I learned on October 6 that Marty Hayes had passed in his sleep the night before. Marty and I had been close friends and co-instructors for some 35 years.
There is much to say about this good man. Street cop for many years, from patrolman to chief law enforcement officer. One of the all-time great modern armed self-defense instructors, and founder of the Firearms Academy of Seattle. A champion shooter, and I had the honor of being there on the same range when he won some of those titles. An expert witness for the courts since 1990, Marty’s testimony helped keep countless good people who had defended themselves out of prison and out of the poorhouse. Perhaps his most memorable accomplishment was literally creating an industry, that of post-self-defense support for law-abiding private citizens.
Having seen the exorbitant, sometimes bankrupting cost of defending oneself in court after having done so in the street, he went through law school and then created the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network, a non-insurance support group for members charged or sued after defending themselves. I was proud to serve from the beginning on their advisory board, which included lawyers and great instructors like John Farnam, Tom Givens, Manny Kapelsohn, Karl Rehn, Dennis Tueller and more. ACLDN helped thirty-some people through such crises. The model was widely copied by others.
Marty had just reached his early seventies. He had sold the Firearms Academy of Seattle to his protégé Belle McCormack, who has done an excellent job of running it with her capable staff and still hosts me and other outside instructors. Then he segued out of the expert witness field, working only as head of ACLDN. Finally, this past summer, he transferred ACLDN to CCW Safe, which promises to carry on its solid tradition. He was in the process of building his dream house on a waterfront in Idaho to be near his ninety-something mom when he unexpectedly passed, all too soon.
He leaves a loving family and of course his wonderful wife Gila, a highly accomplished shooter and writer in her own right. He also leaves a great legacy.
He had just recently come out of retirement to teach a revolver class, something he loved. He was making another retirement exception: he and I co-taught a Deadly Force Instructor class once or twice a year, an idea I owe to Marty. I’ll keep on doing them, but without Marty Hayes, I won’t have as much fun doing it.
Rest in peace and in pride, Brother Marty.
addendum:
Marty was a big man in every sense of the word. What many didn’t realize was the depth of his warmth and generosity. I knew Marty for over twenty years—less time than Mas, but long enough to witness countless quiet acts of kindness.
He never did these things because he had to, or for recognition, or to call attention to himself. Marty simply had a generous heart and an unshakable sense of what was right.
I won’t list those many good deeds here—Marty wouldn’t have wanted that—but I can say with certainty that there are a lot of people whose lives are better because of him.
He will be sorely missed.
E.P.
We are blessed to live in a land where this amazing man was able to make these wonderful contributions to our society.
Condolences Mas! And deepest condolences to Gila! I remember instructing at Tom Givens Rangemaster conference and the two of you sitting in attendance. What an honor to have you both in my class! Two of my mentors!
Very sad to hear. We’re reading entirely too many obituaries lately. Price of getting old I guess.
This is really terrible news. I learned from Marty and knew him personally as well — although maybe not as well as some — through all my time at FAS. I know he was just at one of those transitions in his life looking to get to Idaho, and I’m really sad that he wasn’t able to make it.
You would have to write a couple of books to detail all the positive impact that Marty has had on people.
It’s sad to see so many of the greats passing as of late. Another one who will be missed by many. R.I.P.
Damn. We’ve lost too many of the good ones in the last few years.
Indeed, sad news. Marty Hayes: so well known throughout the firearms community. As they say: Gone too soon.
Thanks for sharing.
Stay safe. Stay aware. Stay ready.
Marty truly was, one of the greats. His legacy will live on in the countless people he has helped and of course his amazing wife and partner, Gila.
So sorry to hear of the terrible loss of this giant of a man. He will be missed and mourned by many.
RIP Marty..
In the Arms of the Angels
R.I.P. and God bless, Marty. 🇺🇸🚨👮🏼♂️🚔🙏📿📿 I firmly learned about Marty from Mas Ayoob’s three-parrt series on the Glock in the September 1990 (or was it August 1990?) issue of Guns Magazine.
My deepest sympathy to Gila and the family and friend of Marty. I was a member of the Armed Citizen Legal Defense Network and on attorney panel. I had several contacts with Marty and Gila and they are great people. You earned your rest. We will miss you. When a great person dies, a library burns. We have lost a lot with Marty.
My wife, Sandy, and I have been members of ACLDN for many years. He and Gila started the network to provide a much needed service to help protect folks that would be required to defend themselves. At the time we joined, they were the the only reputable organization we could find. Since then, there have been many entities that have jumped on the bandwagon; but, in checking, we could not trust any of them with our lives.
Rest in Peace Marty, and may God be with Gila. Marty and Gila were both special people, and we regret we never had the opportunity to meet them.
RIP Marty. Thank you for all that you have done for law-abiding citizens, the gun community, and the Second Amendment. Blessings and peace to his family.
I was quick to jump on board with ACLDN
when I first started carrying. I understood what Marty had put together and was all-in when I had seen the living legends
that he gathered for the foundation of his efforts. I couldn’t have asked for a better support system. Thank you Marty. Deepest sympathies to Gila and all family and friends.
I was a member of the ACLDN for many years. I never met Marty in person, but I had seen him in so many videos and read so much of what he wrote that I felt as though I knew him well. This is a terrible loss for all of us, but especially for Gila. I thought that he would be able to enjoy a restful retirement after merging ACLDN with CCW-Safe. It may be that he anticipated what has happened and wanted to insure continuity of his life’s work. He will be missed.
The brevity of this life on earth is really hitting close to home. Rest peacefully Marty. You will be greatly missed.
This is a damn shame. Marty was a good man. Sorry for the families loss.
I had the pleasure of being a student in his last class, Defensive Revolver, at FAS. I earned Master Class Revolver certification under his watch.
Marty will be missed.
Hello Mas,
Sorry to learn about Mr. Haynes’ passing. I watched and listened to both of you on videos and podcasts and learned a great deal in the process. His expertise and support of the firearm owning citizen will be sorely missed! Please pass along our condolences to his family.
I never had the luck of meeting Marty, but like so many of our heroes, he has passed too soon.
My condolences to not just his family, but to the innumerable friends that he made during a long number of careers.
He sits at the Table of Heroes.
Mas, condolences to his family, to you, and all that new him. Life is too short. I talked to Marty on the phone once or twice and noted his friendly response and helpful nature. Rest in Peace Marty.
I never met Marty Hayes, in person, but I have seen his work, writings and videos. He was clearly knowledgeable on the topics of firearms and self-defense. This is another, heavy, loss.
Quote of the Day:
“This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.”
J.R.R.Tolkien (from his novel ‘The Hobbit’)
So grateful for Marty and ACLDN. Happy just to have conversed with him and with Gila. Greatness.
Thank you Mas. I am sad to hear this. You and Marty were my DFI instructors in Phoenix last year and I learned so much from both of you. I dropped Gila a short email with my condolences, which I hope she gets. I will miss Marty. Thank you both.
I go back with Marty to the early days of FAS at The Gun Works in Everett Washington. I remember being in one of his classes with then new student Gila. Through FAS, I was introduced to Leathal Force Institue and the legendary Mas Ayoob. Marty was one of the most honest and fair-minded people I have known. If you cut him to the bone he would bleed integrity. My heart breaks for Gila and my deepest prayers go out to her and family. I wish you had a little more time my friend.
Mas,
Thank you for sharing this sad news. I never had the privilege of studying directly under Marty but, like all law-abiding firearm owners, I am the beneficiary of his life’s work. Marty, Gila, you, and all of his grieving friends and family will be in my evening prayers.
Peace to all who knew and loved him.
Mas,
My condolences: to you for the loss of a dear friend, to his wife and family for the loss of a loved one, and to all of us who are made poorer by his passing.
Jim from Pittsburgh
Sad, sad news indeed. What a tremendous gentleman. While not close friends by any means, I was a a member of ACLDN enjoyed his company and friendly conversation at the Gunsite hosted Pat Rogers Memorial Revolver Roundup. This November’s gathering won’t be the same without his presence among us.
(sigh) well, when i received notice from you on this, i took a pause from commenting here to reflect on the contributions he gave to the community at large. i was an affiliate at ACLDN and had conversations with he and Gila concerning the organization and so on. i read his newsletters to keep up to date on case law, etc. my heart is saddened at his untimely passing and my heart breaks for Gila.
all being said, and i apologize if this seems insensitive or “not the time” for this question, but with all the recent passings of good folks in the business, i can’t help but wonder, should you, Mas meet the same (God forbid) untimely fate, who will fill your shoes and keep your torch and legacy alive? it’s a difficult question, but as a well known philosopher once said “…tomorrow is never promised…”
RIP Marty, you’ll be missed but never forgotten…