Owners Bryan and Amanda Bishop say the Second Amendment is a foundation of LawMan Tactical, but their business is about more than powder and steel.
Bryan Bishop credits his 20 years in law enforcement – primarily spent investigating violent crimes with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff ’s Office and in the U.S. Marshals Service Task Force – for shaping his vision.
“I felt that there is a lack of professional training in our area as far as teaching people how to protect themselves, their families, their homes,” Bryan says. “… I had a lot of opportunity during my career to attend really good training by people who were much better than me. So, I didn’t want to just lose all that information, not be able to pass it on.”
LawMan Tactical sells firearms of different varieties, and trained staff instruct law-abiding citizens on how to safely own and use them. The shooting range also is open to gun owners who want to hone and test their skills.
In addition to firearms safety, LawMan Tactical offers classes in self-defense and personal fitness in its gymnasium and studio, some specifically for women or children.
And then there’s the 10-8 Cafe Bar & Grill, a full-service restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a golf simulator, and TV screens.
As with nearly everything at LawMan Tactical, the menu honors law enforcement work. Appetizers include the 2nd Alarm Nacho Supreme and Blazing Bullets Wings, and a top-selling “burgler” is the Hawaii 5-0 with shredded mozzarella, pineapple, bacon, and bourbon glaze. Pizzas are known here as “Live Rounds.”
There’s live music on Friday and Saturday nights, cornhole boards, and an outdoor playground. Certain levels of membership grant access to the Founders Lounge, an intimate, speakeasy-type spot where small and large groups can enjoy food and drinks in higher comfort.
LawMan Tactical opened in 2022, and the Bishops call out what they say are misconceptions about the business. They say police officers are a small percentage of people who come through the doors, and the business has much to offer on and off the firing range.
Bryan says he believes some in the public perceive LawMan Tactical as a place for “crazy gun people,” and “that’s the farthest from the truth. Do I like guns? Do I believe in the Second Amendment? Absolutely. But I also believe in people being trained properly and being responsible.”
Above all else, he says LawMan Tactical strives to promote “common respect for each other … I was raised on, yes sir, yes ma’am, please, thank you, God bless you, Merry Christmas. Those kinds of things were important to me. I wanted to create a facility where we still hold those things true.”
