Armed as you Drive, Armed at Home, and Armed at Work

U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- You probably didn’t see these stories covered by the mainstream news media, but again last week, responsible gun owners defended themselves and the people they love. Self-defense instructor Heather Reeves joins the Self Defense Gun Stories Podcast to look at four new examples. Were these gun owners lucky, or did they have a plan?

First story- Are you armed at work as you drive?

You drive a taxi. It is about 6:30 in the evening when you drive up to your next address. Three young men walk up to your car. Two of them get in the back, and one of them gets into the front seat next to you. The passenger in the front seat pulls a gun from his pants and tells you to get out and leave the keys.

You own a gun too. You have your Illinois concealed carry permit. You’re carrying tonight. You present your gun and shoot your attacker until he drops his gun. The two other robbers open the doors and run away. You try to drive away, but you hit two cars up the block and stop. You call 911 and ask for help.

Police arrest your attacker and one of the other robbers. Your armed attacker is taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds to his arm and hip. You give a statement to the police. You are not charged with a crime.

An hour later, a taxi driver was killed in a carjacking. Another taxi driver had to wait over an hour for the police to arrive after his car was carjacked. There are about two armed carjackings each day in Chicago.

Second Story- Are you armed at home?

You’re letting a female friend stay with you as she flees from domestic abuse. Someone knocks on your door and your friend opens it thinking it is her daughter. Her husband runs inside and threatens everyone. You run to the back bedroom and grab your gun. You turn as the husband rushes to grab you. You shoot him. He stops. You run from the house and call 911 from a neighbor’s home.

Police arrest your attacker. You give a brief statement to the police. EMS takes your attacker to the hospital for treatment of a non-lethal graze wound to his head. Your attacker is charged with felony breaking and entering, issuing threats, and misdemeanor communicating threats. He is held on outstanding warrants.

Third story- Are you armed at work in the evening?

You’re at work. You manage a Dollar General store. One of your clerks waves you over with a problem. You move behind the register and turn toward the customer.

How can I help you, you ask.
Open the register, he says.

The customer taps his waist, and you see a gun shoved in his pants. You are being robbed at gunpoint.

You own a gun too. You have your Pennsylvania license to carry. You’re armed tonight. The news article doesn’t say when and how, but you present your firearm and shoot your attacker twice. At least one shot hits the attacker in the head. You and the clerk step back and call 911.

None of the employees or customers are injured. You give a brief statement to the police. EMS declares your attacker dead at the scene. Your employees tell the police what they saw. You also hand over the store security video to the police. You are not charged with a crime.

Later, the police tell you that the robber had a fake gun in his pants.

Fourth story- Are you armed at home?

It is about 7:30 in the morning when you hear glass breaking in your home. You grab your gun and investigate. A strange young man moves toward you. You shout, and then you present your firearm and shoot him until he stops. He runs downstairs into your basement. Now you call the police.

Police arrest your intruder. EMS takes him to the hospital for treatment. Your attacker was 16 years old and you are 74 years old. You are not charged with a crime.

A discussion of each story is at the Self Defense Gun Stories podcast webpage.