A College of the Mainland student interacts with the simulator, which instructor Daniel Blackford can alter based on students’ actions. A new Basic Defense Pistol Simulator course is designed to help students discover what actions they could take in potential emergencies.

It’s 3:16 a.m. when you hear a window break in your home. What do you do?

A new Basic Defense Pistol Simulator course is designed to help students discover what actions they could take in potential emergencies.

Taught by Daniel Blackford, a former Secret Service officer, the new course includes situational awareness, planned response and safety.

“The goal is to let people see how they might react when adrenaline surges,” said Blackford.

Students can respond to scenarios from potential car-jackings to home invasions. The Ti Training simulator, filling a 12-foot screen, records whether students use pepper spray, fire a handgun or give commands. It tracks any shots fired, their location and their time.

On the computer, Blackford controls scenarios based on students’ actions. Afterward, he discusses how participants responded and what, if anything, they might have done differently.

“If I can prepare you for that situation, then when it does come, you’ll know how to handle it,” said Blackford. 

Blackford began in law enforcement at Liberty County before joining the Secret Service. He worked in Washington D.C. for six years, where he went to firearms training with U.S. and international militaries and special forces.

Students should be over age 21 and have a license to carry or concealed handgun license.

The class will be held Oct. 3, 6-10 p.m. and Dec. 5, 6-10 p.m. The cost for in-district participants is $70 and for out-of-district participants it is $75.

For more information, contact Daniel Blackford at 409-933-8485 or dblackford@com.edu.