A VETERAN AND LAW ENFORCEMENT RETIREE BRINGS A SAFETY-FIRST APPROACH TO FIREARM AND TACTICAL TRAINING IN HAZLET BY ERIK SCHONING • PHOTOS

BY ALEX BARRETO

Some businesses come together quickly, while others grow organically, shaped by the needs of the communities they serve. Duncan Defense Consultants in Hazlet is the latter, a one-stop shop for firearm training and services, dedicated to responsible gun ownership and empowering its clients in Monmouth County and beyond.

Mike Duncan has spent his entire life around guns. The son of an avid hunter, he got his start working for a gunsmith in Matawan, and in 1999, he was hired by the Hazlet Police Department and put in charge of its firearms program. In 2019, Duncan had to retire early due to a hand injury.

After COVID, at the request of civilian friends, he started teaching introductory firearm and safety classes, which quickly grew via word of mouth.

“As a cop, I always liked helping people,” Duncan said. “It just got bigger and bigger. I got my Federal Firearms License, and then once concealed carry became legal in New Jersey, I got so busy that I had to open up a store.”

It was important to Duncan to keep his business in the Hazlet community that had given so much to him over the years. (He even used to work in the same plaza where Duncan Defense is now located, back in the ‘80s.) His clients run the gamut from civilians looking to improve their marksmanship, first-time gun owners wanting to learn safety tips, law enforcement officers in training, and even more experienced clients in SWAT or executive protection. No matter who enrolls in a course, walks into the shop, or visits Duncan’s off-site range in Cream Ridge, every client is met at their skill level and personally guided to achieve their goals. This bespoke touch is important to Duncan and his team; as an Air Force veteran and ex-law enforcement officer, he knows firsthand how frustrating and challenging firearm training can be. “I still do a lot of work with recruits,” he said. “I have a soft spot in my heart for them because when I started out in the academy, I was not a good shooter. When I have recruits who are failing out of the police academy, it’s satisfying to see somebody turn it around and become a proficient gunfighter.”

On the civilian side, the course that started it all (and is still by far the most popular) is the firearm safety class. Rather than teach safety from the vantage point of the gun range, Duncan focuses on in-home firearm storage and maintenance, emphasizing a systematic approach to loading, cleaning, and storing a firearm. With a start-to-finish safety class, Duncan is able to walk his clients through every step of responsible gun ownership, filling in the gaps in training most commonly overlooked.

From there, Duncan Defense offers a home defense course that moves from simple maintenance and handling of a firearm to the real-life complications of defending oneself in their home. There’s also a concealed carry course that applies these lessons to firearm carry beyond the home; the class covers basics like the concealed carry permit application process, selecting a firearm and holster, and how to carry inconspicuously and safely.

“Owning a gun is just one piece of the puzzle,” Duncan said. “We want to put together a systematic approach, where we’re able to defend ourselves if we have to and nobody’s getting injured. We also want to protect ourselves legally and from civil liability. It’s three layers of protection that we want to provide.”

For Duncan and his team, “defense” is a comprehensive term. As part of their Tactical Training Center, they also offer self-defense and combat courses in disciplines such as Jiu Jitsu, MMA, and Muay Thai. There are high-level courses on the proper use of cover, along with optics and sighting. They also offer an interactive virtual firearm simulator that will throw participants into scenarios, testing their abilities to use verbal commands to defuse situations, as well as their marksmanship and reflexes. After each scenario, Duncan walks participants through a debrief on their performance.

Ultimately, each course teaches confidence, so gun owners know that in difficult situations, they have the skills and ability to protect themselves and loved ones. In that way, Duncan sees his business as a vital service to the Hazlet community. “We’re looking to help the people in the community be able to protect themselves, and to protect themselves in the right way safely,” Duncan said.

In the years since retiring from the police department, Duncan has found a new way to invest in and protect his neighbors. Whether visiting the off-site gun range for marksmanship practice, purchasing ammo for a hunting trip, or enrolling in a concealed carry certification course, there are myriad ways clients can take advantage of Duncan’s services, leaving with not only sharper skills, but peace of mind.

Duncan Defense Consultants
1332 NJ-36, Hazlet
732.898.6103 /duncandefense.com