Episode 138 with Amanda Suffecool

Rob- Introduction- I’m glad you found us and welcome to episode 138 of Self-Defense Gun Stories.

This podcast is for people who are curious about a firearm for self-defense, and for those who already own one. I’m your host, Rob Morse. We’re joined this week by self defense instructor Amanda Suffecool.

Amanda- Hi, Rob. I’ve been working and shooting and…

Rob- Amanda, how do you listen to the show?

Amanda- On my cell phone with (iTunes?)

Rob- We only have 18 ratings on iTunes since apple wiped us out. Please leave a comment and a rating.

Rob- I’m looking for a bilingual podcaster who will make a spanish version of Self-Defense Gun Stories. If you know someone, then please ask them to contact us. Until then, Amanda, please introduce our podcast to our new listeners.

Amanda- We study several examples where gun owners survived a life threatening situation. Were they lucky, or did they have a plan? What should we do if we were in their place? Our first story took place last week in Chicago, Illinois.

Rob- First story- Are you armed as you wait for the bus?

You’re on your way to work. It is six in the morning and cold outside. You’re in your medical scrubs and a heavy coat. As you wait for a bus, a young man comes up to you. He pulls a gun from his pocket. He tries to knock you down and grab your purse. You have your concealed carry permit. You’re armed. You present your firearm and shoot your attacker in the chest. Before you can fire again, he runs away. You grab your purse and run across the street.

There you call police. They find your attacker a block away. He died at the local hospital from a gunshot to the neck. Your attacker had a record of drug arrests and assaulting a police officer.

Amanda- POGO
Amanda- He was able to run a block, so this was a psychological stop.
Amanda- She got to safety rather than chase her attacker.
Amanda- Call the police.
Amanda- purse carry?
Rob- Anything else?
Amanda- This happened very fast. It was only a couple of seconds from start to finish. That makes practice very important so that you can respond instinctively rather than having to think about what you’re doing.
Rob- What kind of practice does that take.
Amanda- gun safety. Find a gun that fits you. Learn to present from a holster. Learn to concealed carry. Dry practice takes 10 minutes a night at home for 2 weeks. Go to the range and review. You can’t become unconsciously competent tonight, but you can in a few weeks. It takes less than a month, and if you don’t do it then you’re going to be defenseless in a month.
Rob- It seems I read stories like this fairly often.
Amanda- Most robberies take place in public so this is the most likely scenario for your self-defense. That makes it a good choice for a first story.

Our second story happened last week in Loomis, California.

Rob- Second Story- Are you armed as you go shopping?

It is 8:30 at night and you are sitting in your truck. You’re searching through your phone and your shopping list before you go into the grocery store. You look up to see a security guard stop a man and a woman coming out of the store. The security guard asks them to go back inside. The man pulls a knife and tries to stab the guard. The guard knocks the knife out of the attackers hand. The two men wrestle to the ground.

You are one of the ten million people in California with your concealed carry permit. You’re armed tonight. You step out of your truck and see if anyone needs help. The attacker yells for his girlfriend to pick up the knife and stab the guard. She picks up the knife and walks toward the two men on the ground.

You draw your firearm and tell her to drop the knife. She does. You step forward so the knife is closer to you. Police arrive a few seconds later and you holster your firearm.

The guard was taken to the hospital to treat knife wounds on his hand. The couple was arrested for robbery, conspiracy, and assault with a deadly weapon.

Amanda- know when you should intervene and when you should be a good witness.
Rob- Did the armed concealed carrier have a right to shoot the woman?
Amanda- Perhaps, but he used verbal commands and she dropped the knife. That shows an incremental escalation along the continuum of force. That is sophisticated self-defense to go from using your physical presence, to using words, to using your proximity before you move to contact or lethal force.
Rob- Your beginning students are learning to safely live with a gun. When do you talk about armed confrontations with your students? Is it in concealed carry?
Amanda- You’re coming into the middle of a confrontation. The gun on the ground yelling “Stab him. Stab him” is a pretty good clue that you found your bad guy.

Our third story happened last week outside of Portland, Michigan.

Rob- First this message from

Please support Doctors for responsible gun ownership, DRGO.us

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

Someone knocks on the door to your home and then comes inside. It is ten at night and the man is yelling that someone is chasing him. You grab your gun and call the police. You go to the center of your home and ask the stranger who is chasing him? The stranger says that there are people outside trying to kill him. You and the strange man look at your front yard but there isn’t anyone there. You tell the stranger he is safe. Then you ask him if he needs to call the police? The stranger follows you back inside your home. The strange man starts talking but he doesn’t make sense.

You tell him he has to leave. He pushes you backward and then grabs you. You try to push him away but can’t get him to let go. You shoot the stranger and retreat once he lets go of you.

The police arrive a minute later in response to your earlier call. The strange man abandoned his truck and stole the vehicle sitting in your driveway. Police think that drugs and alcohol might be involved.

Rob- What did our homeowner do correctly?

Amanda- He got his gun before he needed it. He called police before the violent encounter. I assume he had a flashlight if he was searching outside.
Amanda- THis is a hard one, you don’t WANT to leave someone outside when the potential badguy ( that he led you to believe existed) is out there – but as you see… there is more to the story than originally meets the eye.
Rob- What do you want your students to do?
Amanda- Lock your doors. Keep the crazy people outside. Offer to call the police to come help them.
Amanda- Our forth story took place last week back in Chicago, Illinois.

Rob- Fourth story- Are you armed when you step outside on New Years eve?

You stepped outside for a few minutes. It is new years eve and there is noise coming from all along the block of brownstone apartments. Two men drive by is a small car. The stop the car, get out, and run toward you with guns in their hands. You’re being robbed.

You have your Illinois concealed carry license. You’re armed tonight. You back away from your attackers. They say to hand it over, but as they get closer you draw your gun and fire several times. The two men run back to their car and drive away. You go back inside and call police. You’re not injured.

The police arrest your two attackers at the hospital.

Amanda- Be armed even if it means you can’t drink on New Years eve.
Amanda- Our defender did a good job with this attack. He shot until the threat stopped, and then he stopped shooting. He did not shoot at the bad guys as they were running away, or at the car as it drove away. Our good guy knew the law AND had some self-control. Our good guy also called the police immediately. You want to be the first person to call so you are identified as the good guy and the victim.
Rob- Is there anything else you’d want your students to do in this case?
Amanda- Streetlights. A flashlight might have helped, but I don’t know that it would have changed the way the attack unfolded. Abrupt movement away and to the side as you draw and defend yourself.
Rob- You don’t learn to move and shoot in your basic firearms safety class. When would I learn to do things like that? (safety class. CC class. Holster, presentation, and movement class)

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

Amanda- You can find me at eye on the target radio radio. I have a nationally syndicated radio show on Sunday night from 5 to 7 eastern time. Give us a listen and call in and talk with us. I also instruct on the weekends.

Rob- After you listen to Amanda’s show, then leave us a message on the podcast facebook page.

Amanda- We share this podcast with you for free. As Rob said at the beginning of the show, we only have 18 ratings on I-Tunes, so please give us a rating and share the podcast with a friend. We’re also available on Google Play Music, Stitcher and Spotify.

Rob- This podcast is part of the Self-defense radio network. Find other great shows like eye on the target radio at sdrn.us

My friend Kevin Creighton started a new instruction business. He teaching concealed carry classes in Naples Florida. Find him at Quietly Armed.
http://quietlyarmed.com/concealed-carry-classes/

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

I gave you this article for free. Please like and share in return.

October 21, 2018

Episode 128 with Amanda Suffecool

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Rob- Introduction- I’m glad you found us and welcome to episode 128 of Self-Defense Gun Stories.

Amanda- Hi, Rob. I’ve been working and shooting- just came back from Davenport Iowa where I got to shoot a fully automatic suppressed MP5.. that was fun and Chicago where I produced and modeled in a concealed carry fashion

Rob- Amanda, how do you listen to the show?

Amanda- I listen to it a couple of ways. It’s on the . Self Defense Radio Network at SDRN.us and now it part of Self Defense Monday ( along with my show) on KRMARadio.com every monday from 4p to 4a.

Rob- That is how most people listen. Please put us in your pocket every week, and give us rating on I-Tunes and Stitcher. Please leave a comment to tell us what you liked about the show.

Please introduce our podcast to our new listeners.

Amanda- We study several news stories where gun owners survived a life threatening situation. Were these defenders lucky, or did they have a plan? What should we do if we were in their place? Our first story took place last week in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Rob- First story- Do you have a firearm nearby when everyone is in bed asleep?

You wake up to hear someone beating on your front door. It is 1:30 in the morning on a weekday. The pounding goes on for several minutes. Then you hear glass breaking at the back of the house. Your housemate shouts that someone broke through the back window. You grab your shotgun and wait in the hallway. You see the intruder, and he has a gun. You shoot him. Now your housemate calls the police.

Amanda- There are thousands of home invasion robberies every day. What‘s your plan if it happens to you? If you live alone you need a plan. If you live with someone then both of you really need a plan. Your family needs a plan.

Rob- So my plan has to change if my family is at home with me or if I’m home alone?

Amanda- It sounds like this was a household of two guys. You need a plan so you don’t shoot your housemates or get shot by them. Talk about it now.

Also, consider if you could hide and let the police solve the problem for you. That depends on who else is in the house with you that minute. AND the anticipated time for the police to get there.

Rob- So what does a plan look like?

Amanda- The story doesn’t say how the homeowner saw the robber. Did our defender turn on the lights? Did he have a flashlight? How could he see the robbers hands at the other end of the house.

Rob- I have to see the intruder to know if he is a threat.

Amanda- The law assumes that anyone who breaks into my house is there to do me harm, not take me to the prom. Also, this robber was armed, but you can’t assume that. You can’t assume that law in every state – know your laws…and they say you can’t assume very intruder is a danger to you.

Don’t shoot your drunk neighbor or your stupid drugged nephew..unless he is a lethal threat to you.

Rob- The story doesn’t say where the shotgun came from. They make it sound like magic. One minute it wasn’t there, and the next minute the homeowner has a loaded gun in his hands.

Amanda- Gun Safes since this is the middle of the night. A nightstand drawer isn’t secure. There are a HUGE variety of gun safes that are quick access – available to you. Simply google Quick Access Shotgun Safe.
Rob- Now that I’m armed, when can I use my gun?

Amanda- Not when they knock on the door. Not when they break the back window. You only use lethal force, and that includes a gun, when you face a lethal threat, and you feel ( and can explain ) why your life was in jeopardy. Such as… an armed intruder standing in the center of your house – is an immediate unavoidable lethal threat.

THAT is why you can use your gun.

Rob- Anything else?

Amanda- Since you’re working on your safety plan, practice calling the police. Where you are, what you need, who you are. What you look like.

Also, if you carry in public then you need insurance. If you had insurance you’d want to call them too because if someone fired a shot – there will be a criminal investigation and you are in the center of it.

That is enough for now. Our second story happened last week in Fort Valley, Georgia.

Rob- Second Story- Are you armed at home when you’re getting the kids ready for school?

Your wife drove off to work. Now you’re getting your young girls ready for school. You hear a crunching sound, and the next thing you know two strangers are standing in your living room. They start to grab your things, and you fight with them to push them back out of your home. The kids are in the back room. You draw your firearm and shoot your nearest attacker. Now, both of the intruders run off. You call the police..and try to explain what happened to your wife.

The police capture your wounded attacker. He is taken to the hospital with non-life threatening chest wound. You know this man. You’ve given him donations of clothes before.

Amanda- It says this was a break in, so I assume the door was locked. Good for them. That is always a good habit to get into.

Rob- It also sounds like the homeowner was either wearing a gun or had it very close to him.

Amanda- I’d like you to go armed so you don’t have to fight off two intruders just to go get your defensive tools. Its easiest to know where you put your gun, when its with you.

Rob- Was this a gun problem?

Amanda- You’re being attacked by two people in your home. You’re also defending your family. You could not retreat because your family was there. The fact that you were outnumbered and felt that they intended to do you and yours harm – means you were ‘in the right’ to use a tool to stop the attack.

You are NOT allowed to use lethal force if the six year old next door comes over and starts fighting with you. That is not an immediate, unavoidable life threatening danger to you or others. You can just push the little stinker out the door and send him home, and the law expects you to do that.

Also, nobody wants to be shot by a gun. That is true if the gun is a 22 or a 45. All guns have the potential to deliver lethal wounds, but most handgun wounds are not fatal.

Rob- So even a shot to my arm could be fatal if it isn’t treated.

Amanda- Exactly. Not treated, or in the ‘lucky or unlucky spot’ We teach people to aim for the center of the chest in order to stop the attack because its the largest area with the most ‘critical to life’ organs.

Rob- The pictures of people at the shooting range show the shooter standing very still with his arms stuck out and firing very carefully. This man’s living room didn’t look anything like that. This was a dogfight that involved firearms.

Amanda- You’re talking about target shooting, and I love target shooting. We teach that, but we also teach people how to defend themselves with a handgun. Self-defense is usually over in the blink of an eye.

Rob- Is self-defense complicated?
Amanda- Yes and no. Look at the range of topics we talk about each week and you can see that the situations are not that simple, but handling a gun is easier than driving a car. You didn’t learn to drive a car in a one hour class, and I can’t pour everything you should learn into your head in an hour either.

Rob- So step at a time.

Amanda- Step at a time. And Practice, practice, practice.

Rob- Lets step on to our next story.

Amanda- Our third story happened last week outside of Gans, Oklahoma.

Rob- First this message from the Buckeye Firearms Association.

Please support Buckeye Firearms Foundation at https://www.buckeyefirearmsfoundation.org/

Rob- Third story- Are you armed when you’re ex-boyfriend has been drinking?

You have a restraining order against your ex-boyfriend. You also have a firearm in your purse. Your ex shows knocks on the door of your apartment. He says he’s been drinking and wants to lay down. You say no. He raises his arm to push his way inside. You shoot him once in the center of the chest and he stops. You stop shooting. You call 911 and ask for police and medical services.

EMT’s arrive and call for a life-flight transport due to life threatening injuries.

The sheriff said this was self defense.

Amanda- If you have an abusive ex then get a restraining order. That was the paperwork – filed in a time where your head’s not swirling, and emotions are running high. You can think through and explain why you are feeling a threat from this person.

Rob- What does a piece of paper do?

Amanda- Going to court now for the restraining order can keep you from going to jail later. It also puts them on notice that you will not be tolerating their BS. This is part of your defensive plan – but I also want you to change the locks, get good locks on your doors, and learn armed self-defense. Look at the lighting, trim the bushes and any hiding places… read up on implementing a defensive plan.

Rob- Some of your students have been victims of domestic violence? How are they as students?

Amanda- Well, Rob, They are interested, They are engaged. THEY know that there is one person responsible for their safety – and its them.

Rob- What would you tell your students to do in this situation?

Amanda- Don’t open the door. Make them break the door down because you changed the locks and their key doesn’t work any more. This isn’t negotiable. Change where you live if your landlord won’t put in new locks. Maybe change where you live, anyway.

Rob- She had her gun with her.

Amanda- In a purse. I’d rather it was on her body because we put our purse down when we get home.

Bad start for opening the door – Don’t- just dont. Good restraint for stopping when the threat stopped. Your job is to stop the treat, the medical teams job is to provide the medical help necessary so that you can then take them through the legal system.

Rob- One of our listeners sent in an local article. In this case, a local stalker had harassed over 20 women. The judge not only put the stalker in jail, but the judge provided free concealed carry instruction classes for the victims. The link to that article is in our show notes. If you listen on your smartphone, the link might be in your pocket. Thank you, Matt for the article.

Amanda- This is important because domestic violence and stalking victims think they are alone and powerless. Abuse is a disease of doubt, and this class let the recovering victims see that they are not alone and they are not powerless. It is a beautiful prescription and a powerful antidote to abuse. Now, get trained and carry.

Rob- Let’s go on to our fourth story.

Amanda- Forth story? We usually do three stories.

Rob- Our listeners left us a message on the podcast facebook page and asked for a fourth story. If you like more stories, then let us know. If you want a shorter podcast, then let us know that as well.

Amanda- Our fourth story took place last week in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Rob- Fourth story- Are you armed when you’re protecting your daughter from an abusive boyfriend?

Amanda- This is our episode for stopping crazy ex-boyfriends.

Rob- It is. Your daughter called you. It is late at night, but she heard from her ex-boyfriend. She’d taken out a restraining order, but the guy didn’t learn. You’re inside her home when the ex boyfriend tries to break into the house. You’re armed, but the door holds and he can’t get in. He stops shaking the door and you think he went away. You hope he went away, but you see him at the back of the house. He is trying to set the house on fire. Now, you go outside and tell him to leave. He moves toward you and you shoot him. That stops the attack and you stop shooting.

Your daughter calls police. You stay and talk to them. EMTs take the attacker to the hospital. He is arrested and charged with attempted aggravated arson, home invasion, domestic abuse battery, simple assault and simple criminal damage to property, and two counts of violating a protective order.

Amanda- If abusers learned then they wouldn’t be abusers. Get the restraining order because a few hundred dollars for a lawyer now saves you tens of thousands of dollars later if you have to protect yourself.

Rob- What else did you see?

Amanda- Abusers and their victims both normalize violence. That is why it was great that the victim called her dad. He doesn’t accept excuses, like that is just the way he is, or he was just trying to frighten me, or it won’t happen again. That small eroding of confidence and space. Creeping in, getting closer.

Rob- Strangers see with clear eyes.

Amanda- And strangers carry their defensive tools. There was no time to go back inside the house, get your gun, load it, and then defend yourself. Like a fire extinguisher, you need it right now.

Rob- This happened at 10 at night.

Amanda- Bring a flashlight. You don’t want to shoot the neighbor who saw the fire and came over to put it out. You must, you must, identify your attacker before you shoot.

Rob- You mentioned a fire extinguisher. It would be good to have that.

Amanda- And mount them on the wall rather than leaving them in the litter on the bottom of the closet.

Again, I give the dad credit for stopping when the attack stopped.

Rob- Talk to us about talking to the police.

Amanda- if you have domestic abuse in your family, then you have to talk about it. We have the urge to keep it quiet. Talk about who to call, what to do, and what to say to the police.

Be brief until you talk to your lawyer before you give a full statement later..and you will talk to your lawyer if you even mention that you have a gun.

Brief, and it isn’t easy for me to be brief- I was attacked. I defended myself, I want the person arrested. I’ll swear that in a statement and testify. I was standing about here when I shot, so the shell casing should be about here. i’ll give you a full statement after I’ve talked with my lawyer.

Rob- Why do we talk to a lawyer?

Amanda- You and I don’t speak clearly. The lawyer will take our story the next day and present it in a way that can’t be twisted or misrepresented. And they help you get it complete – with an event like this, your head is swirling, things are going through your head like a kaleidoscope. You need a clear, concise and complete story of what happened. Right the first time

Exit- Rob- Well I’ll take your statement and turn it into a podcast. Thank you again for helping us. Where can we learn more about you?

Amanda- You can find me at eye on the target radio radio. I have a nationally syndicated radio show on Sunday night. Give us a listen and call in and talk with us. I also instruct on the weekends.

Rob- Thanks again for the comments you’ve left on our podcast facebook page.

Amanda- We share this podcast with you for free. All we ask is that you share the podcast with a friend and give us a rating on I-Tunes and Stitcher. We’re also available on Google Play Music and Spotify.

Rob- This podcast is part of the Self-defense radio network at sdrn.us

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

I gave you this article for free. Please like and share in return.

August 21, 2018August 21, 2018

Episode 120 with Amanda Suffecool

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Rob- Introduction- Welcome to episode 120 of Self-Defense Gun Stories.

This podcast is for people who might want a gun for self-defense, and for those who already have one. I’m your host, Rob Morse. We have firearms instructor Amanda Suffecool with us as co-host.

Hi, Amanda. How have you been?

Amanda- Hi, Rob. I’ve been taking a short break from all things guns, to focus on my second life. Aerospace engineering. But – thankfully – I am done with that, and now engaged in several cool things. Nationally syndicated our Radio Show- Stay tuned for more news in September.

Rob- Please introduce our podcast to our new listeners.

Amanda- We’ll study three recent examples of armed defense. These armed citizens survived a life threatening situation. What should we do if we were in their place?

Our first story took place last week in Republic, Washington.

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

You’re driving down the street. You’re 20 miles from the canadian border and there are less than two dozen streets in the entire town. It’s usually a quiet place. You’re parking in front of a clothing store when a stranger jumps through the open passenger window of your car. He shouts for you to get out of your car.

You own a gun. You have your concealed carry license. You’ve practiced with your firearm and you’re armed this morning as you drive.

The article does not say if you drew your gun while you were inside the car or outside, but you present your gun and order the robber to the ground. You tell him not to move. Police arrest the robber for multiple break ins he committed that morning.

The police facebook page described the event this way. “Crimes happen and they happen in the blink of an eye usually when you least expect them, even in small towns like Republic. I encourage the free exercise of our inalienable rights. If you go about your day unarmed and helpless, you are a victim waiting for a crime to happen. YOU are responsible for your protection, the police, even as hard as we try, usually only arrive after the crime.

“Get a gun, take a class and refuse to be a victim.

“Thank you to everyone who helps the police, we are you.”

Amanda- Most of us leave our gun up on the shelf and yet we carry this fantasy that we can use it for defense.

Rob- We pretend we’re armed at home, and that we don’t need a gun when we’re in our car. So you want me to go armed as I drive to the store?

Amanda- Rob, I know you think you’re special, but you’re special just like the rest of us. Yes, carry your gun. Even you, and even when you’re driving in your car. Make your firearms instructor proud of you.

Rob- Defending yourself inside your car is hard. Most of us don’t have training to do it. And it’s very different from what I practice at the shooting range.

Amanda- A gun is a defensive tool that works best at a distance. We want to be far enough away from our attacker that we can stop the attack before the attacker can reach us with his hands. That is why it was a good choice to step out of the car and then draw your gun.

Rob- Our driver didn’t have much time to think.

Amanda- No, he didn’t. Criminals attack us without warning. That is why we talk about these stories now, so that we have a model in place of what we could do in a situation like this. There are over 6 thousand examples of armed self-defense every day, and each one is different. Each of these gun-owners adapted their plan to their situation.

Rob- What else did you see in this story?

Amanda- The defender gave verbal commands.

(command voice) Stop. Get back. Get on the ground. Stay there.

That tells the criminal what to do. It also attracts witnesses. They might not be eye witnesses, they might be ear-witnesses. They heard you tell the robber to stop the attack. If you have to shoot, then those loud, clear commands have already started your defense.

Rob- So that is why my instructor had me shout “STOP” when he had me practice drawing my gun?

Amanda- Exactly. We want to build that habit as we practice.

Another thing. It is really hard to hold someone at gunpoint and get on the phone at the same time. The local police appreciated that our defender detained the robber. Larger police departments would tell you to let the robber go and get on the phone. You want to do that so you identify yourself as the good guy. I suspect that the witnesses called police in this case.

Rob- Lets go on to our next story.

Amanda- Our second story happened last week in Forest City, North Carolina.

Rob- Second Story- Are you armed at home?

You hear the yelling and screaming. Your mom’s ex boyfriend threatened to cut your mom’s throat and to kill all of you. Now he’s choking your mom. Your older sister is trying to pull them apart and save your mom. It isn’t working. Your younger brother grabs your mom’s gun and runs toward the fight. Your brother is only 12 years old. You are 15, so you take the gun from your brother and shoot the attacker. Now he lets go of your mom.

Your family runs away and calls police. The police said your mom’s boyfriend was a convicted felon.

Amanda- Don’t date violent people.

Rob- Right

Amanda- Childproof your guns, and gun-proof your children.

Rob- Tell me more.

Amanda- This woman was terrorized by her violent boyfriend. She got a gun for self-defense. She should also have taken out a restraining order, or an order of protection. Even though it is only a piece of paper, it is an important step in your legal defense if you have to use force to defend yourself.

Rob- be hard to convict

Amanda- This is what I have to teach someone who was not a gun person and then they get a gun.

Storage.

Family training for safe handling

Personal defense

I’m glad her son could get to the gun. If your kids are old enough to be left alone then they are old enough to know about your firearms.

Rob- That is serious.

Amanda- Life and death. Our third story happened last week in Cool, California.

Rob- First this message

Please support the Crime Prevention Research Center at
http://crimeresearch.org/

Rob- Third story- Are you armed at home?

It is after dark, and you hear someone knock at your door and call your name. It is your neighbors. All of them. The husband, the wife, and their child are asking to come in. You open the door. They said a crazy man broke into their home. They had already called police. You try to make them comfortable when your wife sees someone at your back door.

A stranger breaks through your screen porch and then breaks the glass in your back door. You yell for him to stop. He enters the home and you shoot him.

Now your attacker steps back outside the home. You and your family retreat and call police.

EMTs take the attacker to the hospital.

Amanda- This is the episode where second parties are armed. We had that in our first story too. It sounds like the intruder could have been intoxicated.

Rob- It is hard to reason with a crazy person.

Amanda- Do you have your gun on you right now?

Rob- Yes.

Amanda- Good. You don’t need a carry permit to go armed at home. You need a gun and to know how to use it

..and have a holster. A holster helps a lot.

Rob- Better yet if all four of the adults in this story were armed.

Amanda- That would have been good, and maybe that would have been enough to stop the attack without shots being fired.
I like that our defender stopped shooting when the attack stopped.

Rob- He did not chase the bad guy and keep shooting.

Amanda- At night? You don’t know how many people are outside your home. The crazy attacker may have had friends.

Our armed defender did the right thing. He moved his family and his neighbors to safety and called police. That identified the homeowner as the good guy, and he got help on the way.

Rob- Goodguys call police. Did the first family do the right thing to leave their home when they were attacked?

Amanda- If they didn’t have a tool to defend themselves, then they did the right thing. They ran to safety and called police. I’m glad their neighbor was able to protect them.

Exit- Rob- And we’ve run out of time. Amanda, thank you for helping us again. Where can we learn more about you?

Amanda- You can find me at eye on the target radio radio. I have two radio programs and I instruct on the weekends.

Rob- Don’t you have a concealed carry fashion show in the works?

Amanda-? Yeah I do. At GRPC – Gun Rights Policy Conference in Chicago put on by the 2nd Amendment Foundation. It should be the kick off to a good 2A time.

Rob- Some listeners asked us to put out a longer show. Some like it short. Please tell us what you like by leaving a message on the podcast facebook page.

Amanda- We share this podcast with you for free. All we ask is that you share it with a friend and give us a rating on I-Tunes and Stitcher. We’re also available on Google Play Music and Spotify.

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

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February 6, 2018

Episode 96 with Amanda Suffecool

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Rob- Introduction- Welcome to episode 96 of Self-Defense Gun Stories. This podcast is for people who might want a firearm, and for those who already have one. I’m your host, Rob Morse. We have firearms instructor Amanda Suffecool with us to co-host this week..

Amanda, you were gone last week at the the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade show in Las Vegas. How have you been?

Amanda- Hi, Rob. I’ve been great. Spent a week at SHOT and got to see the best that the industry has to offer.

Rob- You have a fundraising event coming up in about 5 weeks.

Amanda- Yes I do – We at REALIZE firearms awareness coalition are pleased to announce the 4th annual Preppers Ball. Where we educate, entertain and give away great prizes. PreppersBall.com is the website and if you are in Northeastern Ohio near 3/10 consider joining us. If not – just buy a ticket and get in on the great prizes. We are giving away a seriously blinged out AR by deltonics that has Offhand gear style added to it. We are also giving away a suppressor – winners choice of a Torrent Suppressor or a Texas Silencer AND the tax stamp application fee – this along with 10,000$ in prizes.

Contact information is here http://realizefac.com/preppers_ball

Rob- Amanda, please introduce our podcast.

Amanda- Each week we study three recent examples of armed defense to see what we can learn. Our first story took place last week near Saint Paul, Minnesota. Here is what happened.

Rob- First story- Are you armed at work?

It is early evening. You and your partner are at work. You own and operate a liquor store. Two masked men come through the front door with their faces covered. That isn’t too surprising. It is dark and cold outside with the temperature in the 20s and falling fast. Except the two men don’t stop at the door and pull off their gloves and hats. They leave their ski-masks on and rush to the back of the store. They announce a robbery. One of the robbers pulls out a gun and points it at you. Your partner is working at the back of the store. The robbers hit her. She screams. You have your Minnesota permit to carry. You’re armed and the gun is on your hip. You move to get a better view. You draw your gun and shoot the robber attacking your partner. Both robbers run away. You run to your partner and see if she is hurt. You call the police and an ambulance. They take your partner to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The police find her attacker a few blocks away. He died at the hospital. The robber recently move to the Saint Paul area from Chicago..where he had a criminal history for theft.

Amanda- Great that he was armed. It was essential that the gun was within reach. At work, you could be out on the floor stocking your shelves. At home, you could be in the back bath or in the kid’s rooms. Your gun needs to be with you..or you are disarmed.

Rob- the drawer next to the safe in the back office wasn’t close enough?

Amanda- It wasn’t this time. You’re depending on luck to save your life..and that is a bad plan.

Rob- Do your students say, “I have a gun so I’m safe.” even though the gun is unloaded on a dusty closet?

Amanda- There are some that do – and others that say, I will surely have time to rack the slide and put one in the pipe…. No, you will not.

Rob- Do we have the right to shoot someone if we’re not being attacked?

Amanda- In Ohio, there is a fine line between defending one-self and acting as an “auxiliary police officer” but in this case – yes, you can defend your partners life with your firearm.

Rob- This takes some thought and some practice. You don’t want to shoot your partner, but they are right next to their attacker.

Amanda- a steady hand and practice. Practice. Close enough, is not necessarily good enough.

Amanda- Our second story happened last week in Wooster, Ohio.

Rob- Second Story- Are you armed at your girlfriend’s old house?

Your fiance left some of her things at her old house. She asks you to go by and pick them up for her. You get there after dark and let yourself in. When you do, you see a stranger inside her old home. You notice some of her things have been moved around. You shout at him and ask him what he’s doing there. He grabs a bottle and hits you in the head.

You shoot him in the stomach and back out of the house.

You call police.

Amanda- this is in my backyard. When you think of this – it was a shooting during a struggle while someone is hitting you in the head with something. THIS is the reason that Pants On, Gun On is a good rule

Our third story happened last week in Phoenix, Arizona.

Please join and support the Second Amendment Foundation at SAF.org

Rob- Third story- Are you armed when you open your store in the morning?

You run a coin shop. You turn off the alarm and unlock the front door. Two people push in behind you before you have the door closed. You turn and see them, one man and one woman. The man has a gun and it is pointed at you. They push you into the store. the front door swings closed and you hear it lock. The armed robber looks at the coins you’ve left out on display. You are armed. You step behind the counter and draw your handgun. You shoot your attacker. He falls and drops his gun. His female accomplice tries to run, but the front door is locked. The wounded attacker tries to leave, but can’t. You hold both robbers at gunpoint and call police.

Amanda- WOW – think about it. Morning, juggling your starbucks, briefcase, lunch box and a myriad of other things that are in your hand. The one thing that struck me about this was that the store owner had the opportunity to step backwards – giving himself some space. And then drawing his firearm.

Amanda- I love happy endings to what could have been a horrible day at work.

Exit- Rob- That wraps up this episode. Amanda, thank you for helping us today. Where can we learn more about you?

Amanda- You can find me at eye on the target radio radio. I have two radio programs and I instruct on the weekends.

Rob- You can share your thoughts with us by leaving a message on the podcast facebook page.

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/

I gave you this article for free. Please like and share in return.

October 31, 2017October 31, 2017

Episode 84 with Amanda Suffecool

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Rob- Introduction- Welcome to episode 84 of Self-Defense Gun Stories. This podcast is for people who think they might want a firearm.. and those who already have one. I’m your host, Rob Morse, and firearms instructor Amanda Suffecool joins us this week as co-host.

Welcome back, Amanda. How have you been?

Amanda- Hi, Rob. How have I been? I have been great. I have been using the tag line “Its my year” because the power of positive thinking works. I could change it to Its my month – because October has even better than the rest of the year. Just yesterday I got to see the outtakes of my edition of Riding Shotgun with Charlie, My fashion show was mentioned in the NRA magazine( plus a tiny little picture – if you squint), I was in Concealed Carry magazine, Women’s Outdoor News did a feature article and then… and then I am here with you on Self Defense Gun Stories…

Rob- Amanda, please introduce our show.

Amanda- Each week we report three recent examples of armed civilian defense. The defender did some things right, and there is always something we can learn. Leave us a message on our facebook page with your questions or comments.

Amanda- Our first story took place last week near San Antonio, Texas. Rob, set the scene for us.

First story- Are you armed at home?

You’re a mom. It is 1:30 in the morning and you’re sleeping upstairs with your young child. You hear banging at your front door, and then you hear someone shout

“Open UP! SAPD!”

You’re only half awake, but that doesn’t make sense. You live outside of San Antonio and are covered by the Bexar (BEHAR) county sheriff’s department. You get out of bed and look out your upstairs window. You don’t see a police car in the driveway or out on the street. You grab your gun and your cell phone. Then you call 911 and wait at the top of the stairs.

You hear someone kick in the back door of your home. You shoot when they start to come up the stairs. The intruders shoot back as they run away. It appears that no one was wounded by gunfire.

Amanda- Mom did a great job protecting her family from armed and violent intruders.

Rob- What should we learn from her?

Amanda- She called 911 before the break in because the situation didn’t seem right to her.

Rob- It seems simple to us now, but that is a very smart move to make at 1:30 in the morning. Amanda- Right.

Rob- What else did she do?

Amanda- I also have to give her credit for what she didn’t do. She didn’t go investigate the sound. Burglars have murdered homeowners in that part of Texas. She got her gun, called 911, and made her attackers come to her.

Rob- So she was armed, and patient. Why was it a good choice to stay at the top of the stairs?

Amanda- They call stairs the fatal funnel. Your attackers have to come up them single file, and they have nowhere to run. It is very hard to get behind you if you’re at the top of the stairs and they are at the bottom.

Rob- Now those stairs seem like a security feature. Is there more?

Amanda- Our second story also occurred in Texas. This one is from Austin. What happened in this story?

Second Story- Are you armed as you run on a jogging trail before sunrise?

You’re running on a local trail before dawn. You hear a woman scream. You slow down and look to see where the screams came from. A man is holding a woman on the ground and she’s fighting him. You grab your flashlight and a gun from your fanny pack. You shine the light on the couple. The man is sitting on top of the woman, and pressing his hand over her mouth. You see her struggle.

You point your gun at the attacker and tell him to get away from the women. He does, but he runs away with her shoes and her shorts. You let him go.

Police report that the woman was attacked from behind and then dragged off the running trail. The victim identified her rapists as a homeless young man who has been previously charged with felony assault and eight misdemeanors including two charges of indecent exposure. All these charges were filed within the last two years.

Amanda- She fought, and her screams brought help. A Concealed carry does not make us an auxiliary police officer – yet at the same time we need to do what we can.

Amanda- the life you save may not be your own. Preparedness and practice are critical when you are called to make instant judgments when yous and someone else’s life is on the line.

Amanda- Don’t wear earplugs when you run in strange places. Or music, or…..

Amanda- Bring your own gun rather than rely on others.

Rob- We often tell students to avoid other people’s fights. She did make the choice to run in the dark without any tools of self-defense.

Amanda- We live in a society where selfishness abounds. There is a line where it’s not your fight – but could you live with yourself if you just ran on. In this case – No shots fired. This is a win on so many levels.

Our third story happened last week near Newport News, Virginia.

Please join and support the Second Amendment Foundation at SAF.org

Third story- Are you armed at work?

You’re working in a convenience store at 2AM. A man grabs two packs of cigarettes and walks up to the register. He pulls a knife and demands the money in the cash register. You back away, but the attacker pursues you until you’re backed into a corner. You draw your gun and the robber runs before you can shoot. You call police. They find your attacker near by and take him into custody.

Amanda- Most criminals are intoxicated when they commit their crimes.

Rob- You say we’re not dealing with the brightest guys.

Amanda- We’re not. I’m glad the clerk was armed because there was not time to call police.

Amanda- Most people don’t realize how deadly a knife is. The robber with a knife is a lethal threat. He’s threatened to hurt you. He is close enough to hurt or kill you before you can draw your gun and stop him.

Rob- So you’re saying this clerk was lucky.

Amanda- Very lucky. Even after the clerk drew his gun, he could not draw his gun and fire quickly enough to stop the attacker from cutting him. I also doubt that the attacker ran before the clerk could fire. The clerk hesitated and chose not to fire. I teach my students to shoot to kill in those situations.

Rob- You mean a gun isn’t a magic force field that stops attackers?

Amanda-No. This story is also typical in that the attacker decided he didn’t want to be part of a shooting and ran. The defender didn’t have to fire a shot.

Exit- Rob- That wraps up this episode. Where can our listeners learn more about you?

Amanda- You can find me at eye on the target radio radio. I have two radio programs and I instruct on the weekends.

Rob- Our listeners can share their thoughts with us by leaving a message on the podcast facebook page.

Amanda- If you liked this show, then you’ll like the other podcasts on the Self-defense radio network. 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- Our download numbers were down, so please share this podcast with a friend.

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

I gave you this article for free. Please like and share in return.

August 22, 2017August 20, 2017

Episode 75 with Amanda Suffecool

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Rob- Introduction- I’m Rob Morse and welcome to episode 75 of Self-Defense Gun Stories. This podcast is for people who think they might want a firearm.. and those who already have one. We’re joined this week by self-defense instructor Amanda Suffecool.

Hi, Amanda. I know you’ve been busy.

Amanda- HI, Rob. My plates been pretty full. I had a Women’s day at the range. I Just published a book – Your Guide to Produce a concealed carry fashion show (148 pages) and A DVD of our show. So now you have a full how to guide to producing your own fashion show that promotes concealed carry.

I’m also a consultant and one of the announcers at the NRA Carry Guard fashion show in Milwaukee on August 25th.

Rob- You did more to invite women into our gun culture than most of the NRA board. Thank you. Extend an invitation to our new listeners too.

Amanda- Hi to our new listeners, and welcome back to our regular listeners. We report and analyze three examples of armed civilian defense. We hope you use these reports as part of your exercise program.. to use your imagination today so you can defend the people you care about tomorrow. Please leave us a message on our facebook page with your questions or comments.

Amanda- Our first story took place last week in Chicago, Illinois.

Rob- First story- Are you armed as you walk down the street?

You’re arguing with your on-again, off-again boyfriend. It is five in the morning on Saturday when the two of you are walking along the sidewalk near where you live on the south-west side of Chicago. The argument escalates. Your boyfriend hits you. You Yell for him to stop. He hits you again and grabs your blouse so you can’t run. You draw your gun and shoot him three times. Now he lets go. You call police. The police question you for several hours and then release you without charges.

Amanda- This requires some thinking. People have no problem with the decision to use lethal force on a stranger – but your BOYFRIEND? Someone you love..and who is having no difficulty in hurting you.

Rob- That means we have to talk about that situation before it happens so we won’t be confused and overwhelmed. I’m sure you’ve had victims of domestic abuse in your class.

Amanda- I have. I’m glad they are there.

Rob- Where do your students learn to draw as they walk?

Amanda- Yeah – we teach that in our advanced class. You know the funny thing. People can generally only walk in one direction. Move and shoot to the right and not to the left or vice versa. It’s not tied to their handedness though.

Rob- Do you teach them to draw and shoot with one hand, because one arm might be busy trying to block punches.

Amanda- Our second story happened last week in a town just west of Saint Louis, Missouri.

Rob- Second Story- Are you armed at home late at night?

You’re in your upstairs apartment just after midnight. Your three roommates are still awake. One of your roommates was outside smoking when a stranger started arguing with him. The stranger said someone called him a name. The stranger then pushed his way into the apartment and started yelling at your two other roommates. You walk out of your back room and ask the stranger to leave. You tell him you’re armed and ask him to leave again. He attacks you. You draw and shoot him several times. Now your attacker steps back outside. Your roommates close the door, and you call police.

Amanda- WOW, this is that story of ‘Why you carry on you all the time.’ Do you really have time to go get your gun? NO – you don’t. So Rob – do you carry at home?

Rob- Yes, even here in the studio.

Amanda- I think the term I heard is Pants on, gun on. But what about those folks that carry in alternative ways? Purse carry? can you get to it fast enough – or do you have a second – or third – gun stashed in your house?

Amanda- Our third story happened last week in polk county, NC

https://drgo.us/

Rob- Third story- Are you armed when you’re at home?

You’re at home after midnight when your dogs start barking. You go outside and find a man behind your car. You smell a strong smell of gasoline. The man attacks you with a baseball bat. You try to block the blow, but you’re hit on the head. You shoot your attacker three times. He stops attacking you and you crawl away to contact police.

There is gasoline poured on the ground around your car. The police ask you if that is your gas can. You say no, and that isn’t your baseball bat either.

The police charge your attacker with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and violation of a protection order.

Amanda- All of our victims had a gun on them this week. Good for them.

Rob- The attacker’s girlfriend now lived at this address.

Amanda- Any idea what the back story is on the violation of the protection order? Because it is just a piece of paper.

Amanda- This had to be an instinctive reaction. There was no time to think.

Exit- Rob- That wraps up this episode. Amanda, thank you for helping me today. Where can our listeners learn more about you?

Amanda- Our listeners can find me at eye on the target radio radio.

Rob- Our listeners can share their thoughts with us by leaving a message on the podcast facebook page.

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

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July 15, 2017

Episode 69 with Amanda Suffecool

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Rob- Introduction- I’m Rob Morse and welcome to episode 69 of Self-Defense Gun Stories. This podcast is for people who think they might want a firearm.. and those who already have one. We’re joined this week by self-defense instructor Amanda Suffecool.

Hi, Amanda. How have you been?

Amanda- Hi, Rob. This is my first visit to Self-Defense Gun Stories.

Rob- Jenna Meek stepped away from the show. I appreciate her giving us so much attention for as long as she did. I’m glad you can join us.

Amanda- firearms instructor, eye on the target, realize FAC, NRA fashion show. Fashion show manual. Viceland video of the fashion show.

Amanda- Our first story took place last week in Bloomfield, Kentucky.

Rob- First story- Are you armed at home?

You’re asleep in your bed. Your dog starts barking in the middle of the night. Moments later, your wife is screaming. You get up, grab your gun, and follow the dog to your daughter’s room. Your daughter is at a sleepover, but you open the door anyway. There, you find a 19 year old boy standing in her room. He raises his hands and surrenders. The window is open where the intruder broke in. Your wife calls police. You hold the intruder at gunpoint.

Amanda- Good job for not shooting. Finger off the trigger.

Rob- The news report said it took 20 minutes for the police to arrive.

Amanda- Flashlight. Lighting of some sort.

Rob- Do you train your students to hold someone at gunpoint?

Amanda- Our second story happened last week in Brooklyn, New York.

Rob- Second story- Are you armed at work in the middle of the day?

You work at a gun store. Another customer walks in the shop at about 11 in the morning. He asks to see a gun. You look down and open the display case. That is when he sprays you in the face with pepper spray. You step back. The robber smashed the case top and grabs two guns. You draw your gun and shoot him. He runs.

Police find the two stolen guns on the floor..along with a trail of blood.

Amanda- Not sure of the laws in New York, but this is an interesting one. Using your gun to defend property? Do you know what the rules are for gun shop owners?

Amanda- Our third story happened last week in Tarpon springs, Florida.

Please support Buckeye Firearms Foundation at https://www.buckeyefirearmsfoundation.org/

Rob- Third Story- Are you armed at home during the night?

You hear shouts from an apartment next door. Then you hear screams. You grab your gun and look through the peep hole. Your neighbor, Susan Bass, is screaming at a man to get out of her apartment, and the man is dressed in his underwear and attacking her. You open the door and tell the man to stop. He lunges at you. You shoot him once in the leg. That doesn’t stop him. You retreat to your apartment and he follows you. You grab your 3 year old and retreat to the bathroom. The intruder pushes the door open and you fight him off.

Police arrive and taze the attacker. That doesn’t stop. They wrestle him to the ground and handcuff him. You, your neighbor, your daugher, and the drugged up intruder are taken to the hospital.

Amanda- Scary – I am not sure, If I were the one in this situation that i would not have shot a second or a third time. When he charges into my apartment and when he charges the bathroom door.

Exit- Rob- That wraps up this episode. Amanda, thank you for helping me today. Where can our listeners learn more about you?

Amanda- Our listeners can find me at eye on the target radio radio.

Rob- Our listeners can share their thoughts with us by leaving a message on the podcast facebook page.

Amanda- We share this podcast with you for free, and ask that you share it with a friend. Please give us a rating on I-Tunes.

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

Learn more at SAF Training Division.

I gave you this article for free. Please like and share in return.