In this episode of the Taking Aim podcast, host Richard Nance welcomes longtime friend and veteran instructor Erick Gelhaus for an in-depth conversation about his diverse background and insights on firearms training and use of force. Gelhaus shares his 29 years with a large California sheriff’s office (working patrol, gangs, narcotics, and field training), prior military service across Army active, reserve, and guard components, and advanced degrees that shaped his research-driven approach to training. He discusses transitioning law enforcement lessons on use of force, human performance, and decision-making into practical instruction for armed citizens, emphasizing the need for better communication of legal standards, intermediate force options, and avoiding over-reliance on any single tool like tasers. The discussion covers his extensive experience teaching at Gunsite Academy for 25 years, the development of red dot pistol courses (including helping create Gunsite’s pistol-mounted optics program), and the advantages of red dots over iron sights for faster target focus and feedback. Gelhaus highlights key training concepts such as occluded dot drills for both-eyes-open shooting, zeroing techniques, environmental challenges, backup iron sights, and the importance of humility, adaptability, and “managing up” in both law enforcement supervision and civilian instruction. He also touches on his company Cougar Mountain Solutions and the value of realistic, scenario-based training across pistol, carbine, shotgun, and low-light environments. The episode underscores Gelhaus’s philosophy that effective training must bridge the gap between professional tactics and real-world application for everyday armed citizens.

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