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.
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.
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.
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.’
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 has been in my life in one way or another for over 20 years… this is devastating. Well written Kay. Thank you.
Marty was a giant in the industry and will be missed by many.
RIP Marty, In the Arms of the Angels….
Kat, very nicely written and the pic of you with Marty and Mas is nice.
RIP Marty.
Great obituary Kat!
Very well said and accurate.
On April 3, 4 1995 I had the privilege of attend the Lethal Force Institute LFI-1 presented by Massad Ayoob, hosted by Marty and Gila at their new range in Onalaska, WA. I was way over my head! That said Marty coached me through it all. This was the beginning of a decade of quite literally, emersion training. I saw students come and leave with tools to effectively protect themselves that Marty consistently provided. He was completely dedicated to his students.
Marty stopped by my place in Idaho a little more than a year ago. Traveling with his dog and a small motorhome to a training class. We visited for hours. Marty, typically, did much more listening than talking. Marty’s influence on my life goes far beyond firearms training. My association with him and FAS created a bridge for me to move from aviation maintenance into a new career in national security. I took the opportunity of that visit to tell him how grateful I was. I send my deepest condolences to Gila.
Your Brother in Mourning,
Jeff Millennor
Joined ACLDN many years ago. Only met Mary once but every time we spoke it was like I was a friend. I slept easier knowing that if it all went down one cold rainy night that I had Marty and his organization in my corner. He had my six and will be deeply missed.
Saddened to hear of Marty’s passing. I became a member shortly after my CCW class here in Iowa from a handout that I’d picked up there…the Mrs and I actually.
I met him and Gila at the NRA Meeting in St. Louis shortly after that and upon introduction they both treated me like a long-lost relative.
Prayers Up for you Gila and everyone who is affected by this…he was great man.
Condolences to Gila, Marty and Gila took me from being scared of firearms to proficient in hand guns, carbines and shotguns.
We are diminished! You did well Kat.
When I became the Police Chief in Napavine Marty was one of my guys. He and Gila did our training and we became fast friends. He was a gentle giant and a confidant for me as the chief. He gave me a funny look when I landed a Korean War Thompson with a drum as my car long gun. We had lots of fun over my tenure shooting with it. Marty was a true friend and I shall cherish the memories of great fun over the years with he and Gila. Thanks Marty for all your help but most importantly your true dedication and friendship over these many years brother.
I first met Marty in 2014 when I took MAG-40 at FAS. We didn’t always see eye to eye about every topic, but he was always willing to listen and consider viewpoints other than his own, and I never doubted his commitment to his students. May his memory be for a blessing to everyone who knew him.
Thank you for this article… I guess kind of an informal obituary. Marty was a great guy. I never had any personal dealings with him, I never met him, and I only had occasional E-mail exchanges with Gila, who was a wonderful person and I could feel her warmth in her replies and comments helping me through one thing or another regarding my membership from time to time.
Though I never met marty, I feel like I had a fairly good read on him through the many training videos and interviews that are online, and I always looked forward to the next newsletter update appearing in my inbox. I did not know these behind-the-scenes things you mentioned about him, but I could tell he was a good guy.
The Second Amendment community has suffered a loss, and we are all diminished.
I had joined ACLDN many years ago right after I discovered the organization. As an instructor myself, I always looked forward to the monthly newsletter Marty & Gila sent out, as I always learned a thing or two from each one that I would share with my students. I handed out to each of my students and fellow instructors to be a copy of the “What Every Gun Owner Needs to Know About Self-Defense Law” booklet, it was written by Marty and gave a good outline of When is Deadly Force Justified, explained the The Reasonable Man doctrine in simple plain English that anyone could understand.
I was fortunate to meet Marty in person at one of the NRA annual Membership meetings.
Sincere condolences to Gila and the ACLDN family. He has left a legacy of accomplishments & knowledge of us all.
Marty. In my house, I never had to say a last name. Marty is responsible for the basis of all the formal firearms and related training I have taken over the last 25 years. Marty was the in-house Instructor at the old Gun Works range i south Everett, where I was the manager for some years. I took all fhe classes he offered, most right and.then again left handed, and then was fortunate enough to become a special projects coordinator during the rampup and later years of the ACLDN. Shared several NRA convention trips with him, Gila, Mas and Vincent. When he and Gila revealed that they had bought property in Idaho, not more than an hour from us, I was thrilled to think we might have lunch or even a hunting trip together. To say that the shooting world has lost a giant is not to even scratch the surface. He will be missed.
Rest in peace sir. And God bless his family. I never met him. But listening to the podcasts that had him on as a guest. I did learn a great deal.
Thank you sir.
I had the pleasure of knowing Marty for just over 4 years. He was a great neighbor and friend. I could always count on him for help if not outside working or maybe making sure my bourbon didn’t go dry. We had many conversations about deep things or sometimes nothing at all, but he almost always had a smile on his face.
RIP Marty, thanks for all the carbine classes you hosted and taught.
I was a long time member of The ACLDN, an organization I could trust and that gave me great comfort to belong to, until it turned into CCW Safe. I met and talked to Marty on several occasions, he was always friendly and a font of worthwhile information. I’m saddened by his passing, we need more people like him on our side. RIP Marty and my deepest condolences to Gila.
God bless Marty and Gila for all they have done. He and ACLDN will be missed.