When a use of force incident involving a firearm or a security officer occurs, the legal issues are complex and require precise expertise. I am Mark Schneider — a firearms expert witness, use of force consultant, Force Science Analyst, and certified firearms instructor. I provide professional analysis and testimony in cases involving:
- Self-defense shootings
- Negligent discharges
- Concealed carry incidents
- Security guard use-of-force encounters
- Ballistics and ammunition analysis
- Accidental, negligent or reckless causes of death
Why Retain Me as Your Firearms & Use of Force Expert?
With over 20 years of firearms experience, 12 years in armed security, and 8 years as a firearms instructor, I have:
- Trained thousands of concealed carry permit holders (CCW/CHP)
- Instructed hundreds of armed security guards
- Supported both civil and criminal litigation
My approach is fact-based, unbiased, and backed by both field experience and academic study, making me a trusted expert witness for firearms and security cases.
Areas of Specialization
- Self-defense firearms expert witness – Review of legally armed citizen and CCW incidents.
- Negligent discharge analysis – Firearms safety standards, preventability, and causation.
- Use of force continuum expert – Evaluation of open-hand control, less-lethal options (OC, baton, Taser), and deadly force.
- Security guard use-of-force expert – Analysis of shootings, policy compliance, and industry standards.
- Concealed carry expert witness – Review of CCW actions in public and private defense situations.
- Ballistics expert witness – Examination of firearms, ammunition, and ballistic evidence.
- Accidental discharge expert witness – Review of mishandling, unsafe practices, and firearm accidents.
Credentials & Background
Firearms & Security
- Certified Colorado Concealed Handgun Instructor (Instructor #2024005)
- Armed Security Guard Licenses – City & County of Denver, City of Glendale
- Training Manager – Major Denver-based security company
- Founder – Close Contact LLC (former licensed security company)
Certifications & Training
- Force Science Certified Expert – De-escalation & Human Factors in Use of Force
- Force Science Analyst – Advanced human factors and forensic application in deadly force encounters
- Verbal Judo Graduate (8 Hours) – Tactical communication and de-escalation
- NRA Certified Instructor – Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, CCW, Personal Protection Inside/Outside the Home, RSO
- USCCA Certified Instructor – Concealed Carry & Home Defense Fundamentals
- Axon Taser Certified Instructor
- OC/Pepper Spray Instructor
- PPCT Defensive Tactics Instructor
- Massad Ayoob MAG-40 Graduate
- Law of Self Defense Instructor Program Graduate
- Sig Sauer Academy Graduate – Pistol 103 & 104
- Glock Armorer & Novice Gunsmith
Academic & Professional Development
- Currently pursuing college diplomas in paralegal studies and forensic science
- American Law – University of Pennsylvania (Coursera)
- Hot Topics in Criminal Justice – University of Maryland
- Introduction to Psychology – Yale University
- Understanding Violence – Emory University
Additional Expertise
- Trained under Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (On Combat, On Killing, Bulletproof Mind)
- Licensed Insurance Producer
- HAM Radio Operator
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Practitioner
Example Expert Report Mark Can Provide
Attorneys often ask what a firearms or use-of-force expert report looks like. While every case is different, my reports are designed to be clear, detailed, and courtroom-ready. A typical report may include:
- Case Overview – Summary of the incident, whether involving a concealed carry holder (CCW) or a security officer.
- Materials Reviewed – Police reports, 911 calls, body cam footage, witness statements, physical evidence, and training records.
- Expert Analysis – Step-by-step breakdown of firearm handling, decision-making under stress, ballistics, and use-of-force options.
- Use of Force Assessment – Whether open-hand control, less-lethal force (OC, baton, Taser), or deadly force was reasonable, necessary, and proportional.
- Concealed Carry Evaluation – Analysis of whether the CCW holder’s actions aligned with training, state law, and accepted standards of armed self-defense.
- Security Guard Evaluation – Review of guard shootings, policy compliance, licensing requirements, and training standards.
- Ballistics & Firearms Review – Examination of safety mechanisms, function testing, trajectory, and ammunition evaluation.
- Professional Opinion – Independent, fact-based conclusions stated in plain language for attorneys, judges, and juries.
📑 These reports are written so attorneys can easily use them in case preparation while providing juries with a clear, unbiased explanation of complex use-of-force and firearms issues.
Contact Me
If you’re an attorney, prosecutor, or district attorney handling a firearm or use of force case, contact me for professional insight backed by years of field experience and instruction. Click Here For My BIO & Resume.
Mark Schneider
📞 (720) 924-6654
📧 cccdinstructor@gmail.com
Complete Your Consulting Waiver
Before we can begin your consulting session, all clients are required to complete our waiver. This quick online form only takes a few minutes and ensures everything is clear, professional, and ready to go.
👉 Click here to complete the waiver
