Jim Marsal had over 30 years of law enforcement experience when he retired in 2020. His duties have included: Police Officer, Detective, Special Response Team (SWAT) member, Sniper, Court Security, Crime Scene Detective, Patrol Deputy, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Patrol Captain, Support Services Captain, Firearms and Rapid Deployment Instructor, as well as an Armorer, to name a few. During his 30 years in law enforcement, Jim has received over 3,800 hours of various in-service, specialized training.
In his off-duty time, Jim spent five years working in a retail gun shop as a gunsmith and salesmen. He has also been a serious competitive shooter since 1985. Jim has competed in the following disciplines: air gun, .22 Small Bore, IHMSA, IPSC/USPSA, IDPA, Bullseye, service rifle and 3-Gun. Jim has been a serious student of firearms history and a gun collector since he was nine years old. He and his family are lifetime NRA members.
Firearms factory training through the years include: Remington, Glock, Colt, Smith and Wesson, Heckler & Koch, Benelli, Beretta, Sig Sauer, Springfield Armory and many others. While Jim is a very proficient gunsmith in many types of firearms, his passion is the 1911 pistol, S&W double action revolvers and AR15/AR10 series of rifles.
His Instructor certifications include: NC Law Enforcement Firearms, Rapid Deployment, Simunitions Force on Force, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Rifle-Pistol-Shotgun and NC Concealed Carry Instructor. Jim has been a state certified L.E. firearms instructor since 2000.
Jim has worked as a consultant for a few, local, firearms manufacturing facilities. Since 2013, he has been teaching numerous Gunsmithing courses, at several local community colleges. Most recently he’s been working with various churches to improve their internal and external security to stop deadly force threats.