Having taken the HE recently and being an NRA instructor, I agree with the statements about the lack of handgun safety and handling in the HE course. I help friends with their certs as well as volunteer with a group that does the classes and the safe handling is something that is important. Particularly with many who feel that they've "been there, done that".
As mentioned above, the chance to handle and shoot a variety of handguns is great as well. Not much opportunity to try before you buy here. Handguns are very much personal preference.
I thoroughly enjoyed the HE course, but it was more for the lessons on species, habitat, conservation, etc. Safe gun handling was def not their strong suit. I'll just leave it at that.
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