Episode 197 with Elizabeth Hautman

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Rob- Introduction-

Welcome to episode 197 of Self-Defense Gun Stories. We’re glad you found us if you’re well trained and if you’re new to self defense. I’m Rob Morse and we’re joined this week by firearms instructor Elizabeth Hautman.

Elizabeth- Hi, Rob.  I’ve been working, teaching and practicing on my range.

Rob- Our listeners gave us another rating and another review on iTunes (157×92). The comment said that we learn from other people’s experience, to which I’d add, at least we try. Please go to the iTunes store where you subscribe to podcasts and let new listeners know what you like.

Elizabeth- 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 Fargo, North Dakota.

Rob- First story-  Are you armed as you arrive home?  

You drive up to your home and park. As you’re about to get out of your car, a neighbor comes up and starts yelling at you. Your neighbor has been drinking and you ask him to leave your property. Your neighbor throws his drink at you and turns away. You get out of your car and your neighbor comes back, and grabs you by the throat. Your neighbor is larger and heavier than you are, and he pushes you back against your car. It is hard to breathe.

You’re armed. You draw your firearm and shoot your attacker. Now, he lets go of your throat. You run inside your home and call 911. You ask for both EMTs and the police.

Your attacker died at the hospital. You’re arrested and then released when an investigator from the state’s attorneys office said you acted in self defense. 

Elizabeth- Bought a gun. Learned how to use it.

Found a holster that fit him and he carried that day.

He presented his firearm when someone had him by the throat.

I assume he retreated to his house and called the police.

He stayed at the scene and gave a statement.

Rob- I wouldn’t expect to be choked by my neighbor. Do you talk with your students about situations like this?

Rob- What would you like us to do if we were in that situation?

Elizabeth- Close the window and drive away.

Rob- Even though you’re at home?

Elizabeth- Yes. Drive away.

Rob- Anything else?

Elizabeth- That is enough for now. Our second story happened in Nashville, Tennessee.

Rob- Second Story-  Are you armed in public?   

It is 8:30 at night. You’re on your way to visit a friend’s apartment. You’re walking between the buildings when a stranger comes out of the dark. He grabs you, and pushes something against your stomach. He says it is a gun and to give him everything.

You have your carry permit. You’re armed. You shoot your attacker and run away.

When you’re safe, you call the police.You meet them and give a statement. They take your gun and send you on your way.

Elizabeth-Carry permit
Found a gun he likes.
Found a holster he likes.
Learned how to present.
Carried.
Ran to safety and called the police.
Returned to the scene of the crime and gave a statement.

Rob- What should we say to the police? What do you tell your students to do in this situation.

Elizabeth- Travel the open road, or at least some place you can see.

Be a light in the world, but a flashlight will do.

Avoid a gunfight, so cheat.

Rob- Now explain each of those in more than a sentence.

Elizabeth-
Our third story happened in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Rob- First this message from the Crime Prevention Research Center..

Rob- Third story- Are you armed at home?

You’re working on a project in your backyard. It is after dark and you hear your dog barking. She sounds upset, so you go into your house and follow the sound . You see that one of your side doors is open, so you grab your shotgun and move toward your dog. Your dog is barking at the door to your young daughter’s room.

You’re about to enter her room when a naked stranger comes out of her room with a mask over his face. He is carrying something large in his hands and he’s running toward you. You shoot twice. Your attacker falls down, and you run to your daughter’s room to make sure she is OK. 

The gunshots woke everyone up. You and your wife check on the rest of your kids and on your nannie living with you. You call 911. EMTs declare your attacker dead at the scene.

No one knows why the attacker chose your house, but neighbors reported attempted break-ins a few minutes earlier.

Elizabeth- I’m glad he had a dog and that he listened to her. A dog, even a small dog, is an alarm, but defense is up to you. Our homeowner defended his family. He made sure they weren’t hurt. He stayed at the scene, called the police, and gave a statement.

Rob- If this homeowner was one of your students, what would you tell him? 

Elizabeth- Lock your doors. Get an alarm. Also, consider what would have happened if the home invader was between you and your shotgun. Then you have to fight your way to your defensive tools. Both you and your wife should carry on-body.

Have a safety plan and walk your family through it.

That is the advice I give my students.

Rob- Sometimes we talk about avoiding a fight, but the intruder went to your child’s room.

Elizabeth- You are going to make sure your family is safe and gather them together so you can defend them. One of your defensive tools is a flashlight.

Elizabeth- Our forth story took place in San Antonio, Texas.

Rob- Fourth story- Are you armed at home?

You are startled awake by the sound of breaking glass. Your wife is awake as well. You grab your gun and go investigate the sound in your house. You see an intruder in your home. He lunges at you and grabs for your gun. The gun goes off, and you are able to throw your attacker to the floor. You hold him down until the police arrive.

Your wife treats a cut your face. The police notice your broken front door.

Elizabeth- Our defender was armed. I assume the wife called police while the armed husband held the intruder.

I want you to have a plan. You bought a gun to protect your family. You make really bad decisions in the middle of the night, so work through a plan over a couple of days when you’re both awake.

Clearing your house in the dark is hard, and our defender almost handed the attacker his firearm. Turn on the lights and bring a flashlight. If you see someone, then retreat. A firearm is a distance tool, so backup and give yourself distance.

There is often an unspoken contract that the man will defend the family. That assumes that the man is always at home, and that is never true. Everyone in your home is worth protecting, so the adults should know how to defend themselves and defend their partner. 

People get sick and injured. Have a plan if your spouse is asleep, and you are at the other end of the house or out in the yard. You get to defend yourself and your family with the tools you have with you.

Rob- How do your students react when they figure out that they have to protect themselves and a gun isn’t a magic lump of metal that protects them?

Rob- How do new gun owners find good instructors?

Elizabeth- Work with your family. Take a class on firearms safety. Take a class on basic marksmanship. Now you can go rent a gun at a shooting range or bring your own gun to the range. Practice so safety is a habit. Figure out how you’re going to carry your defensive tools all the time. 20 million people do that everyday, so you can too. 

Exit-  Rob- that wraps up this episode. Elizabeth, thank you for helping us again. Where can we learn more about you?

Elizabeth- I instruct in Colorado Springs at my private range in Black Forest. Contact me at Colorado Boots Firearms Instruction.

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

Elizabeth- We share this podcast with you for free.
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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.