Episode 234 with Michael Woodland

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Rob- Introduction- Welcome to episode 234 of Self-Defense Gun Stories. We’re glad you found us if you’re well trained.. and also if you are new to self defense. I’m Rob Morse and we’re joined this week by firearms instructor Michael Woodland. What have you been up to since we talked?

Michael- Hi, Rob.  I’ve been teaching firearm safety for over 15 years and competing in the shooting sport for over 5 years now …

Rob- We received three ratings and two comments on iTunes last week.(Total 229 ratings, 132 comments) One listener is from New Jersey and uses the podcast to plan his self-defense at home. Another listener liked us talking about the things he won’t learn at the range. Thank all of you for sharing your thoughts. Please go to the iTunes store where you subscribe to podcasts and let new listeners know what you like.

Michael- We defend ourselves with a firearm tens of thousands of times each week. Today, we’ll look at a few recent examples and see what we can learn. We give you the links back to the original news articles on our podcast webpage.

Our first story took place last week in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Rob- First story- Do you have a firearm nearby at night?

It is 4AM Saturday when you hear your roommates shouting. You get up to see them arguing. Your 19 year old roommate is threatening to kill everyone. One of your roommates already called the police.

The angry 19 year old male roommate attacks a male roommate. Everyone shouts for him to stop. You get your gun. When you come back, you see the 19 year old strangling the other man. You shoot the attacker. The 19 year old stops strangling his victim and the male victim collapses. The 19 year old attacks one of your female roommates. He is strangling her when you shoot the 19 year old attacker for the second time. Now the attacker lets her go and he collapses. You call 911.

Police arrive a few minutes later. Emergency Medical Services declare your attacker dead at the scene. You and your roommates give a brief statement. Later, the local prosecutor said you acted in self-defense and defense of other innocent parties.

Shot the attacker each time a life was in danger and stopped shooting each time the attack stopped

Called 911

Stayed at the scene

Gave a statement

Rob- How often does an attack like this happen in the US?

Michael- The US is rated 19th in the world, and that puts us below average for violent crime. We have 1.2 million violent crimes so our odds are about one in 260 that we’ll be victimized this year. Those numbers will rise in 2020 and 2021.

Rob- Is there anything else you’d want your students to do in a situation like this one?

Michael- Avoid it if you can. Could the three of you retreated to one room, gotten your firearm, locked the door, and called the police? Maybe the story would have played out the same way, but maybe you could have let the police arrest the crazy roommate rather than you having to shoot him.

If you have to bring your gun to a fight, then ask all your roommates to call 911. Their statement will be recorded for your defense. Also, it is great if you have a holster because you don’t want to have a gun in your hand when the police arrive.

Rob- Do attacks like this often involve drugs?

Michael- Most of the time. Ask your addicts to live somewhere else.

Rob- Michael, you talked about what to do during an attack, what to say to the police, and how to avoid problems by avoiding volatile people. All that is true, but it isn’t obvious to every gun owner. Where should we learn the ins and outs of self-defense?

Michael- They don’t learn that all at one time, and often they don’t give themselves credit for what they’ve learned. (List the many classes they can take)

Rob- Anything else, or should we go on?

Michael- Let’s go on. Our second story happened in Lucerne Valley, California.

Rob- Second Story- Are you armed when you’re at home?  

You are a female homeowner and you live alone. It is about 9 on a Friday morning when you hear a noise from the back of your house. You get your gun. You walk toward the sound. You see a man banging on your back door with a hammer. He says he is going to kill you. He breaks down your door and comes toward you. You shoot him. Now your attacker runs outside. You stop shooting. You call 911.

Police find your attacker lying in the dirt road in front of your house. The police call an ambulance to take your attacker to the hospital. You give a brief statement to the police.

Michael- Our defender owned a gun. She locked her doors. She reacted to the sounds of a break in and she had her gun in her hands before she encountered an armed attacker.

Recognized the threat. (hammer)

Defended herself

Didn’t chase

Called.

Gave a statement.

Rob- What else do you see in this story?

Michael- This was a rural desert community. The houses are hundreds of feet, if not hundreds of yards, apart. The area is often used by drug traffickers to avoid nosey neighbors. Maybe the attacker was intoxicated and didn’t know where he was. Maybe one of the drug dealers told him to kill you because you’re at home too often.

Our defender was on her own because the police were many minutes away when she faced a lethal threat. I noticed that tThis attack happened in San Bernardino County, California, so she could get her carry permit if she applied and said it was for personal protection inside and outside the home.

When the police arrive, show them your broken back door, then say you’ll cooperate and give a complete statement after you talk to your attorney.

Rob- Why do we say that?

Michael- Because the words we say will be taken as legal declarations. You and I don’t speak to each other that way. Fortunately your lawyer does. You shot a man who did not have a firearm in his hands and you have to explain why that was necessary. There are specific legal requirements for you to claim self defense. Your lawyer knows how to put those qualifications into your legal statement.

Think of it this way, it is much cheaper to pay your lawyer to prepare a statement than to hire a lawyer for your trial after you said the wrong thing.

Rob- Do you have self-defense insurance?

Michael- Our third story happened in Pearland, Texas.

Rob- First this message from the Second Amendment Foundation.

Rob- Third story- Are you armed at home in the evening?

You’re at home on a Saturday night. It is after 10 when you hear sounds from the back door. You go see what is happening. A man with a hammer breaks through your back door. He attacks you and the other person living in the home with you. You run to get your gun. You shoot your attacker and he stops advancing. You and the other occupant of the home retreat and call police. Emergency Medical Services take the three of you to the hospital.

Michael- We mentioned what to do before, and I’m glad our defender’s back door was locked. That gave him warning and created a trail of evidence for the police.

Rob- But there is more you want us to do, isn’t there.

Michael- Our defender went to investigate a problem and was not prepared to defend himself if he found one. Bring your tools with you. Better yet, you and your roommate retreat, lock the bedroom door, and call the police. Maybe that doesn’t work in your particular case, but talk about it with the people in your home.

Rob- Was our defender lucky, or prepared?

Michael- Some of both. He was prepared by owning a firearm. The attacker injured both occupants and sent them to the hospital for treatment. The defender was lucky that he survived the initial attack and was still able to get his gun and use it to defend himself. I want you to plan for success, not for luck.

Rob- Do you see anything else?

Michael- Our fourth story took place in Holly Township, Michigan.

Rob- Fourth story- Are you armed at home?

You’re having a buddy over on a Tuesday night. Unfortunately, your friend arrives intoxicated. The report doesn’t say if your friend was using drugs or alcohol. You talk for a while and then your visitor starts to get angry. You ask him to leave. Your visitor threatens you. He draws a knife and moves toward you.

You own a gun. You have your Michigan concealed carry permit. You’re armed tonight. You shoot your attacker before his knife reaches you. Your attacker retreats and so do you. You call 911, and so does your attacker. EMS takes your attacker to the hospital to treat his gunshot wound. Police arrest your attacker for outstanding warrants for felony operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated as a third offence, and for aggravated domestic violence.

The prosecutor is reviewing the case against you.

Michael- Our defender had his concealed carry permit and was carrying on his body when he faced this threat. That might have saved his life. The defender asked his guest to leave, so he tried to deescalate the situation using verbal commands. He recognized that a knife was a lethal threat. He defended himself and retreated rather than chasing his attacker. The defender stayed at the scene, called the police, and gave a brief statement.

Rob- I have not had intoxicated friends attack me, but it is pretty common for people who are high or drunk to become violent.

Michael- They will drink all the liquor or take all the drugs and then accuse you of stealing their stash.

Rob- What else do you see here?

Michael- Our defender had his carry permit. (clean record) That helped establish the credibility of his claims.

Rob- When do you teach your students about the physical distance they need to recognize a threat, react to that threat, and then defend themselves? 

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

Michael- Look for me at M-W Tactical.com

Rob- After you look at Michael’s articles and at his class schedule, then please leave us a message on the podcast facebook page.

Michael- We share this podcast with you for free.
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Rob- This show is part of the Self-defense radio network. Find more pro-freedom podcasts at sdrn.us

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