest, I have never really used a gun that much. I was worried about getting into shooting training as the only experience I had the past was either with my husband, or with a guy who kept yelling. I was therefore very hesitant when we went to the range.
I quickly learnt that I was worrying about nothing. Keith spent two hours showing me, then having me practice, each fundamental of good shooting. When we first got there, he set up a target for me to shoot at. I tried my best, but I couldn't hit inside the '8.' Then Keith did his thing and slowly I got better. He was able to talk me onto the '10' by talking me through grip, stance, focusing on my front sights, my breathing, my trigger control, and even showing me an incredible way of holding my gun to control the recoil.
Best of all, he has an incredible British accent and that dry British humor! I highly recommend Keith.
Angela B. Lake Las Vegas.