Episode 248 with Michael Woodland

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Rob- Introduction- Welcome to episode 248 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. How have you been, Michael?

Michael- Hi, Rob.  I’ve been training and teaching.

Rob- No one commented or gave us a like on iTunes last week and our download numbers fell. (Is 248,140). Dwayne commented on facebook. Yes, I was bit by a dog, but the good news is that the wound is closed and I’m healing up. We also dodged hurricane Ida, so that is good news.

Please go to the iTunes store where you subscribe to podcasts and let new listeners know why you listen.

Michael- Here in the United States, we defend ourselves with a firearm tens of thousands of times each week. 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 California, Maryland.

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

It is almost midnight when you hear your roommates call out. Someone is trying to get into the house. They heard someone at the windows and at the back door. You get your gun. A few seconds later, a stranger kicks through the front door. He rushes in and you try to push him back outside. He fights you. You shoot your attacker until he stops.

You back up and call 911. You put your gun away. EMS tries to life-flight your attacker to the hospital, but bad weather keeps the aircraft on the ground. You and your roommates give a statement to the police. Your attacker is transported to the hospital where he dies. In the news article, you notice that your attacker already has a mugshot.

Michael- The one thing I am glad to hear is that the occupants Owned a firearm. When danger was present the firearm was accessible and in the care of someone who sounded like they knew how to handle it. It was Stored in a condition so it could  be quickly accessed. The occupant Stopped shooting when the threat stopped. Called the police and they all gave a statement when the deputies arrived.

Rob- You make that sound simple. When would new gun owners learn about storing a firearm, about how to shoot, about when to stop shooting, and about what to say to the police?

Michael- Not all at once. First,you make the decision to get a firearm and from there everything is a building block. How to clean it, how to hold it, leading up to recommended ways of storing it. Second, now you learn how to shoot it, and over a period of time your skills will advance where you learn to make sound decisions like when to stop shooting when you are defending your life …

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

Michael- I would like to see everyone armed, but we already know a firearm is not for everyone and your beliefs are those, but if you decide to own a firearm and in a similar situation Have a plan, get training and with the training you might open your mind to added accessories that might help under different conditions like having a flashlight on your firearm  

Rob- What might be in a security plan?

Michael- A security plan can cover Who, What, When, Why and How… Who is doing what in the situation, What areas are you covering, When will certain things take place like moving from one location to the next… When to call the Officers, and How is communication going to take place without being too wordy to distract you from defending your perimeter… And it is important that if you injured someone regardless of the situation that we perform medical assistance.

Rob- I shot the bad guy. What do I do with my gun?

Michael- If the threat is not present anymore and he did not run away, you want to make sure they are not armed or in any position to cause any harm. Get all possible tools that can cause injury away from them. After it is safe ask questions as to what is hurting and at the same time make the determination if you render assistance if you can be overwhelmed or just wait for Officers to arrive.

Rob- Anything else?

Michael- That is enough for now. Our second story happened in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Rob- Second Story- Were you trained to use a firearm?

You hear banging on the front door. You get up. It is 3am Sunday morning and your aunt is already up to answer the door. It is your 28-year-old  cousin at the door. Your cousin has mental problems. Your aunt won’t let him inside. He gets angry. He grabs your aunt and hits her in the head. He throws her to the ground and hits her in the head again. He kicks her head and stomps on her.

You grab a gun and shoot her attacker until he stops. He turns and runs outside. You drop the gun and call 911. Now, you put the gun away so the other kids don’t get it. Police arrive and you say your aunt needs help.

EMS finds your cousin down the street. They take him to the hospital where he died. Your aunt wishes your cousin took his medications like he was supposed to. You talk to the police. You’re a teenager.

Michael- This is a sticky situation where it is family and a family member has mental health problems. So medication is a factor along with a firearm where the aunt owned one. She shared with one of the teenagers residing with her where the firearm is stored and how to use it. The non issuing teen recognized a lethal and unavoidable threat to his aunt. He retrieved the firearm and stopped the threat until the cousin ran off and he stopped shooting. He did not chase his cousin the attacker but he did call for help and gave information to the officers.  

Rob- We leave teenagers alone. What should they know about armed defense?

Michael- That a firearm is not a toy and only used when you feel your life is in danger.

Rob- When do they learn things like that? (In what class?)

Michael- Any firearm instructor should constantly be preaching that regardless if it is a Concealed Weapons Class, Intro to firearms, even the sales person at the store selling the firearm. 

 Rob- It sounds like there were several children living in this home. That tells me their families had problems or the children had problems. Tell me about storing my gun safely. 

Michael-  Every family situation is different and depending on the factors that had this family member stepping up and raising the children, the one thing that stood out was that the aunt did explain to the one teenager where the firearm is stored and how to use the firearm.  In the event you have children living with you it is very important to have some form of a safe that can prevent the child from getting to the firearm and doing unnecessary harm. 

Rob- Where are we headed next?

Michael- Our third story happened in Syracuse, New York.

Rob- First this message from Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership.

Rob- Third story- Are you armed in public?

There are a lot of people on the street. It is the middle of the afternoon when a man in his twenties starts shooting at the crowd and at you. You own a gun. You have your New York Concealed Carry License. You shoot back. Your attacker stops shooting and so do you. You call 911.

Emergency Medical Services declare your attacker dead at the scene. You manage the property for the owner. You give a brief statement to the police. The county district attorney said you saved several lives by shooting back.

Michael- Always being aware especially in a crowded scene is very important. It is apparent that the attacker had words before with the property manager and the situation showed a disregard for life. 

I say that since the attacker started shooting in the crowd, we can assume chaos took place where people were trying to get away from the firearms being shot, allowing the property manager to get shots on the attacker leaving him dead. Having a Concealed Weapons Permit in New York put the officers at ease since it showed that the property manager did not have a criminal record.  

Michael- Our last story took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Rob- Fourth story- Are you armed as you drive?

You are away from home when your security alarm goes off. It gives you a text saying the front door was open and there was movement inside your house. You drive back home. It is about 5pm when you drive up. You see someone carrying things out of your house. You pull up and confront the intruder, you call 911. The burglar swings at you with a metal pipe. You duck and draw your firearm. You shoot your attacker. He stops fighting with you. You back up and tell 911 what happened.

EMS transports your attacker to the hospital with life threatening injuries. You give a brief statement to the police. You contact your lawyer.

Michael- Our defender did a lot of things right in this situation. He armed his alarm when he was not home. After returning home from the notification of the intruder he verbally confronted the intruder. At the same time the intruder swung at the homeowner with a metal pipe that is considered a life threatening tool. The home owner reacted soundly and stopped the threat giving details to 911 as it was happening. After the officers arrived he gave a statement, contacted his lawyers. A situation that is unfortunate but played out perfectly in a sense of speaking. 

Rob- What would you like us to do in a situation like this one?

Michael- Do not engage into a violent conflict. Property can be replaced if covered by insurance but a life can not. Not everyone has the capabilities of this homeowner. 

Rob- But it is my stuff.

Michael- Property can be replaced, and we do not know the outcome of a violent encounter. 

What if homeowner was outnumbered and when the firearm went off, the attacker crew of helpers ran out the back door or they came to give assistance now you are outnumbered. Remember you are on the phone with the Police and they are on the way.  

Rob- When do you talk to your students about that?

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

Michael- You can find me on social media by looking up @m_wtactical, M-W tactical or visit my website at www.M-W Tactical.com

Rob- After you look at Michael’s classes and schedule, then leave him 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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