Front Sight Firearms Training Institute

36.03°N 115.883°W / 36.03; -115.883

Front Sight
Firearms Training Institute
TypePrivate
IndustryFirearms Training
FoundedBakersfield, California, U.S. (1996)
FounderIgnatius Piazza
DefunctDecember 5, 2022 (2022-12-05)
HeadquartersLas Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Websitefrontsight.com

Front Sight Firearms Training Institute, also known as Front Sight and as Front Sight Resorts, was founded in 1996 by Dr Ignatius Piazza.

Piazza, a California native and former chiropractor, and himself one of the few graduates of the Four Weapons Combat Master program developed by notable firearms instructor and writer Chuck Taylor, spent 25 years developing hundreds of acres of desert into firearms training facilities following his failure to interest any of the then major existing facility owners into partnering towards the expansion of basic firearms training into American society.

The controversial financial program he developed, based on the sales of memberships and upgrades of memberships, brought Front Sight to the forefront of firearms training facilities over the decades but the organization ran into obstacles, challenges and setbacks that resulted finally in a Chapter 13 transfer of Front Sight's materials, facilities and curricula to PrairieFire Nevada. Front Sight declared bankruptcy in May 2022.

PrairieFire Nevada is now the sole administrator and owner of the former Front Sight facilities, with its own curricula and membership offers. Piazza is no longer associated in management or direction of the PrairieFire curricula or organization. [1][2]

Location

Front Sight operated primarily in one location, near Pahrump, Nevada. A second location in Nikiski, Alaska was closed in 2022 amid bankruptcy filings.

History

In 1998, a 550-acre (220 ha) property in Nye County, between Las Vegas, Nevada and Pahrump, Nevada (near Nevada State Route 160 and Tecopa Road) was purchased and the operation gradually moved there. This location, called "Front Sight Nevada", provides facilities for training in firearms as well as climbing, rappelling, and other forms of self-defense.[3]

Hat and medallion for a Front Sight "First Family" member.
Hat and medallion for a Front Sight "First Family" member, an early membership program at Front Sight.

In early 2012, Texas news sources revealed preliminary agreements had been signed for a Front Sight Texas campus, to be located in East Montgomery County.[4][5]

Notable events

In 2006, Mark Wahlberg attended sniper shooting classes at Front Sight to prepare for the 2007 movie Shooter, despite a felony conviction which legally prohibits him from handling firearms.[6] That same year, Piazza and Front Sight were sued in a class action by certain members of the "First Family", an exclusive membership to the Front Sight facility, for failing to deliver on expectations made when the memberships were purchased.[7][8] A settlement was reached in 2007.

On May 11, 2009, due to Front Sight's legal counsel failing to appear to a hearing, Judge James Ware of the U.S. District Court for Northern California ordered a temporary receiver be appointed to Front Sight. This case is related to the class-action suit, brought by plaintiffs, regarding a multimillion-dollar shortfall in the class-action fund.[9] On May 18, 2009, Front Sight's legal counsel appeared at a settlement hearing and Judge James Ware discharged the interim receiver, leaving Front Sight in control of all aspects of its business. The termination of the receivership was made after the court received a copy of the receiver's report and based upon evidence presented at the May 18 hearing.[10]

On January 22, 2022, Front Sight notified its members via email of restructuring, which was received supportively by many members and critically by others. The restructuring included substantive changes in value and new charges to members who purchased their memberships under previous terms of purchase. The changes included but were not limited to:

  • Closing the Front Sight Alaska facility
  • Lifetime memberships now require a new and ongoing $50/month “membership maintenance fee” to remain active. Members who do not pay this fee will forfeit their existing lifetime memberships that were purchased before the membership fee was instituted.
  • New facility and staff support fees of $50/day for attendees, including those with pre-existing lifetime memberships for attending courses free of charge.
  • Increasing the price of transfer or gifting of a membership from $100 to $1000.
  • Limiting training to firearms only, discontinuing courses including unarmed self defense and edged weapons.
  • Conversion of all certificates including those for advanced courses to be valid only for introductory courses by first-time attendees.
  • New course fees for private training for members, previously included at no additional cost.
  • Removing previous membership benefits including “guns at cost,” ammunition and pro shop discounts, free hotel stays, “first-in first-out” privileges.
  • Requiring all ammunition to be purchased from Front Sight.
  • Requiring all attendees to provide proof of personal liability insurance covering at least $100,000 or purchase coverage at $25/day.

On May 24, 2022, Front Sight Firearms Training Institute filed for bankruptcy.[11]

On Dec 5, 2022, it was announced that Front Sight had been acquired by PrairieFire Nevada, who is immediately taking over all operations. PrairieFire will continue "to deliver to everyone passionate about shooting sports the very best training, experiences, and competitions, typically only available to military and law enforcement heroes", with future plans "to make the beautiful Pahrump Valley a destination for those interested in an adventure-seeking outdoor lifestyle."[12] The founder of Front Sight, Ignatius Piazza, is not involved in any way with PrairieFire, as clarified in a FAQ emailed to members on Dec 7.

Other services

Firearms training manuals were printed by Front Sight.[13]

References
  1. Yerak, Becky (May 25, 2022). "Nevada Gun Training Center Files for Bankruptcy After Financing Goes Awry".
  2. "PrairieFire Completes Its Acquisition of Front Sight From Chapter 11 Bankruptcy". Dec 5, 2022.
  3. NIEVES, EVELYN (May 15, 1999). "A 'Sun City' for Gun Enthusiasts". New York Times. Retrieved April 5, 2008.
  4. Meyer, Brad (February 10, 2012). "Wakeboard park, shooting range coming to East County". The Courier of Montgomery County. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  5. Calvert, Cynthia (February 20, 2012). "A Disneyland for gun lovers". The Tribune. Houston. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  6. "Wahlberg goes to sniper school: About training as a shooter". VisualHollywood.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011.
  7. A Gun and a Dream Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine KLAS TV report. Retrieved May 3, 2007.
  8. Front Sight Litigation Attorney webpage. Retrieved May 3, 2007.
  9. Pahrump Valley Times Archived 2009-05-19 at the Wayback Machine BUSINESS AS USUAL? - Front Sight assets seized
  10. ORDER DISSOLVING RECEIVERSHIP AND DISCHARGING RECEIVER, NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SAN JOSE DIVISION, Case No. C 05-04532 JW
  11. Yerak, Becky (May 25, 2022). "Nevada Gun Training Center Files for Bankruptcy After Financing Goes Awry".
  12. "PrairieFire Completes Its Acquisition of Front Sight From Chapter 11 Bankruptcy". Dec 5, 2022.
  13. Michalowski, Kevin (2 August 2004). The Gun Digest Book of Guns for Personal Defense: Arms & Accessories for Self-Defense. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 15. ISBN 1-4402-2673-3.
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