From “Indoctrination” to Instruction? Debunking Everytown’s Train SMART Program

As an actual firearms instructor, founder of Mom-At-Arms, and Academy Director for the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL), I’m not weighing in as a pundit—I’m speaking as someone who’s done the work, dug up the receipts, and watched this charade unfold in real time.

Poor Craig

For years, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots arm, Moms Demand Action, dismissed firearms education as ideological indoctrination. They opposed school-based safety programs—especially those affiliated with the NRA—claiming they normalized “gun culture” and undermined gun control efforts.

Now, they’ve launched their own training initiative—Train SMART—aimed at promoting “responsible ownership.” But when you peel back the layers, the program looks less like a pivot toward safety and more like a rebrand without substance.

Let’s break it down, shall we?

A History of Mixed Messaging

Moms Demand Action once campaigned against firearms safety education in schools, arguing it was a Trojan horse for gun normalization. Their messaging framed safety instruction as political propaganda—not public service.

“We don’t need gun safety classes in schools—we need fewer guns.”— Moms Demand Action, past campaign materials

Fast forward to today, and Everytown is offering its own firearms training. So which is it—indoctrination or instruction?

Why Instructor Credentials Matter

Firearms education isn’t about good intentions. It’s about verified expertise. Whether you’re teaching a new gun owner or helping a family understand safe storage, the person leading that conversation needs more than a friendly tone. They need:

• Certified training

• Range qualifications

• Legal literacy

• Public accountability

  
  

And here’s the kicker: Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund is not a recognized certifying body. Unlike the NRA, USCCA, or federal law enforcement agencies, which are recognized by the DOD, Everytown does not issue instructor credentials that meet national or state standards. Their Train SMART program may offer educational resources, but it does not qualify instructors to teach firearm safety under any formal regulatory framework.

In reality, because their instructors are NOT certified through the appropriate institutions, training with this is TRAINING STUPID.

Comparing the Big Four

Feature	NRA Instructor	USCCA Instructor	FLETC/FBI Law Enforcement	Train SMART (Everytown)
Certifying Body	NRA	USCCA	Federal agencies	Everytown
Audience	Civilian, law enforcement	Civilian, self-defense trainers	Law enforcement, military	General public
Gov’t Recognition	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No
Transparency	✅ Public credentials	✅ Public standards	✅ Strict vetting	❌ No public info
Range Qualification	✅ Required	✅ Required	✅ Required	❌ Not disclosed
Legal Education	✅ Included	✅ Included	✅ Included	⚠️ Minimal or unclear
Political Affiliation	Conservative-leaning	Neutral	Apolitical	Progressive-leaning
Curriculum Focus	Safety, marksmanship, self-defense	Concealed carry, legal use of force	Tactical, instructional methods	Safe handling, storage
Community Credibility	✅ High	✅ Moderate to high	✅ Very high	⚠️ Mixed to low

Train SMART is the only one with zero public credentialing and no formal recognition.

Who’s Teaching Train SMART?

Everytown’s instructors include:

• A conservation nonprofit worker

• A military veteran

• A former Parks & Wildlife educator

• A competitive shotgun shooter

There's a couple more, but that's pretty much their bios, aside from only their first names being listed. And there's a reason for that. Everytown and Moms Demand knew that those of us instructors WITH the certifications and credentials were going to be looking. (Working on it)

What’s missing from their public bios about teaching people to use the "dangerous and scary weapons" they advocate against?

Any mention of NRA, USCCA, or law enforcement certifications... that's what! No range qualifications. No legal training. No public vetting process.

Bottom Line

Train SMART may sound friendly, but when it comes to credentials, it’s more “Trust Us” than “Prove It.” And coming from a group that once called firearms education “indoctrination,” the pivot feels more like branding than reform. It's already been proven that Moms Demand Action ripped off the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) to create their BeSmart Program. And it's been proven even more so over the course of the last couple of years that "Gun Control" is a losing game, so Gun Control orgs like Everytown and Moms Demand creating firearm courses isn't a far stretch. BUT... I have to say, and with my whole chest, we here at Mom-At-Arms WARNED YOU ALL YEARS AGO.

Not only do I instill my education and training through Mom-At-Arms, at VCDL, we believe in transparency, rigor, and respect. Whether you’re a parent, a school board member, or a concerned citizen, you deserve training that’s backed by real standards—not just slogans. Our instructors are certified by state and federally recognized institutions. We take our positions as educators seriously, not for political show-n-tell, but for real-world impact.

If you'd like more information on REAL training, feel free to reach out to me. If you're in VA, we could possibly work something out, or I can connect you to someone with the same credentials local to you (in VA or Nationwide).