CCW Safe Podcast – Encountering Home Intruders
CCW Safe interviewed me about my Five Year Analysis of the Armed Citizen for a podcast recently. The emphasis of this interview was incidents in the home. It is now available to read and listen to.
In Self Defense – Episode 97: Claude Werner on Encountering Home Intruders – CCW Safe National … https://ccwsafe.com/blog/in-self-defense–episode-97-claude-werner-on-encountering-home-intruders
Significant points for me in the interview were:
- Timing of the incidents
- Misapplication of the Tueller Principle
- Distinction between self-defense and personal protection
- Accessibility of weapons
Here are some Home Defense examples that have occurred more recently. As always, there are Positives and Negatives.
- Positive outcome
- https://www.cleveland19.com/2021/09/20/69-year-old-woman-shoots-kills-home-intruder-north-olmsted/ This was what I call a “Downrange event” where the defender had to shoot an intruder with an innocent party downrange of the shooter.
- Negative outcome
- https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/911-caller-says-canal-winchester-husband-shot-16-year-old-daughter-because-he-thought-she-was-an-intruder-12-29-2021 Yet another sad incident where a father inadvertently shot and killed his daughter because of a failure to identify the target prior to pressing the trigger. Practicing to say, “Who’s there?” could save a lot of grief.
- Unprepared for the event Negative outcome
- https://www.koin.com/news/crime/husband-stabbed-killed-confronting-intruder-in-rural-marion-county/ Couple attacked at home; husband killed, wife injured, attacker still at large. Months later, no announcement has been made that a suspect has even been identified much less apprehended.
It is was an interesting interview and worth listening to.
Energizer® Tactical Metal Flashlight
#flashlightfriday
Small, inexpensive, and readily available flashlights are very useful. I purchased an Energizer 300 lumen Tactical Metal Flashlight https://www.energizer.com/lighting/tactical-metal-flashlights#ENPMHT1L at The Home Depot for $9.98.
The flashlight runs on one 123 battery and has three modes. The high mode is 300 lumens, the output for the low mode is unspecified but may be 30 lumens based on the product literature, and a strobe mode. There are no instructions packaged with it nor on the website but through a process of trial and success, I discovered that it goes into High, then Low, then Strobe by rapidly clicking the button on the tailcap. If the light is left off for about two seconds, it will go back to High mode the next time it is turned on. The switch is capable of momentary flash and the same cycle sequence results.
It has a clip that can easily be reversed for head up or head down carry. Being a one cell light, it’s easily carried in a pocket. There is also a hole in the tailcap that accepts a keyring (not included). This is useful for quickly removing the flashlight when it’s clipped head down inside a pocket.
The TAC 300 has a crenelated bezel but not tailcap. The reason for having a crenelated tailcap has always escaped me so I’m glad of that. The tailcap has a lip to help keep the button from being accidentally depressed but the lip is scalloped enough to provide easy access to the button. I have found that orienting the clip opposite the scallop gives the easiest access when gripping the flashlight.
It is rather bigger than the Surefire Sidekick so it’s more suited to being a pocket flashlight than something to be carried on a keyring.
Overall, a very workable little light that is not expensive. There’s no reason to not have a flashlight next to your pistol when something like this is so readily available.
“Who’s there?”
Tactical Professor Information Products
STOPP Presentation at Rangemaster Tactical Conference
https://tacticalprofessor.wordpress.com/2021/09/14/stopp-presentation-now-available/
https://www.payloadz.com/go?id=3381307
Books (all PDF)
- Thinking Clearly about Self-defense and Personal Protection https://www.payloadz.com/go?id=3377208
- Real Shootouts of the LAPD https://realshootoutsofthelapd.com/
- Serious Mistakes Gunowners Make http://seriousgunownermistakes.com
- Indoor Range Practice Sessions http://indoorrangepracticesessions.com
- Concealed Carry Skills and Drills http://concealedcarryskillsanddrills.com
- Advanced Pistol Practice http://bit.ly/advancedpistolpractice
- Shooting Your Black Rifle http://shootingyourblackrifle.com
- Package deal of Thinking Clearly about Self-defense and Personal Protection, Serious Mistakes, Indoor Sessions, Concealed Carry, and Shooting Your Black Rifle (50% off) https://store.payloadz.com/details/2644448-ebooks-sports-shooting-drills-package.html
Suspect Held at Gunpoint (temporarily)
https://www.foxnews.com/us/caroline-schollaert-murder-florida-man-charged
Sequence of events
- Perp establishes Line of Business consisting of checking car door handles for unlocked cars to burglarize
- Perp finds gun in unlocked car and steals it
- “The firearm used by the suspect in this murder was found to be stolen from an unlocked vehicle in the same neighborhood just eleven days prior.” –JSO
- Eleven days later, perp is carrying said stolen pistol while burglarizing the car of a USCG Servicemember
- Servicemember detects the burglary in progress
- SM calls 911
- SM gets own pistol and confronts would-be burglar, ordering him to remain in place until POlice arrive
- Perp refuses to comply and instead draws stolen pistol
- Perp fires several shots and hits SM at least once, incapacitating her
- Perp departs
- POlice arrive and ‘attend’ to SM
- SM dies from wounds
- POlice identify perp
- Perp turns himself in
- Family, friends, and fellow SM are heartbroken
- Perp is charged with murder in the second degree
- Family, friends, and fellow SM are still heartbroken
Negative Outcome for everyone involved
“Don’t go looking for trouble not expecting to find it.” –John Farnam https://defense-training.https://defense-training.com/present-tense/com/present-tense/
Possible tactical alternatives
- If you feel compelled to challenge a criminal, do so from a position of cover (concealment does not count as cover). If no cover is available, do not challenge.
- Use a high intensity flashlight to illuminate and blind the perp before issuing the challenge.
- If your car door is locked, illuminate the perp with your flashlight from a considerable distance without issuing a challenge.
- At your own residence, have a large bear-spray type canister of OC close at hand. Spray the perp, without warning, at the maximum range of the container. Be sure to saturate him from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. Then immediately seek cover if you’re not already behind it.
- “Begin to attrit the enemy at the maximum effective range of your weapons.” –Infantry maxim
Facebook link to Sheriff’s Office Press Conference
We strongly recommend citizens lock their vehicles and absolutely remove their firearms when exiting. Please do not provide criminals with easy access to a gun that will only be used in more criminal, and as in this case, violent acts.
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
Very sad. RIP Airman Schollaert
Bloody Violent Battle in Barbershop
From the ARMED CITIZEN AUGUST 2021 page of the NRA Official Journals:
On the evening of May 21, a 33-year-old man walked into a barber shop in Riverside, Calif., apparently intent on causing harm. According to the Riverside Police Department, the suspect, an ex-employee, started a fight with a former co-worker. During the fight, the suspect stabbed one of the male barbers, and, when a second employee tried to intervene, he was also stabbed. However, one of the victims was able to retrieve his firearm and shoot the attacker. The suspect was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead by the coroner. The two stabbing victims’ injuries reportedly were not life-threatening and deputies said they considered the shooting to be a case of self-defense. (losangeles.cbslocal.com and pe.com, Riverside, Calif., 5/21/21)
The original story is here.
https://www.pe.com/2021/05/22/man-stabs-2-barbers-in-riverside-before-victim-shoots-him-to-death/
Armed Citizen Task Analysis
- Retrieve from Storage (handgun)
- Implied task – avoid menacing others with your handgun as you retrieve it and bring it to bear on the attacker (Rule 2). “Muzzle direction is the primary safety. Always has been and always will be.” –Bill Rogers
- Implied task – maintain trigger finger in register position until indexed on the attacker (Rule 3). “An Unintentional Discharge during an incident can become a disaster.” –John Farnam
- Shoot with handgun (Proxemic Distance – Social Space) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxemics
- Shoot in midst of others, some possibly downrange.
- Implied situational task – don’t send rounds flying out into the parking lot.
- “One motorist snapped a photo of the shop… A window that had been pierced by a bullet was boarded up.” -Press-Enterprise
- Implied situational task – don’t send rounds flying into adjacent businesses.
- “as you can see, we got a grocery store here, some fast food places, other businesses” – POlice spokesman
Here’s a more lurid description of the incident with an “Example of a knife.” Perhaps it’s Jason’s knife.
The Armed Citizen is a good resource for starting a task analysis of incidents from The Real World™.
Tactical Professor books (all PDF)
- Thinking Clearly about Self-defense and Personal Protection https://www.payloadz.com/go?id=3377208
- Real Shootouts of the LAPD https://realshootoutsofthelapd.com/
- Serious Mistakes Gunowners Make http://seriousgunownermistakes.com
- Indoor Range Practice Sessions http://indoorrangepracticesessions.com
- Concealed Carry Skills and Drills http://concealedcarryskillsanddrills.com
- Advanced Pistol Practice http://bit.ly/advancedpistolpractice
- Shooting Your Black Rifle http://shootingyourblackrifle.com
- Package deal of Thinking Clearly about Self-defense and Personal Protection, Serious Mistakes, Indoor Sessions, Concealed Carry, and Shooting Your Black Rifle (50% off) https://store.payloadz.com/details/2644448-ebooks-sports-shooting-drills-package.html
Shiny! – Surefire Try-Out Haul
A friend at Surefire https://www.surefire.com/ sent me a large box of swag as a present. A number of flashlights were in the package, as well as some batteries and CDs.
As much as I advocate using flashlights to avoid Negative Outcomes, I should talk more about the particulars of those tools. So, for several weeks I’ll be writing a series of #flashlightfriday posts. It will be a ‘Try-Out Haul’ as the YouTube models say.
The Surefire 6P LED has been my bedside light for years. It’s a tried and true product and well regarded in the industry. A Streamlight Microstream I received from HK-USA https://hk-usa.com/ has been on my keychain for a couple of years now. It’s been useful and convenient to carry.
I’m going to try out the new gear from Surefire to see what I think of it as an upgrade for my current setup. On Friday, I’ll be reviewing the Sidekick, which will take the place of the Microstream on my keychain.
Also included in the package was an invitation to attend the Inaugural Surgical Speed Shooting Summit. The event will be held in Tennessee in June of 2022. It’s still in the planning stages but as more information becomes available, I will post it.
FTC Notice: These products were sent to me gratis but I receive no compensation for writing about them.
Children are creative
The statement was that the child put a speaker next to (the shelf) to crawl up and get (the gun)
Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall
Grandmother charged after her 4-year-old Galion grandson shoots himself dead with her unsecured pistol.
The woman had left a loaded.22 caliber, semi-automatic pistol on top of a shelf.
Leaving loaded and unsecured guns lying around, even on a top shelf, is irresponsible. I’ve known a number of people who think that’s an acceptable practice but it’s actually idiotic. When children live in the household, as the boy did in this case, it’s even worse, if that’s possible.
I’ve been encouraged to write a Second Edition of Serious Mistakes Gunowners Make. Sadly, I’ve acquired a lot of new material, although all of it follows the same pattern.
OTOH, this murderer should simply be thrown into an active volcano forthwith.
According to police, the shooter fired bullets at a residence from a nearby alleyway, and one of those bullets struck Trinity, who was jumping [on a trampoline] with friends.
Minn. Girl, 9, Is Fatally Shot While Jumping on Trampoline with Her Friends
https://people.com/crime/minnestota-girl-fatally-shot-jumping-trampoline/
Leg shots
Initial investigation revealed several individuals were in the home watching tv and playing games through the night. A 37-year-old Ridgely, Maryland man became enraged and began attacking the other occupants with a knife. At some point during the altercation, one of the stabbing victims retrieved a shotgun and shot the male subject in the leg.
The 37-year-old Ridgely man was transported by EMS to Bayhealth Kent General where he was pronounced dead.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/man-stabbing-spree-home-shot-killed-victims/story?id=77936754
So much for the idea that shooting someone in the leg isn’t the application of deadly force. The Village Idiot JRB has no clue but that’s no surprise.
The Delaware State POlice initial report for the incident.
https://dsp.delaware.gov/2021/05/26/update-homicide-investigation-police-activity-hartly/
Breaking Contact (Part 4)
Breaking Contact Part 4 is up.
https://ccwsafe.com/blog/breaking-contact-pt-4
Marissa Alexander, Alexander Weiss, and Jerome Ersland are the cases discussed in the post.
The lesson for concealed carriers is that if you manage to break contact with a perceived aggressor, do not re-engage.
Real Shootouts of the LAPD – The Book
Any time a Los Angeles Police Officer fires his or her weapon, whether on or off duty, a thorough investigation of the incident is conducted and then reviewed by the LAPD Board of Police Commissioners. The Board has provided unprecedented transparency by posting Summaries of those investigations for every firearm discharge since 2005.
This book is a collection and analysis of those reports. They are stories of Officer Involved Shootings, Officer Involved Animal Shootings, and Unintentional Discharges drawn directly from those reports. The Public Reports also include the Board’s Findings (rulings) as to whether the incident was In Policy or Out of Policy. Contrary to popular belief, not all LAPD Shootouts are ruled to be In Policy.
For the Armed Citizen, these reports and the analyses provide valuable information about what really happens before, during, and after the gunfire. This first volume covers Off Duty incidents so the situations are very similar to those faced daily by The Armed Citizens. This book gives us the opportunity to learn from the experiences of highly trained police officers about what to do when criminals come for you.
For those who are just interested in the challenges police officers face, this is also a book you will enjoy.
Click the image below to purchase the book.
Riding Shotgun With Charlie
#mindsetmonday
I almost never listen to podcasts I’ve been a guest on, which is probably a mistake. Since Charlie put the clip of me with my long gun (Zombie MP5) in his intro, I had to listen to this one, though.
There’s a lot of good information in this episode that doesn’t usually get touched on in the industry. I’m very happy that Charlie gave me the opportunity to share it with the community.
e.g. My father used to say to me ‘son, you’re much more sophisticated about this than I am’ and I want my clients eventually to be more sophisticated about this than I am.
The Negative Outcomes mentioned are detailed extensively in my book Serious Mistakes Gunowners Make http://seriousgunownermistakes.com/ .
The LAPD Retired Officer Course and numerous other courses that can be practiced at both indoor and outdoor ranges is in my book Indoor Range Practice Sessions http://indoorrangepracticesessions.com
tacticalprofessor 
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