Episode 188 with David Cole

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Rob- Introduction-

Welcome to episode 188 of Self-Defense Gun Stories. We’re glad you found us if you’re well trained or if you’re only curious about self defense. I’m Rob Morse and we’re joined this week by self-defense instructor David Cole.

David- Hi, Rob.  I’ve been self-quarantining.

Rob- We received one more rating on iTunes (144/86) this week. Please go to the iTunes store where you subscribe to podcasts and leave us a rating and a review. An instructor said he listens with his family. Thank you!

David- We’ll talk about recent examples where gun owners were in a life threatening situation. Were they lucky, or did they have a plan? What should we do if we were in their place? We give you the links back to the original news article in our show notes. Our first story took place last week in Nashville, Tennessee.

Rob- First story- Are you armed as you park your car?

You and your girlfriend are in your car. You’re parking in front of your apartment after dark. Before you get out of your car, a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt points a gun at you through the driver’s window. You’re armed. You grab your gun from the car door and shoot your attacker. You and your girlfriend escape to a nearby grocery store. You call your dad, and the three of you return to the scene of the attack. The police are already there, and you and your girlfriend give statements.

Your attacker was taken to the hospital by EMTs. He was out on bail while awaiting trial for attempted murder.

David- Gun owner.

had his gun within reach inside his car. 

Escaped to safety.

Came back to the scene and talked to the police.

David- Carry on your body. If you need to move on foot, where are you going to put your firearm? Certainly don’t want to be running around with it in your hand, and you don’t want to lose control of it.

Not clear if he drove to safety or ran to safety. Better to remain at the scene if it is safe to do so.

You and your girlfriend want to be the first ones to call 911. First to call is known as the “victim.” If you are the one someone else is calling about, you are known as the “suspect.”

Experienced criminal…not the type who would be frightened away by the mere sight of a gun. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that a bad guy will just run away if you have a gun. You must be prepared to use it if necessary.

Rob- car carry, shooting at night, when do you talk with your students about that?

Our second story took place in Mount Clemens, Michigan.

Rob- Second story- Are you armed at work?  

You’re working behind the counter at a convenience store. There is a customer at the register and another customer shopping when a man walks into the store with a mask over his face. He grabs some lighters and tells you to put a couple cartons of cigarettes in a bag for him. You look down, and he is pointing a gun at you.

You’re armed. You hand over the cash and the cigarettes. You draw your firearm and shoot your attacker until he drops his gun and runs away. Then you call the police.

Police find your attacker nearby. EMTs take him to the hospital. Your attacker is charged with three felony counts of armed robbery, one felony count of receiving and concealing a stolen firearm, one felony count of firearms possession by felon, and additional charges from two other robberies. The robber pled guilty and accepted a 17 year sentence.

David- Great job. Armed.

Carried on body.

Waited his turn. Gun pointed at him but misfired. Took advantage of the opportunity to draw and fire.

Six hits. (Still able to run away. Survived.)

Stopped the threat

Stayed and didn’t chase

Called the police 

Rob- These news stories are always incomplete. What else would you want your students to do if they were in this situation?

David- secure the door

Ask customers if they are hurt

Ask customers to call 911

Another experienced criminal.

Rob- When do you talk about the legal use of lethal force?

David- That is enough for now. Our third story happened in Kingston, Wisconsin.

Rob-

Please support FASTER Colorado at Coloradans for Civil Liberties

Rob- Third story- Are you armed at home? and here

It is four in the morning. You and your girlfriend are asleep in bed. You hear some strange sounds in your house so you get up. A stranger is standing in your kitchen with his shirt off. You shout at him to leave. He does, and you lock the front door behind him. You call 911. As you’re talking to the police, the stranger starts beating on your door, stabbing the door with a knife, and smashing the windows next to the door. He says he is going to kill you. You ask your girlfriend to bring you your gun. The stranger reaches through the window to open the door, and you shoot him. Now he runs away. You stay on the phone with the police. They take your attacker to the hospital.

Police said your attacker was on methamphetamine. He was charged with felony first degree reckless endangerment, felony attempted burglary, felony bail jumping, and misdemeanors criminal damage, trespass, and disorderly conduct.

David- Our defender bought a gun

Had the gun at home

Had it loaded

Told his girlfriend where it was.

Defended himself and his girlfriend from a violent person.

David- flashlight, Carry on body. 

Your tool when you need it, and a place to put your firearm when you’re not using it…like when the police arrive. I like that the attacker could not kick down the door. I wish it were locked the first time the attacker tried to enter. Put plastic film on the glass next to the door.

 

Rob- When do you talk about defending your home?

David- Our forth story took place in Harris County, Texas.

Rob- Fourth story- Are you armed at home?

You’re a disabled 53 year old woman. You’re in your apartment alone in the middle of a weekday afternoon. You hear someone banging against your downstairs sliding door. Then you hear intruders smash their way through your glass doors.

You’re armed. You see that your attacker is armed and you shoot him. Now, both of your attackers run away. You call the police.

Police find one of your attackers dead in your backyard. They arrest his two accomplices. The three of them are suspected of several burglaries in the area. The survivors are charged with felony burglary, felony murder, and tampering with evidence when they tried to hide your attacker’s gun.

David- Armed.

Accessable, (Not sure on body or off)

Recognized a lethal, immediate, and unavoidable attack.

Defended herself

Stopped shooting

Called the police, stayed at the scene, gave a statement to the officers when they arrived.

Rob- Why was the attacker’s gun such an important piece of evidence?

David- It helps to show “ability” part of AOJ

David- defensible position. stairs?

Rob- Statement with the police, legal insurance

David- Notice that in three of our cases, the suspect was still able to flee, even if they were hit fatally. Important to be able to make multiple hits quickly.
Exit- Rob- that wraps up this episode. Where can we learn more about you?

David- Look for me at deltabravocharlie.com

Rob- After you look at David articles, then leave us a message on the podcast facebook page.

David- We share this podcast with you for free.  Please share the podcast with a friend and give us a rating on I-Tunes and Stitcher. We’re also available on Google Play Music, Tunein, Spotify, Podbean and iHeart Radio.

Rob- This podcast is part of the Self-defense radio network. Find more great shows at sdrn.us

I’m Rob Morse.  We’ll be back next week with more Self-Defense Gun Stories.