Instructor Bios

Alex Frank

From 2018 to early 2025, Alex was a full-time practicing attorney at Michel & Associates, P.C., where he worked on some of the nation’s most high profile Second Amendment rights cases.

He played a central role in Boland v. Bonta (the case that successfully challenged the constitutionality of California’s handgun “Roster” laws) and triggered the repeal of the “microstamping” requirement that essentially froze California's handgun market as of May 2013. 

In 2024, he argued before the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals in May v. Bonta, a successful challenge to the constitutionality of Senate Bill 2 - California’s effort to prohibit concealed carry in most public places. He also contributed to many other important firearms rights cases, including Duncan v. Bonta, which famously triggered magazine “freedom week” in 2019. 

Alex also brings his experience as a dedicated performance shooter, and his passion for experimenting with carry gear and equipment, to the CCW classroom. Alex is at the range every chance he gets, working on pushing his draw speed and split times. 

 

Basil Ballard

Basil brings over 20 years of experience in the firearms and private security industries to the CCW classroom. He is a POST certified firearms instructor, medal-winning jiu jitsu competitor, and has taught CCW curriculum to hundreds of California CCW students since 2022.