Episode 22 with David Cole

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Introduction- Rob- Welcome to episode 22 of Self-Defense Gun Stories.  I’m Rob Morse and I’m helped this week by instructor David Cole.

David-  Hi, Rob.  Hello new listeners, and our regular listeners. Each week we report and analyze examples of civilian defense.  Our first example took place last week just south of Dallas, Texas.

First story-  Rob- A 26 year old man walked into a Waffle House restaurant carrying a rifle.  He robbed the store and the customers who were in the restaurant at 2 in the morning.  One customer was carrying concealed.  This customer expected his wife to join him at the restaurant any moment.  The customer followed the robber into the parking lot.  The customer shouted.  The robber turned and raised his rifle.  The customer shot the robber several times.  The robber dropped the rifle and collapsed on the pavement.  The robber is now on life support in a Dallas hospital.

David, I keep hearing that a person with a pistol is no match against a person with a rifle, so how did this happen?

David-  While a pistol may not be as effective as range increases, capabilities and limitations are much more a factor of the software…the person behind the gun…than the hardware. All things being equal, a rifle is going to be a more effective weapon than a pistol. But all things are rarely equal. In fact, Jeff Cooper’s “Combat Triad,” consists of marksmanship, gun handling, and mindset…the actual gun is not mentioned at all.

Rob- 2am.  Shooting by street lights.. And making hits on your attacker.

David-  Lighting is a big factor not just in being able to shoot accurately, but in being able to correctly identify a threat. In this case, it seems that there was enough available light, but as armed citizens, we shouldn’t depend on that.  Always carry a good source of white light, and incorporate it into your shooting practice.

Rob-  We normally tell people to let the criminal go and leave the arrest to the police.

David-  Correct. Normally, we would not want to follow a robber after the robbery has been completed and has left the area…that would be difficult to justify as self defense.  I do understand that in this case he was concerned that his wife might be arriving and was concerned for her safety. This is something that we had better be able to articulate when we are justifying a shooting.

Our next story took place in Kentucky

Second Story-  Rob- A homeowner in Brandenburg returned to his home and found a side door open and a storm door smashed.  Their security camera caught the entire robbery.  The robber shot the family dog, threw a knife at the dog, and then shot the dog again with an antique pistol the robber found in the home.  

The homeowner came through the door with his gun drawn.  The thief had a knife in his hands and the homeowner ordered him to the ground.  The thief complied, and was arrested by police.  

The thief was charged with burglary, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and animal cruelty.  The dog is recovering too.

Did this homeowner do the right thing?

David-  There’s a saying in training circles, “fortuitous outcomes reinforce poor tactics.”

Rob- you mean he was lucky.

Dave- In this case, while the outcome was positive, the homeowner did get lucky to a degree.

Unless there is a pressing reason to enter the home (other family members inside), a safer course of action would have been to stay outside and call the police. Searching a structure solo is very dangerous, and it could have ended very differently if the burglar was determined to fight.

Another concern…something to think about…is how to handle things when the police arrive.  We’re standing there with a gun out…we need to think about how we are going to avoid being shot ourselves by the police.

Our third story took place in Texas

Support the Crime Prevention Research Center

Third story-  Rob-  A 19 year old robber entered the convenience store in Lancaster Texas wearing gloves and with a mask over his face.  He put a bag on the counter and demanded the clerk hand over the money in the cash register.  The clerk grabbed the gun he keeps behind the counter and pointed it at the robber.  The robber pulled up his shirt and started to present a gun of his own.  That is when the clerk shot the robber once in the chest.  The robber collapsed at the door and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

What if the clerk had been standing somewhere else, or if the robber had walked around the counter?

David- That’s an excellent point, and probably the biggest takeaway here. A gun under a counter (or in a nightstand, etc) is only useful if we are in a position to reach it. The BEST way to carry a defensive gun is to carry the defensive gun on your person. It would be understandable if in a state where guns are available, but carry permits are not, but this was in Texas. If you don’t have a permit and you can get one in your state, then get one…and then carry your gun.

Rob- I doubt the clerk had to use the sights on the gun.

Exit-  Rob- That wraps up this episode. Thank you for helping me today, David.  Where can our listeners learn more about you?

David- They can contact me at Aegis Solutions, and at Blackman with a Gun.

Rob- Our listeners can leave us a message on the podcast facebook page.

I’m Rob Morse.  Please join us next week for more Self-Defense Gun Stories.

Listen to Gun Freedom Radio