about Gunwise USA

Firearm-related tragedies have become too common in our society and research has shown that there is a direct correlation between firearms safety education and their reduction.

Healthcare, social service, and community advocacy teams often report feeling ill-prepared to discuss or counsel patients, victims, and their families about firearms, safe firearm handling, proper storage, and available resources to protect themselves and those they love. In addition, the lack of access in many communities to qualified firearms training specialists further contributes to the problem.

Gunwise USA provides comprehensive firearms safety training, free of political bias and partisan rhetoric that is specifically targeted to at-risk communities and the healthcare and social service professionals that service them, provided by nationally recognized experts, and delivered in a safe, enjoyable, and inclusive environment.

The Gunwise Team

José D. Morales
Founder, Gunwise USA
Owner, Philly Firearms Academy
Master Firearms Instructor
jose@gunwiseusa.com

José is a US Army Veteran and multi-disciplinarily Certified Master Firearms Instructor with over three decades of firearms safety training experience. He is also the Owner and Lead Instructor of Philly Firearms Academy. He is the Producer and Co-host of “Locked, Loaded and Legal”, a podcast focused on the importance of firearm safety, training, and education. Passionate about minimizing firearms tragedies and violence through education, José is in partnership with the healthcare community to reduce firearm injuries through education.

José’s firearms safety training collaboration with his wife, Gunwise USA’s co-founder, Merle Carter, a leader in academic emergency medicine, gives him a unique perspective and approach to the firearms education needs within the healthcare industry. José has collaborated with local and regional healthcare specialists in interpersonal and gun violence, and firearm safety. He has also provided consultation for University of Pennsylvania National Institute of Health-funded studies on firearm safety promotion among others.

José holds instructor certifications from Range Master, the US Concealed Carry Association and the National Rifle Association. He has received training from Massad Ayoob, Tom Givens, Rob Pincus, Steve Fisher, Gunsite Academy and Magpul Dynamics among others, has experience training military and law enforcement personnel and competing in the International Defensive Pistol Association.

Find out more about José's training and education.

Merle A. Carter, MD, FACEP
Co-Founder, Gunwise USA
Certified Range Safety Officer
Certified Instructor, Stop the Bleed
merle@gunwiseusa.com

In addition to departmental leadership & strategic planning, she has responsibility and oversight of faculty affairs as well as leadership and professional development of the clinical and academic faculty. She has served as Residency Program Director of the Department’s 2 Residency Programs, Vice President & Officer of Einstein’s Medical Staff Board, and the network’s Vice President for Graduate Medical Education.

Merle has been a managing partner, assistant instructor, and medical consultant for Philly Firearms Academy (PFA) since 2014. She has broadened this work to serve healthcare organizations in providing the education and training needed to support efforts to reduce gun violence and other firearm-related injuries.

Find out more about about Merle’s training and education.

The Team

José D. Morales
Founder, Gunwise USA
Owner, Philly Firearms Academy
Master Firearms Instructor
jose@gunwiseusa.com

José is a US Army Veteran and multi-disciplinarily Certified Master Firearms Instructor with over three decades of firearms safety training experience. He is also the Owner and Lead Instructor of Philly Firearms Academy. He is the Producer and Co-host of “Locked, Loaded and Legal”, a podcast focused on the importance of firearm safety, training, and education. Passionate about minimizing firearms tragedies and violence through education, José is in partnership with the healthcare community to reduce firearm injuries through education.

José’s firearms safety training collaboration with his wife, Gunwise USA’s co-founder, Merle Carter, a leader in academic emergency medicine, gives him a unique perspective and approach to the firearms education needs within the healthcare industry. José has collaborated with local and regional healthcare specialists in interpersonal and gun violence, and firearm safety. He has also provided consultation for University of Pennsylvania National Institute of Health funded studies on firearm safety promotion among others.

José holds instructor certifications from Range Master, the US Concealed Carry Association and the National Rifle Association. He has received training from Massad Ayoob, Tom Givens, Rob Pincus, Steve Fisher, Gunsite Academy and Magpul Dynamics among others, has experience training military and law enforcement personnel and competing in the International Defensive Pistol Association.

Find out more about José's training and education.

Merle A. Carter, MD, FACEP
Co-Founder, Gunwise USA
Certified Range Safety Officer
Certified Instructor, Stop the Bleed
merle@gunwiseusa.com

In addition to departmental leadership & strategic planning, she has responsibility and oversight of faculty affairs as well as leadership and professional development of the clinical and academic faculty. She has served as Residency Program Director of the Department’s 2 Residency Programs, Vice President & Officer of Einstein’s Medical Staff Board, and the network’s Vice President for Graduate Medical Education.

Merle has been a managing partner, assistant instructor, and medical consultant for Philly Firearms Academy (PFA) since 2014. She has broadened this work to serve healthcare organizations in providing the education and training needed to support efforts to reduce gun violence and other firearm-related injuries.

Find out more about about Merle’s training and education.

The Gunwise approach

Gunwise operates under the guiding belief that along with the right of owning a firearm comes the moral and legal RESPONSIBILITY of knowing how to safely handle firearms. We believe that competent training is the cornerstone of firearms safety proficiency and that, these skills can be promoted and delivered in a safe, enjoyable, and relaxed atmosphere.

To that end, Gunwise provides several options to help organizations gain familiarity with firearm safety best practices and comfort handling firearms in order to provide proper advice and counseling to patients, families, and the community. Foundational sessions are available for groups that provide key safety information which can be further tailored to any organization’s unique needs.

The Gunwise
Safety Bootcamp

This essential Gunwise experience consists of a 2-hour immersive firearms safety workshop that introduces students to essential firearms safety and safe gun handling skills, safe firearms storage essentials, the proper installation of gun locks and the basics of navigating firearms-related conversations. This dynamic workshop includes a number of hands-on exercises and results in a Gunwise Certificate of Attendance.

The Gunwise
Safety Certificate

Our signature firearms safety experience is tailored to organizations interested in preparing their staff to become community firearm safety leaders. This 6-hour in-depth competency-building workshop picks up where our Safety Bootcamp leaves off and delves deeper into in-depth techniques for safe firearms handling, proper clearing of revolvers and semi-automatics, how to properly store rifles and shotguns, accessing local and national firearms resources, and advanced best practices for conversations & counseling around firearms with clients and families. This workshop includes a number of hands-on exercises and culminates in the Gunwise Safety Certificate and can be tailored to address the specific needs of any organization or group.

Workshops for Healthcare
& Social Service Workers

Gunwise offers 1 or 2-hour basic training sessions for hospitals and other healthcare or social service organizations interested in ensuring their workforce has the knowledge necessary to feel comfortable discussing firearms, safe firearm handling, proper storage, and available resources with patients and families in or to better protect themselves and those they love and can be given as a stand-alone course or incorporated into clinical conferences.

Discussing firearms
with patients & families

Gunwise offers case and scenario-based training in initiating and conducting educational counseling to patients and families on firearm safety and safe storage. Best practice strategies are presented with a focus on answering common firearm-related questions. Sessions are typically 90 minutes, but can be customized to the needs of your team or organization, given as a stand-alone course, or incorporated into clinical conferences.

Links and Resources

José D. Morales
Master Firearms Instructor
Founder, Gunwise USA
Owner, Philly Firearms Academy
jose@gunwiseusa.com

Education:

BA, Temple University, Tyler School of Art, Digital Media, Philadelphia, PA
AA, Community College of Philadelphia, Addictions Counseling, Philadelphia, PA

Areas of Expertise:

Firearms safety, safe handling, and operation
Civilian use of deadly force principles
Foundational and advanced marksmanship coaching and instruction
Defensive firearms manipulation, skills, and tactics
Concealed carry principles, skills, and tactics
Personal protection inside and outside of the home
Expert legal consultation.

Firearms Education and Related Experience:

2010-present Owner and Lead Instructor, Philly Firearms Academy,
2017-present Executive Producer and Host of “The Locked Loaded and Legal Broadcast” 2016-present Expert Legal Consultant
2011-2016 Technical Director of “The Gun For Hire Broadcast “,
2013-2016 Consultant for the NRA Department of Education & Training

Professional Certifications:

Range Master Certified Master Firearms Instructor Course Graduate
FASTER Active Shooter and Emergency Response Level 1 Course Graduate
Range Master Certified Advanced Firearms Instructor Course Graduate
Range Master Certified Firearms Instructor Course Graduate
Maryland Certified Handgun Instructor
Utah Concealed Firearms Instructor
US Concealed Carry Association Concealed Carry and Home Defense Instructor
US Concealed Carry Association Certified Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Advanced Pistol Instructor
NRA Certified Concealed Carry Weapons Instructor
NRA Certified Practical Pistol Coach
Refuse To Be A Victim Regional Counselor
Certified Refuse To Be A Victim Personal Protection Instructor
NRA Training Counselor Appointment
Authorized to certify instructors in the following disciplines:
Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Home Firearm Safety, Personal Protection In The Home, Personal Protection Outside The Home, Metallic Cartridge Reloading, Shotgun Shell Reloading, Certified Muzzleloading, CO-OP Muzzleloading Rifle.
SABRE Personal Safety Academy Defensive Spray Instructor
PPCI Certified Defensive Baton Instructor
NRA Certified Instructor Certification: Authorized to teach the following disciplines:
Basic and Advanced Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Home Firearm Safety, Personal Protection In The Home, Personal Protection Outside The Home, Metallic Cartridge Reloading, Shotgun Shell Reloading, Certified Muzzleloading, CO-OP Muzzleloading Rifle.
NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Range Safety Officer

Additional Education and Development:

Range Master Defensive Revolver Course Graduate
Stop the Bleed Certification
Gunsite Academy 250 Defensive Pistol Course Graduate
I.C.E. Combat Focused Shooting Course Graduate
Civilian Use of Deadly Force Instructor Certification Course Graduate
Armed Citizens’ Rules of Engagement Course Graduate
Magpul Dynamics, Dynamic Carbine I Graduate
Armed Dynamics, Defensive Shotgun Course Graduate
Armed Dynamics, Defensive Handgun Course Graduate
Gun For Hire, Medical Use of QuickClot Graduate
Gun For Hire, Low Light Defensive Pistol Level 1 Graduate
Glock Certified Armorer Graduate
10 Ring Shooting School, Concealed Carry Seminar Graduate
10 Ring Shooting School, Advanced Pistol 1 Graduate

Professional Affiliations:

The United States Concealed Carry Association
The PA Firearms Owners Association
Association of Defensive Shooting Instructors
The National Association for Gun Rights
Gun Owners of America
Armed Citizen's Legal Defense Network Affiliate Instructor
The New Jersey Second Amendment Society
The Second Amendment Foundation
Firearms Owners Against Crime
Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership
International Defensive Pistol Association
Glock Sport Shooting Foundation
The Civilian Marksmanship Program
The Revolutionary War Veterans Association
US Law Shield Affiliate Instructor
The National Rifle Association
The NRA Business Alliance

Merle A. Carter, MD, FACEP
Co-Founder, Gunwise USA
Certified Range Safety Officer
Certified Instructor, Stop the Bleed
merle@gunwiseusa.com

Education:

1984 - 1988 BA, Wellesley College, Biological Sciences and Psychology, Wellesley, MA
1990 - 1994 Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Studies, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA
1994 - 1998 MD, Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, CT

Postgraduate Training and Fellowship Appointments

Support Gunwise USA

Gunwise USA relies on the generosity of our partners, and friends to help support us in promoting our mission of preventing firearm-related tragedies through education. If you like what we do, please consider showing your appreciation by using the button below and "buying us a coffee"!

Contact Gunwise USA

General and training related inquiries: info@gunwiseusa.com
Email José: jose@gunwiseusa.com
Email Merle: merle@gunwiseusa.com
Leave us a voice message.

• Twitter
• Instagram

Elements

i = 0;

while (!deck.isInOrder()) {
    print 'Iteration ' + i;
    deck.shuffle();
    i++;
}

print 'It took ' + i + ' iterations to sort the deck.';