Skip to content

About Us

About us
TAC Solutions Instructors

You deserve to receive the highest quality Concealed Weapons Carry Permit class in Chesterfield, Henrico and Richmond, VA so on July 4th 2009, TAC-Solutions was created to provide that tactical firearms instruction.

Highest quality concealed weapons carry permit class in Chesterfield, Henrico & Richmond. TAC-Solutions provide tactical firearms instruction
the Owner / Instructor

Dave Van Buren 

Dave is a decorated veteran of the Richmond Police Department and SWAT Team. Firearms training has been his area of expertise for over two decades. Dave was instrumental in designing and implementing advanced firearms training classes which are currently being utilized by the Richmond Police Dept.  He has completed training courses ranging from Carlos N. Hathcock Law Enforcement Counter Sniper School and FBI Sniper school, NRA pistol rifle and shotgun instructor courses as well as many additional law enforcement and firearm courses.  

Dave is a former member of the Richmond S.W.A.T. Team and was involved in over 200 S.W.A.T. missions. He was a R.P.D. primary S.W.A.T. instructor, S.W.A.T. counter sniper and fire team leader. He also coordinated training and assisted in training scenarios with other police agencies, as well as the Virginia Tactical Association. We bring a high level of shooting and training skills.   Our students increase their shooting skills by 1 on 1 instruction. After his retirement from the Richmond Police Department, David became a Department of Criminal Justices Services certified instructor in the private security field.
The Department of Criminal Justice Services has licensed him to instruct the following courses:

  • Core DCJS subjects
  • Basic Firearms
  • Shotgun Course
  • Advanced Handgun Course
the Instructor

Dee Dee Van Buren

Dee Dee Van Buren is a certified  NRA Firearms Instructor 
We have noticed the increase in women getting guns, their concealed carry permits and training for Personal Protection!
Staying Safe is becoming more and more a concern for citizens. 
I think women feel more vulnerable than ever today. In the last year we have had many ladies approach us and share their concerns about being attacked. 
Dee Dee will be joining me in our “Can You Survive 3 Seconds?” Concealed Carry Class!  So tell you friends if they are ready to Learn how to use a Firearm to Save their Life & their Loved Ones! 

WHO WE ARE

Our Story

Dave was on the Richmond Police Force for over 26 years and the Richmond SWAT team for 20 years. No one spends 20 years on a SWAT Team 10 years is a big deal. It is 24 hours/day 7 days /week and very specialized training. He is a brilliant tactician! Every time he submitted his resignation, they’d say 1 more year! The only way he came off the team was when he retired!

He has opportunities all over the world to go in as an Instructor. He always says no because they may be our Allies today but what about tomorrow? So… to have someone of Dave’s caliber teaching civilians is rare. I am proud of him because he is following his heart.

We started our business after some friends wanted to get their concealed carry permit, so they called Dave. He did his due diligence and found what looked like on paper a good instructor and good school. They went got their firearm & permit and then asked us out to dinner. 3 hours later Dave looked at them and asked, “What did they teach you?” 

He took 3 months and designed our “Can You Survive 3 Seconds?” Concealed Carry Handgun Permit Class so our friends and clients could learn how to Save their Life and the Life of their loved ones.

Why do we call it “Can You Survive 3 Seconds?”

Many officers go their whole career and are never in a fire fight. Dave’s been in several, he is ok and the bad guys are ok. If you know someone who has ever been the victim of a violent crime you know it changes them. It not only changes them it changes the people who know and love them, and it has a ripple effect into the rest of the community.

Most of Dave’s career was spent as an undercover Police Officer in the Vice Division. Yes, he had the foo man chu and a ponytail, he looked rough when I met him over 30 years ago. That was when he was in his first shoot out. He realized early in his career the national average time civilians have to respond to an attacker is 3 to 5 seconds and Police Officers have even less time. He became obsessed with how do you make a Life Saving Decision Quickly and have the Muscle Memory to implement it?

He designed a Defensive Handgun Training course for the Richmond SWAT Team over 20 years ago. It is such a good course they still use it to this day and it is mandatory for all Richmond Police Officers to take his course. 

Needless to say I am very proud of my husband and his commitment to train us how to Stay Safe from Harm!!

Our Customers Say It Best

Testimonials
"Four hours of almost non-stop training with plenty of real-world examples... "
I had already taken an online test and received my concealed carry permit before I attended Dave’s class. I decided to take the class with my wife as I thought it would benefit her. What I discovered was that the online class barely covered the basics. I had paid $30 for the online class and, although I watched the short videos, I probably could have answered all the questions without watching them because the questions were fairly easy. The whole thing – the videos and taking the online test – took me less than 30 minutes. Dave’s class was quite the opposite. Four hours of almost non-stop training with plenty of real-world examples, up-to-date information on gun laws and time for Q&A. I can’t even begin to compare it with the online course – it was like night and day. Dave’s years of experience as a Richmond S.W.A.T. team member and trainer for law enforcement personnel allows him to share insights that you just can’t get anywhere else which makes him a great resource for our family and friends.
GW Richmond, Virginia
"Dave incorporates handouts, videos, and role playing demonstrations to facilitate the learning..."
I recently attended a concealed weapons and firearms safety course offered Dave Van Buren at the Gander Mountain Lodge. Dave immediately establishes himself as a subject matter expert on firearms. His depth of knowledge and enthusiasm for the topics of firearms, firearm safety and personal protection makes the classroom experience enjoyable. Dave incorporates handouts, videos, and role playing demonstrations to facilitate the learning process. The main reason I signed up for the class was to obtain a certificate for a concealed weapons permit, and I did not expect to learn anything new or of value. I was proven wrong. This class would be great for anyone who wants to learn more about firearms and firearm safety, even if they do not wish to obtain a concealed weapons permit. Dave could charge much more for this class and I would still consider it an excellent value. I plan to take other classes and receive personal instruction from Dave in the future.
Ron, Richmond
"Dave helped me to think through the strategies for personal safety, protecting myself & my family "
I recently attended Dave’s 4-hour Tactical Concealed Carry Weapons class. Not only did it leave me wanting to know much more about the various subjects including life-saving strategies and self-defense laws, I think the overriding message that Dave instills in his class attendees is the amount of responsibility that is included in owning a firearm of any type. Clearly, Dave could offer a series of classes because what many people don’t understand is that it is not just about getting through the basic requirements to get your permit. Carrying and owning a handgun is a life-long responsibility and Dave helped me to think through the strategies for personal safety, protecting myself and my family by avoiding difficult situations, and how to responsibly handle the “before-during-after” in the rare case I ever needed to shoot in self-defense. There was a lot more to learn and think about than I had originally thought.
S.W. Richmond, VA
"The class was very informative and easy to follow."
My wife and I took the concealed weapons class at Gander mountain. We were the only ones in the class because it was a holiday weekend. My wife and I learned quite a bit in a little amount of time. The class was very informative and easy to follow. My wife and I have recommended this class to everyone we know and will continue to do so. Thank You,
Chris and Kim, Richmond
"One of the most interesting and complete classes I have taken."
As A former Police Officer this is one of the most interesting and complete classes I have taken. Thank You
Richard, Richmond
"It certainly makes you look at your weapon with a new respect."
Mr. Van Buren, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to sit in on your class last weekend. I found it to be quite informative, so much so that I have been teaching things to my friends that already have cwp's that they didn't know. I have no suggestion for you on how to improve your class. I feel that the curriculum as it stands, needs no correction. I think that I can speak for all of us when I say that we all walked away with new knowledge and most definitely a better understanding of the dos and don'ts and the can and cants. I would also like to note the detail in which you made us understand what happens and how to handle ourselves during and after the time that action needed to be taken. It certainly makes you look at your weapon with a new respect. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sincerely,
Joe, Richmond

Sign Up for

Our Newsletter

Subscribe to us to always stay in touch with us and hear from us about TAC-Solution’s special offers, new classes and events.