Two decades ago—give or take—a nervous single mom drove up the muddy drive to Firearms Academy of Seattle toting a GLOCK 27 and a healthy fear for her life. It was on that day I first met Marty Hayes, an imposing man who saw no need to filter anything. Ever.

Back then, Marty’s heart was more apparent on his sleeve. And if it wasn’t for Marty and one other man he introduced me to—Mas Ayoob—I likely wouldn’t be here today. Going forward, I want you to hold onto that memory of Marty: he was a man who taught skills that saved lives, and he was very good at it.

Marty Hayes passed away on October 6 at the age of 70 on the beautiful land in Idaho where he was building a retirement home on for himself and his wife, Gila.

Marty Hayes was the founder of the Firearms Academy of Seattle and ACLDN as well as a firearms instructor, author, and LEO. (Photo credit: Belle McCormack)

Why am I starting an obituary like this? Because Marty was a somewhat polarizing figure in the gun industry. To know Marty Hayes was to love — or hate — him. He was all no-holds-barred, no sugar-coating bluntness and damned if he didn’t stick to his beliefs. AIWB? No. Revolvers? Yes. Thumbs forward? No. Thumbs down? Yes. Dogs? A resounding yes.

Mac was a longtime fixture at FAS, and held Marty’s heart for years. (Photo credit: Belle McCormack)

It was 1990 when Marty founded Firearms Academy of Seattle in Onalaska, Washington (which is nowhere near Seattle, FYI). Back then, and up past the time I met Marty, the intro to handguns class was free. This was the class you needed to take in Washington State to get your CPL and Marty didn’t see why people should be shelling out hard-earned dollars to meet a state requirement. At that time there was a handgun range with a basic cover set up right behind the classroom structure. Things have changed a lot since then.

Marty was many things…a dog lover, a firearms instructor, a gun writer, and he was, at his heart, focused on saving those seen as weak or lost. That may or may not be something you knew about him, but it’s true. The most public instance came in the form of the murder of Toledo resident Ronda Reynolds.

Ronda was the youngest woman to become state trooper in Washington’s history at the time of her death, a death that was staged as an apparent suicide. It was Marty who got involved to fight for the truth (check out Anne Rule’s book, In the Still of the Night: The Strange Death of Ronda Reynolds and Her Mother’s Unceasing Quest for the Truth). Ronda was murdered in 1998 and it wasn’t until a judicial inquest in 2009 that it was decided her death was not a suicide after all, as it had first been sloppily ruled. While Marty didn’t advertise the information—it was years before I knew about it—his involvement was key.

Marty and Gila Hayes working as a team in a shoot house at Gunsite Academy. Marty never quit learning. (Photo credit: Tom Walls)

Some know Marty for ACLDN (the Armed Citizen’s Legal Defense Network), a member-backed self-defense network that was recently purchased by CCW Safe. When I first met Marty, ACLDN was in its early planning stages, something he was working on with Mas Ayoob. Eventually, ACLDN became a power in the self-defense coverage world, and remains the only member-backed network, although I have no idea how CCW Safe may alter it.

The gruff, bearded face you saw at the NRAAM booth? That was Marty. And while he might not have been the most approachable, bubbly soul on the surface, he never lost his heart. I know for a fact that I’m not the only abused woman who can point back to Marty’s instruction and say, ‘This man is the reason I am alive.’

Say what you want, but Marty was an incredible shooter. (Photo credit: Belle McCormack)

It wasn’t uncommon for Marty’s dogs to run amok at FAS. On many occasions they’d come trotting up to the classroom, all snuffly noses and wagging tails, checking out the students. Marty was a dog lover of the highest order. His dogs really were his kids.

The Firearms Academy of Seattle has been passed/sold/bequeathed to Belle McCormack, a powerhouse in her own right. Belle’s been running the academy for awhile and made some stellar changes, and in September she convinced Marty to make an appearance to teach a revolver class. It’s somehow appropriate that Marty’s last class at FAS was one for revolvers. As much as Marty loved 10mm handguns, he might have enjoyed revolvers even more.

Things you might not know about Marty include the fact that he had a background in law enforcement, starting in 1977 with the Kootenai County (Idaho) Sheriff’s Department as a trainee police officer. In addition, he attended the Spokane Sheriff’s Department Police Academy. That was the start of decades of law enforcement work and association, but Marty didn’t stop there. He also earned his juris doctorate, because he felt it was vital he gained a deeper understanding of our nation’s legal system, and did he ever. Marty was a valuable source of information on how the criminal defense world works and how you, as a self-defender, should navigate it. And, of course, he had something like four decades or more of experience as a firearms instructor.

It must be noted that Marty’s widow Gila Hayes is a force to be reckoned with on her own. Gila is one of the first ladies of the gun industry, an author, an instructor, and the “woman behind the curtain” of ACLDN. Her credibility and strength are remarkable.

It’s inarguable that Marty impacted lives both inside and outside the firearms industry. But don’t take my word for it.

“Marty asked me once if I thought he was a good person. The answer then was the same as it is now: a resounding yes. Faults and all. The man built things, helped people, boosted careers, carried out selfless acts… If I was going to sum it all up, I would say…he did it his way.” – Belle McCormack, Owner of Firearms Academy of Seattle

“[Marty was] a kind man, a gentle giant, a man with honor and integrity, a man who was always at the ready to help a friend or stranger in need… Still, he was always a student, eager to learn and gain knowledge… He always seemed genuinely pleased to see you and was always ready with a smile and a chuckle. Marty chuckled. I loved him. He made an impact on my life.” – Tracy Becker, Massad Ayoob Group Staff instructor

“I was fortunate to begin my serious firearms training at Marty and Gila Hayes’ Firearms Academy of Seattle. His emphasis on teaching ordinary citizens how to use the gun as a tool for self defense and how to survive the legal and social aftermath of defensive use of deadly force was exactly what I was seeking. He brought many excellent opportunities for his students to study with the training industry’s best. We continue to offer his knowledge and commitment to helping the average citizen today under the leadership of Belle McCormack. He and Gila became dear friends as well as mentors. He will be missed.” – Diane Walls, FAS staff instructor

“He was very good to me. I read everything he wrote. Such calm delivery of wisdom.” – Rob Leahy, Simply Rugged Holsters

Marty was a dog lover and you could always find him wherever the dogs were. (Photo credit: Rob Leahy, Simply Rugged Holsters)

Marty Hayes paying Belle McCormack for a bet he lost on the range. (Photo credit: Tom Walls)

Mas Ayoob and Marty Hayes spent decades teaching together and collaborating on various industry projects. And no, I can’t remember what Marty had said as this photo was taken. (Photo credit: Belle McCormack)

Teaching was where Marty was in his element. (Photo credit: Kat Stevens)

Marty, Mas, and the author at the end of a long few weeks of training. (Photo credit: Belle McCormack)

MAG instructor Tracy Becker with Marty Hayes taking a class instead of teaching one. (Photo credit: Tracy Becker)

David Maglio and Marty Hayes in a candid moment during class. (Photo credit: Tracy Becker)

Current FAS owner Belle McCormack with Marty who had enormous influence in her career. (Photo credit: Belle McCormack)

It must be said that Marty also loved fishing, and of course he took his dog with him, as well as Belle’s kids. (Photo credit: Belle McCormack)

Massad Ayoob, Gail Pepin, and Marty Hayes at a firearms industry event. (Photo credit: Belle McCormack)

– Kat Ainsworth Stevens