Episode 199 with Tony Simon

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Rob- Introduction-

Welcome to episode 199 of Self-Defense Gun Stories. We’re glad you found us if you’re well trained and also if you’re new to self defense. I’m your host Rob Morse and we’re joined this week by firearms instructor Tony Simon.

Tony- Hi, Rob. I’ve been working and answering questions since the ranges are shut down in New Jersey.

Rob- We received three more ratings and two new comments on iTunes this week. (164/96) Tony, they called us factual and must-listen material for the armed citizen. Please go to the iTunes store where you subscribe to podcasts and let new listeners know what you like.

Tony- We’ll talk about recent examples where gun owners were in a life threatening situation. Were they lucky, or did they have a plan? We give you the links back to the original news article in our show notes. Our first story took place last week in Everett, Washington.

Rob- First story- Do you have a firearm nearby early in the morning?

You’re asleep when you hear noises in your house. It is almost dawn. You arm yourself and go to investigate. The noises are coming from the room where you keep your other firearms. You move closer when the robber moves toward you. You shoot him, and the robber runs outside. You stay inside and call 911.

Police find your attacker outside your home. EMTs declare him dead at the scene. You are in your 70s and your attacker was in his 30s. You make a brief statement to the police. Your intruder entered your home by prying open a window frame.

Tony- I’m glad our 70 year old homeowner had a gun, because I don’t want him getting into a fist fight with a thirty year old who is old carrying a pry bar. Our good guy was concerned that the robber was stealing firearms. You don’t want your guns falling into the hands of criminals. The homeowner did a number of things the right way. He defended himself when the robber advanced on him. He stopped shooting when the bad guy stopped advancing. He didn’t chase the bad guy. He stayed at the scene and called 911.

Rob- Is there anything else you’d like us to do if we were in this situation?

Tony- A skilled robber can break in without a lot of noise. You might not notice the breakin if it is windy. I’d like you to have an alarm so you can tell if a stranger has entered your home. If you had a gun safe, and a good lock on your bedroom door, then you could call 911 and let the police arrest your robber.

Rob- You still want us to have a gun for defense?

Tony- I want you and your family tucked into the far corner of your safe room, the corner toward the hinges of your safe room door. Everyone hides behind you. You shoot the bad guy who kicks down your door.

Rob- Is there anything else you want to say?

Tony- I want you to say a lot. Turn on the lights, or better yet, have motion sensitive lighting so the lights come on as the intruder moves. Say I’ve called the police. Say I have a gun and I’ll shoot you if you come through the door.

Rob- Why is that important?

Tony- You’re not hunting people. You’re defending you and your loved ones. You put several doors between you and the bad guy, but he wouldn’t leave you alone so you had to use your firearm to stop him. If you have a good door, then you’re on the phone with 911 and the cops arrest your intruder before he breaks down the door. If it is a low quality door, then 911 will have your recording as the door breaks in and you shout for the intruder to stop.

All that is part of your defensive plan.

Rob- Your protecting your life by being armed at home, and protecting yourself in a court of law.

Tony- Exactly. That is a lot to think about for our first story, so let’s move on to Chicago, Illinois.

Rob- Second Story- Are you armed when you sleep above your store?

It is 4:30 in the morning. You were sleeping above your store, but now you’re startled awake by the sound of shattering glass. You grab your firearm and you and your friend head downstairs. The intruders are busy smashing your display cases with hammers and looting your store. You shout for them to leave and some of them surge toward you. You shoot at them. Now they turn and run.

You and your friend grab one of the intruders and pull him down. It isn’t clear from the news story which one of you had handcuffs, but you handcuff the last intruder and call the police.

Your intruder is charged with felony burglary. He was on parole for possession of a stolen motor vehicle. The judge sets bail at $75 thousand dollars

Tony- We’ve had looting in cities across the US for the last few weeks, so I’m reading a lot of stories like this one. My family ran their own small business, so they have their investment in that building. The business could be their retirement fund, and maybe their inheritance to pass on to their children.

Our defender was armed and used his firearm when he faced several men armed with hammers.

Rob- Tony, I thought we couldn’t use a firearm to protect property?

Tony- This business owner can stay in his store. He defended himself when a group of armed men advanced toward him. If the attackers turned around and started to run, then the store owner has to stop shooting because lethal force is no longer justified.

Rob- What else did you notice?

Tony- I wish our store owner had roll-down doors to protect his shop. We want to make our home and business a hard target for robbers.

On top of that, you have to know when to run. Was there a back way out of your store if looters set your shop on fire?

Rob- That is serious.

Tony- Riots and looting are no joke. Have a plan. Board up your windows and doors. If you have a small store, then let only one or two people in at a time.

Our third story happened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Rob- First this message from DRGO

Rob- Third story- Are you armed at your gunshop?

You own a gun shop. You’ve been sleeping at your store given the civil unrest in the area. Last night, you saw several men through your video cameras trying to break into your building while your store was closed. They are back tonight. They use bolt cutters to cut through the metal grate in front of your shop. They smash the door with heavy hammers. You shout for them to leave, but four of them come inside. You shoot the armed robber in front when he comes up the stairs toward you. Now the other three robbers run away. You call 911.

EMTs declare your attacker dead at the scene. You show the police the video files of the breakin. The police question another suspect when he arrives at the hospital with a gunshot wound to the shoulder.

Tony- This business had one of the reinforced doors I mentioned before. Our defender protected himself when his attackers moved up the stairs toward him. He had a video system that showed the breakin, and might help identify the other robbers.

Rob- Why do you mention the stairs?

Tony- It is easy to defend a stairway because the bad guys have to line up behind each other and march uphill one at a time.

It is true that we’re not going to go hunt other people, but we can make it easy to defend ourselves. Like our first story, I’m glad the robbers couldn’t get his firearms.

Rob- What have you been telling business owners who ask your advice?

Tony- Obviously get good locks, doors and cameras. The money you spend on these items will be an investment in your business and your future. Learn deadly force law in your state, have a plan and a backup plan. Also if you see people attempting to break into your store call the police and make a report. Making a report will let the police know that your business is being targeted. That starts the paper trail in case there’s trouble in the future. Also let neighbors know what is happening and see if they can help keep an eye on the area.

Tony- Our forth story took place in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Rob- Fourth story- Are you armed at a friend’s jewelry store?

And at a liquor store here.

You heard about looting in the area. One of your friends owns a jewelry store on 5th Avenue, and you and your friends offer to them. You arrive with long guns and a vest to carry your loaded magazines. A few of you open carry your handguns. Six of you are standing inside the lighted store as looters walk down the street breaking windows.

The looters stop and chant outside the store. They break windows on the stores next to you, but they don’t enter your friend’s store. You take pictures and call the police. The looters leave as the police arrive.

No shots fired.

Tony- There is a lesson here. Most robbers run when they see their victim is armed. That is called deterrence, and more armed defenders deter more attackers. Very few people want to get into a gunfight with six armed defenders.

Rob- There is more to it than that.

Tony- Yes, there is. You’re in the light and your attackers are not as well lighted. That makes you a target. If this were my store, then I’d have people on the roof across the street.

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

Tony- Find me at Diversityshoot.com You can find me on Instagram and facebook at Simon Says Train and at The 2nd is For Everyone podcast.

Rob- After you look at Tony podcast and his class schedule, then please leave him a message on the Self Defense Gun Stories facebook page.

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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.