Rob- Introduction-

Welcome to episode 318 of Self-Defense Gun Stories. We’re glad you found us if you’re well trained.. and if you’re still learning about armed defense. I’m Rob Morse and we’re joined this week by firearms instructor Ben Branam. What has been keeping you so busy?

<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_62" style="width: 199px;"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-62">Firearms Instructor Ben Branam</figcaption></figure>

Ben- Hi, Rob.  I’ve been back to podcasting and have been writing some blog posts too.  But really into riding my bike.  Had a great conversation with the new guy about how to carry a gun while riding.  Finding chances to teach everyday.

How about you?

Rob- I know that you teach church security, and I went to a three day class that qualified armed first responders at churches and schools. That was fascinating.

I signed up to retake my NRA instructors certification. I dry practiced and went to the range.

We received three ratings and two new comments on iTunes (is 351,191)

Tex Topcat said the stories and comments were valuable training. They want more stories delivered more often.

J Eastin said the podcast was brief yet impactful. They called us top notch.

Thank you both. I went to ListenNotes, and we’re still in the top 1-percent of podcasts. Ben’s podcast, Modern Self Protection, is in the top 1.5 percent. We get about 16 thousand downloads a month. I want to reach 20 thousand, but I need your help. Your comments let new listeners find us. 

Ben- Roger Temple helped us with out show notes again this week. We have more comments that you’ll find on our episode webpage.

Please go to the iTunes store and to Listen Notes and share why you listen.

Here in the US, we defend ourselves with a firearm several thousand times a day. We look at a few recent examples to see what we can learn. The links back to the original news articles are on our podcast webpage.

Our first story took place last week in Centerville, Ohio.

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

and here- https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2023/06/09/police-investigating-ohio-homeowners-fatal-shooting-of-intruder-n71344

It is five in the morning when you hear someone pounding on your front door. You are not expecting visitors. Your wife isn’t expecting anyone. Your kids shouldn’t have friends over at this hour. The pounding continues, so your wife grabs her phone and you grab your gun. Your wife is on her phone with the police dispatcher when the intruder breaks down your front door. You shoot your attacker until he stops. You stop shooting. Your wife says that police are on their way and she tells them that you need an ambulance too. You step back and wait for the police. Your wife checks on the kids.

You put your gun away and identify yourself to the police. The police find your attacker inside your house. You show them the broken door. Officials from the coroner’s office declare your attacker dead at the scene from a gunshot wound to the head.

Police find a middle aged woman unresponsive on your front lawn and a strange car parked in front of your house. You don’t know either of them. Neighbors report that the strange car was there most of the morning with the lights on. EMTs take the woman to the hospital for treatment.

Your wife and two children are upset, but they are not hurt. You give the police a brief statement. You are not charged with a crime, but now you have to get a carpenter to put in a new front door.

What did our defender do to protect his family?

Ben- Our defender locked his doors and windows!  Didn’t open the door.  Worked as a team, he got the gun she called 911.  They had a plan.  He shot when someone entered the home and stopped when the person went down.  Was able to identify himself and point out evidence.  Both made a statement.

(OPTIONAL TALKING POINTS BY ROGER )

• The homeowner recognized an immediate and unavoidable lethal threat.

• Both of the adults worked together as a team which is much more effective. One called the police as the other prepared to defend the family with a gun.

• Neither of the homeowners approached the wounded intruder after he was shot. Suspects will sometimes “play dead” in order to lure the gun owner in close to attack.

• They checked on the kids and waited for the police to arrive and take over. 

• The homeowner showed the police evidence that the suspect forced his way into the home by showing them the broken door.

• The gun owner put his gun away and did not present himself as a threat to the police.

• The gun owner was either a well-trained marksman or very lucky to shoot the intruder in the head while he was attacking. The primary target to aim for is the upper chest which is a larger target. A headshot should be used if your chest shots are not effective in stopping the threat such as when the suspect is using body armor.  

Rob- Are there other things you’d like us to do?

Ben- I want you and the children to all walk through your safety plan. Do they stay in their room? Do they go to your room? Does one of you go to one of their rooms and stay there?

That walk through helps protect the children physically, and psychologically. They are less shocked because they walked through the plan.

When you start walk throughs be flexible.  Make the plan as simple as possible with few moving parts.  Stay together.  Military tactics, don’t split your forces unless you really have to. You lose your advantage of working as a team when you can’t communicate directly.  

(OPTIONAL TALKING POINTS BY ROGER )

• Install a number of small nightlights throughout your house. This gives the family a great advantage over the intruder. You will know how to get around the house, he won’t. 

• Small, powerful flashlights are a critical part of your response kit. Learn how to use the flashlight and your gun in the dark- You need to turn the flashlight on and off not leave it on continuously. 

• Turning on outside lights is better than using interior lights. This makes the suspect a silhouette. You can see them but they can’t see you. 

• Did the homeowner try using verbal commands before the intruder broke down the door? 

• Did the couple use cover or concealment while waiting for the intruder to enter?

• Did the gun owner scan the area to make sure there was only one intruder?

Rob- What sort of things are we going to learn in a home defense class?

Ben- How to plan and see your home differently.  Lanes of fire, sight lines, and how to move from point to point or flow through.

Legal use of force in your home.

Review of scenarios. shoot/no-shoot

Statements to the police.

And my favorite, how to make your home a harder target than the homes around you.

(OPTIONAL TALKING POINTS BY ROGER )

• You will learn how to make your home less attractive to potential intruders. Reinforce windows and doors, cut shrubbery away from the house, the use of motion detection lights and alarms. 

• You will learn how to develop a family plan for fire and intruders. This includes the use of a distress word and how to make a 911 call to get help on the way. 

• You will learn to use alternate methods of escape from your home in an emergency. 

• You will learn how to use doors and stairs as “fatal funnels” to ambush intruders.. 

• You will be taught to retreat to a defensive area with your family an