Armed Defense- at Home, at Work, and at Church
Firearms Instructor Andee Reardon brought us four new stories of armed defense. Honest citizens defend themselves with a firearm thousands of times a day. Were these gun owners lucky or were they well trained? What is best practice for armed citizens?
The longer discussion of what we should do and what we should avoid is on the Self Defense Gun Stories webpage. For now, here are the stories and the links to the original news sources.
Chicago, Illinois– First story- Are you armed at work?
You are working in a liquor store. It is late on a weekday night and you’re about to close the store. Two men come inside. One of them draws a gun and demands the money in the cash register. You back away. One of the robbers hits you in the head with a bottle. You present your firearm and shoot at your attackers until they run. You stay inside and call 911 for help.
EMTs take you to the hospital in serious condition. Later, you give a statement to the police. It isn’t clear if you have security video. 8 liquor stores were robbed on the northside in the last month. Most stores are closing earlier.
You are not charged with a crime.
Los Angeles, California– Are you armed as you arrive home?
You just drove home and closed the gate behind you. It is 7:30 in the evening and you walk up to your front door. Two men run up behind you. One of them pokes you in the back with his gun. You are carrying a soft drink cup in your hand. You throw your soft drink into the robber’s face and you step aside. You draw your firearm and shoot at your attackers. They run. The narrow walkway leading to your front door gives you no place to hide.
You don’t chase your attackers down the street. You go inside and ask your wife to call 911. You also check on your daughter. Both of them are unhurt.
You put your gun away. You give a statement to the police. You show them your carry permit and the home security video of the attack. They see your attackers jump over your front wall after you parked your car.
You are not charged with a crime.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania– Are you armed at work?
https://www.inquirer.com/crime/philadelphia-pizza-shop-shooting-robbery-20231105.html
You work for your dad at a small pizza restaurant. It is Saturday night and it is dark outside. The evening rush has slowed down but there is still a lot to do. Two men come in and you get ready to take their order. Most people want their order To-Go. These two are wearing hoodies and masks. They are also wearing rubber surgical gloves. One of them draws a gun from his pants and shoots into the ceiling. The armed man moves behind the counter and pushes you out of the way to get to the cash register. You have no place to run.
You draw your legally concealed firearm and shoot your attacker until he drops his gun. Now the attacker falls down. The other attacker runs from the store and you don’t shoot him.
The news story doesn’t explain how you get out from behind the counter, but you stay at the scene and call 911. You put your gun away. You give a statement to the police. You identify other witnesses. They agree that the robber shot first.
Your attacker died at the scene with several shots to the upper chest and head. Police are looking for security video from other stores in the area. You are not charged, but the police take both your gun and the attacker’s gun as evidence.
Houston, Texas– Are you armed in public?
You are part of the security team at church. A member of the church called the police and also called the church saying that someone had threatened the pastor that day. Another church member told you the suspect was outside in the parking lot. You grab a rifle and go outside to investigate. You see the suspect. You shout for him to stop. He runs at you with something in his hand. You shoot him twice until he stops. You stop shooting. You call 911 and ask for help.
You put your gun down when officers arrive. Officers find a vape in the attacker’s hand, but no weapon. You give a statement to the officers. So do the other members of the security team. The officers collect statements from the attacker’s family and acquaintances that confirm the threats against the pastor and the church.
Your attacker was the son of a church member. He was arrested yesterday for stabbing a sword through a trailer. Police found psychotropic drugs in the attacker’s truck.
You are not charged with a crime.
These stories give us a lot to think about. Reacting in the moment requires good habits. Your safety plan becomes a menu of best practices. When was the last time you walked through your safety plan with your family, your training partner, or talked about it with your self-defense instructor? That is how we make good habits now and good reactions later.
What is your plan in your home, at work, and in public? RM
SlowFacts 