Episode 85 with David Cole
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Rob- Introduction- Welcome to episode 85 of Self-Defense Gun Stories. This podcast is for people who think they might want a firearm.. and for those who already have one. I’m your host, Rob Morse, and firearms instructor David Cole joins us as to co-host this week.
Hi, David. How have you been?
David- Hi, Rob. I got a new gun and am learning to use it.
Rob- David, please introduce our show.
David- Each week we discuss three recent examples of armed civilian defense to see what we can learn. Leave us a message on our facebook page with your questions or comments.
David- Our first story took place last week in Dallas, Texas. Tell us what happened.
Rob- First story- Are you armed at home?
You hear music blaring from a car out on the street. A few minutes later, you hear someone banging on your front door. It is 5 in the morning. You answer the door and a stranger asks to come in. You tell him he has the wrong address and can’t come inside. The stranger seems confused and angry, but he leaves.
A few minutes later the stranger returns and kicks down your front door. You grab the gun from your nightstand and confront the stranger standing in your home. You shoot him several times. Then, the intruder runs away. Police retrieve him from your front yard.
David, what can we learn from this story?
David- It sounds like the man may have been on drugs, and I noticed that the police took samples from the intruder’s car for testing.
Rob- What did our homeowner do right?
David- The door was locked.
Rob- Why is that important?
David- They have to force their way inside.
David- The homeowner was armed.
Rob- How did the homeowner get his gun?
David- We don’t know.
Rob- How did the homeowner identify the intruder in the dark?
David- flashlight, or maybe the home lights were still on after the earlier visit.
Rob- Should the homeowner have called the police after the first contact even though no crime had yet been committed?
David- That’s a tough call, but it was definitely suspicious in my book. Could at least call non-emergency for extra patrol. I personally would not have opened the door at all. No one I know is going to come knocking without calling first, and you’re under no obligation to open the door to a stranger at 5 AM.
Rob- Anything else?
David- Get better door locks.
David- Our second story happened last week in Lancaster County, South Carolina.
Rob- Second Story- Are you armed in the morning?
Someone rings your doorbell at 8 in the morning. You answer it. A stranger forces his way inside. You try to push him out and he pushes you away. You reach for your phone, and the stranger grabs it. You run to your room and get your gun. You shoot when they criminal follows you. Now the criminal runs away.
You identify your intruder. He has outstanding warrants for first-degree burglary, kidnapping and first-degree assault.
David- That says that the old saying..just call the police..is a lie. You won’t have time and you won’t have an opportunity until the criminal is done with you.
Rob- Let’s talk about our homeowner. What did she do right?
David- The door was locked. That meant the intruder couldn’t open the door and take her by surprise. That is good…but when you voluntarily open the door to an unknown, the lock is no longer a factor. Also, she tried to retreat and call the police, and she owned a gun. That is good too, but there is a lot we can learn. Better to have your gun on your person, where it is secure and immediately accessible.
Rob- What do you tell your students to do?
David- Carry all the time, and don’t open the door to strangers!
Rob- Should we talk through the door?
David- Yes. Try it some time. A common ploy is for the would be intruder to ask for help of some sort…their car is broken down, etc. Instead of opening the door, offer to make a call for them.
Rob- What else can we learn from her experience.
David- Have a gun on your body, preferably concealed. Practice with it so you can present it and hit your attacker with the first shot.
Rob- An unloaded gun would have been worthless to this woman. I wonder how she called the police. Did the criminal take her phone, or did he drop it after she shot at him.
David- Along with a gun, keep a cell phone on your person. Even your old flip phones will still call 911. Have a plan for escape if necessary. Possibly meet your neighbors so you have some place to run. That way you can call the police from someplace safe.
David- Our third story happened last week in Keithville, Louisiana.
Rob- Third story- Can you defend yourself at home?
You heard something. You looked through the porch windows to see four young men wearing hoodies and carrying backpacks on your porch. It is 10 in the morning and you’re armed. You answer the front door with your gun in your hand. That isn’t what this robbery crew hoped to find. They run away. A neighbor had already called the police. The four were arrested. The police found the hoodies, backpacks, and a large knife. They were booked for Simple Burglary, Possession of Burglary Tools, and Possession of Marijuana.
David- I’m glad she had a gun, but please don’t open the door.
Rob- What do you tell your students to do?
David- You are under no obligation to open your door to strangers. You don’t even have to speak to them, but if you choose to, you can do it through the door.
Rob- Was this homeowner well prepared, or was she lucky?
David- It sounds like she did not have her gun with her. She would have been overwhelmed if the robbers had broken in and she was away from her gun.
Rob- This story took place in Louisiana. It is an open carry state, so even if she didn’t have a carry permit, our homeowner could carry everywhere on her property. Suppose one of your students had never touched a gun before. Walk us through it. How many classes would they usually take before the could carry and present a firearm to protect themselves?
David- The basics can be learned in a day, easily…and “super advanced” skills are just not necessary. The reason a firearm is such an effective defensive tool is because it is so easy to use. The very argument many anti-gun people offer against gun ownership is that it makes it too easy to do violence…but that is precisely what makes it so useful in self defense! Probably just as important is to know the law regarding use of force, and books like Andrew Branca’s “Law of Self Defense” or Massad Ayoob’s “Deadly Force” are great resources.
Exit- Rob- That wraps up this episode. David, thank you for helping me today. Where can our listeners learn more about you?
Dave- I teach in the Cincinnati area. You can find my company, Aegis Solutions on Facebook. Also, my articles on gun rights are at Black Man With A Gun.
Rob- Our listeners can share their thoughts with us by leaving a message on the podcast facebook page.
David- We share this podcast with you for free. Please share it with a friend and give us a rating on I-Tunes and Stitcher. We’re also available on Google Play Music.
Rob- I’m Rob Morse. We’ll be back next week with more Self-Defense Gun Stories.
Please support Buckeye Firearms Foundation at https://www.buckeyefirearmsfoundation.org/
