Episode 3 with Tony Simon
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Introduction- Welcome to episode 3 of Self-Defense Gun Stories. I’m Rob Morse with instructor Tony Simon. Hi, Tony. We report and analyze examples of armed civilian defense each week.
Tony- Our first example took place last month in Virginia.
1-Store clerk stops thieves- one dead, second in hospital Two armed men entered a Gift Card ATM store in Hampton, Virginia. It was about 6pm. The thieves announced a robbery and forced the store clerk behind the counter to give them money. To their surprise, the clerk was armed with a gun of his own. He shot the two thieves. One died on the scene . No customers or bystanders were injured. The second thief collapsed from his wounds a few blocks away. The second thief faces charges of abduction, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary while armed, discharging a firearm within an occupied building, wearing a mask in public and four counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony. The thief will be charged when he leaves the hospital.
Be careful if you look this story up for yourself because you might not get the complete story. Most of the news articles ignored that the criminals were armed and that the thieves fired their guns.
Tony Comments- Physical- Concealed carry again. No such thing as the “one shot stop.” Results- no injured customers, bystanders or employees. Was the employee at risk? When did he know it? What is he allowed to do to protect himself? Is that morally justified?
2- 71 year old convenience store owner stops thief with no shots fired A 71-year-old convenience store owner was opening her shop at 5AM. At that hour you’re making coffee and putting change into the cash drawer. You aren’t expecting, at least not in Buckhead, Georgia. Unfortunately, we don’t get to schedule a violent attack. The store owner, Janet Willis, saw William Dennis when Mister Dennis entered her store. Dennis demanded the keys to the store owner’s car. At that point, Janet Willis, the store owner, hit a silent alarm to summon police. The thief said he had already killed his mother and would kill her too if she didn’t give him the keys. Quote, “I was afraid he was going to jump me,” she said. Ms Willis stands all of 5 feet, 1 inch tall. The thief turned to look at another customer and Ms Willis grabbed a 9mm handgun she keeps under the counter. She kept her gun pointed at the thief as he ran from the store. He was later arrested by police for auto theft and attempted robbery.
Tony Comments- Physical- She is a little old lady, so there was a disparity of size. Guns make us equal. The shop owner had her gun behind the counter and not on her hip. What if the robber had crossed the counter moved between the store owner and her gun? On body carry is ALWAYS going to be the best option. There is also the option of simply giving him the keys, though that is no guarantee that he won’t kill you anyway. But if you can avoid the fight…
?I don’t have a panic button, but I have a car alarm on my key ring. One option could be to retrieve the keys as ordered, then press the panic button as a diversion. If it makes the bad guy look…there’s your opening to flee or fight. If he doesn’t, explain it away as an accident due to nervousness. If there’s no alarm on the key fob, another option might be to “accidentally” drop the keys when handing them over in order to create an opening.
3- Police have a difficult job, and so do armed homeowners. A criminal was having mental problems for the preceding week, but his crimes were never serious enough that the Montpelier, Vermont police could arrest him. That changed on a Tuesday night late in January. A family was sleeping upstairs. They woke up to hear glass breaking as 27-year-old Jesse Fitzgerald kicks his way through the mudroom door and into the kitchen. The husband got his gun and the wife called 911. From the top of the stairs, the man told the intruder that he had a gun and that the police were on their way. That kept the intruder downstairs, and a few minutes later, Fitzgerald left the house.
Fitzgerald went back into the house when police arrived. The homeowners closed their bedroom door and the police sent in a police dog. The police then tackled the intruder. Fitzgerald is being held for mental observation.
Tony Comments- Flashlight? Second gun or second intruder?
Exit- Tony Simon, thank you for helping me today. Where can our listeners find you?
They can contact me on Facebook at Simon Says Train or at The Second is for Everyone.
Rob- Join us next week for more Self-Defense Gun Stories.
Very important comment about how important it is to realize that the police don’t know the cast of characters when they first arrive, so do not point your firearm in their direction even if your target is the bad guy. You must have situational awareness at all times, and realize what is beyond your target…ESPECIALLY if it is the police, first responders, and other people!