Armed Defense- in Home and Out
Firearms Instructor Robyn Sandoval brought us four new stories of armed defense. Honest citizens defend themselves with a firearm thousands of times a day. These four gun owners faced a lethal threat. Some had to press the trigger and some did not. From home robbery to domestic violence to an assault on the street, what should you do in their place?
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.
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Shady Cove, Oregon- Do you have a firearm nearby at night?
You are at home in bed. It is 2 in the morning when you hear someone break into your home. You arm yourself. Your attacker moves toward you and you shoot them. You stop shooting when they stop advancing. You step back and call 911.
You put your gun away when police arrive. The police call for a life-flight helicopter. EMTs declare your attacker dead at the scene.
You give a statement to the police. You show them how the intruder broke into your home. You identify your attacker and tell the police that you have a protective order against them.
You are not charged with a crime.
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania- Are you armed at home on Thanksgiving?
You are at home in the evening. The news story doesn’t say if you have holiday guests with you, but your neighbors in the apartment complex are coming and going. It is about 7:30 when you hear a crashing sound. You grab your gun and go to investigate. You see an armed stranger standing in your apartment. You’re being robbed. He moves toward you. You shoot him until he stops advancing. You stop shooting. You back up and call 911 for help.
You open the apartment complex access door so the police can get inside. You put your gun away and set down the phone to talk to the officers. They police officers disarm your attacker. EMTs declare your attacker dead at the scene from gunshot wounds to the head. You give the police a statement. You show them your shattered front door. The officers check the video security files in the apartment complex. They assume your attacker snuck in behind another resident or behind a guest who was visiting for Thanksgiving.
The police take your firearm as evidence. You are not charged with a crime.
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Granada Hills, California- Are you armed at home? (Youtube video)
You’re at home. It is about 8pm and your security alarm says there was movement outside. You check the app on your phone and see three young men walking in your backyard. They are wearing hoodies, masks and gloves. You see them try to open your doors and windows. You try to call 911, but you can’t dial as you watch the intruders. You grab your gun. You see the intruders outside your back door. You move toward the door and shout at them. Then you open the door. Your attackers run when they hear the door open. You go outside and chase the robbers out of your yard.
You go back inside and call 911. You are transferred to a non-emergency number. The police pick up the line after 45 minutes. You ask to file a report. Police never come to your address to retrieve the video or take a report.
You look online and see a half dozen similar attacks to yours in the last month. The news calls them the Dinner Time Robberies.
Tag- No Shots Fired
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Shelby, North Carolina- Are you armed in public?
You’re walking down the street. The sunset was about an hour ago so it is fairly dark. You see one man walk up to a man who is standing on the sidewalk. The first man pulls a gun from his pocket and shoots the man who was standing there. The victim puts up his arms and is shot in the face and in the shoulder as he turns.
You have your North Carolina concealed carry permit. You are armed. You shoot the attacker until he drops his firearm. You stop shooting when the attack stops. You call 911 and ask for help.
You stay at the scene. You reholster your firearm before the officers arrive. You give a brief statement to the officers. You show them your identification and your carry permit. EMTs take both of the wounded men to the hospital for treatment. The attacker was shot five times.
Later, the police reported that your attacker was the aggressor. Warrants have been issued for felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and assault by pointing a gun.
These stories give us a lot to think about. Reacting properly 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 and in public? RM
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