CCW Safe

Happy New Year!  Today Mike and Stan are back with Don West to continue talking about the critical phases of a lethal self defense case.   The three give a short welcome and background, then get into talking about the critical phases of a lethal self defense case from the actual event through the filing of charges and the bail hearing, if you are arrested.   The three talk about some things that might lessen your chance of being arrested, and talk about the initial contact with law enforcement, investigators, initial statements, and more.   The discussion continues up to the bail hearing, and the three decide to record one more podcast covering bail to trial next week.   Enjoy the show, and share it with friends and family if you like it.  We hope that everyone had a safe and happy new year, and wish the best for 2019!

In this Episode, Mike and Stan talk with Don West about the critical phases of a lethal self defense incident.   They start off with a question from Bruce Gardner about taking images from your cell phone if you are involved in a self defense incident.  They talk about the pros and cons of this, and the alternative of making sure that responding law enforcement officer and investigators preserve the evidence, and giving them the information to do so.  Don also references the Zimmerman case in this discussion, and how photographs were used and not used in that case.  They talk about the critical phases of a criminal case, and give a great overview of your rights, the stages of investigation, and areas of control, in terms of what you have control over if you are involved in a lethal self defense incident.   They also talk about attorneys, and what you should expect in terms of attorneys if you are involved in a lethal self defense case.   In ending the discussion, they determined to have a follow up discussion with Don about the critical phases of a case to dive deeper into each key part of these phases. 

In this episode, Stan and Mike talk about a recent email they got from a member in reference to an incident he recently experienced.  It was very similar to the Ted Wafer case incident, and because our member had read the "in Self Defense" articles on the case by Don West and Shawn Vincent, he was able to get through the incident without using deadly force.  The member showed great confidence and restraint.  They also talk about 7 tips to avoid a deadly encounter, which are outlined below: 1.  Avoidance is the best way to stay out of harms way.  Many experts present situational awareness as the first step yet we have found if you take the time to identify and avoid high crime areas you are ahead of the game.  In our course our CEO Mike Darter goes into detail about this and presents a few tools you can use to identify these areas in your city or while traveling.   2.  Think like a cop and mentally practice for deadly encounters.  One of techniques discussed in the police academy and practiced in patrol is mentally preparing yourself for successful deadly encounters.  And was is meant by that is working through scenarios in your mind an attack or an escalated situation where you make decisions that are tactically sound and mentally go through the motions of finding cover and getting to your weapon.  You should use this technique first placing yourself in known places you actually frequent.  It would help to do this in real time as you park in a location and just go over the “What if” incident and use positive thoughts to make sure you win.   3. Positioning is the key in tactics.  As a member of SWAT and as a self-defense instructor success in any operation or physical confrontation weighed heavily on superior positioning and readiness.  As a concealed carrier you must think about positioning yourself in places to provide the best defensive advantage.  When in restaurants I always request to sit either near a secondary exit or at least where I can see the front door.  When pulling up to a convenience store I pull into the parking space where I can see the attendant and anyone in front of the counter before I leave my car.  This way I won’t be caught off guard and walk into a robbery in progress.  I make sure I plan my gas and ATM runs during the day and choose locations that don’t have a bunch of blind spots or are isolated.  4. Training in Situational Awareness is more important than range time.  We all have the ability to identify when something is out of place or someone does not match the surroundings.  Practice people watching as you enter any situation so you can pick out potential threats.  We all get drawn into technology and concentrate on our cell phones more than we do our environment.  As a concealed carrier you always should pay attention so when your phone goes off with a ring or text vibration use that first alert to remind you to visually check your surroundings and note where you are and pick it up on the second or third ring.  Don’t spend so much first You have a gut feeling Be aware and position yourself Get help started your way. 5. Call for help if you can before and after you react.  In those situations that you either walk up on or present themselves where you can call the police do so.  Many concealed carriers get themselves into trouble trying to intervene with a secondary dispute before calling 911 to get police started.  Police officers call for backup and you should too.  And if there is no time and you have to react and you successfully de-escalate the situation you should still call the police to make them aware of the suspects behavior.  If you used a threat of force by displaying your gun or pointing it at the suspect make sure you call 911 after the threat is over and you are safe.  Many of our members have found the need to display their weapon and after the suspect leaves that person is the first to call 911 and our member would be approached and sometimes be forced to deal with the consequences as if they are the suspect.  Some have also been arrested.  Please don’t let this be you. 6.  Don’t be the Aggressor in a Road Rage Incident.  You have to remember when you have an interaction with another driver don’t get pulled into their “Moment in crisis.”  You have always remain calm and understand it could be someone with a mental illness or going through an emotional crisis.  It is best to get the tag number and only follow long enough to get what is needed to give the suspect, car and suspect description to the police.  Follow at a safe distance and do not pull over if the suspect invites you to do so.  If you are already stopped don’t engage in the verbal back and forth by rolling down your window and please don’t allow the person to talk you into getting out of the car because you could be seen as the aggressor or your actions can be seen as helping to escalate the conflict prior to the use of deadly force.  Stay in control and drive away if possible. 7.  Know your limitations and when to tactically retreat.  I have many members who try to de-escalate and find that they are dealing with someone that is mentally ill or on drugs.  You are not a doctor or an officer so please know your limitations.  Just because you have a gun does not mean that you have to continue moving forward.  You could continue to talk to the person calmly as you put a barrier between you and look for an avenue of escape.  You could use some of the techniques suggested in our course but try to recognize the signs associated with a pending attack.  If you see the person looking around nervously, balling their first, taking clothes off or posturing with their body language; it is now time to disengage.  If you allow them to believe they won this stage of conflict, you will actually be the winner because they won’t force you into a deadly force incident.  Always keep your eyes on them as you back away so you can see a weapon is not being accessed. These are just a few tips and suggestions to keep you out of trouble and becoming involved in a deadly force encounter.  Please remember to always respond to every situation and make the same decisions you would with a firearm that you would if you did not have a firearm. We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and as always, stay safe!

  In this episode, Stan and Mike talk about the core value of Commitment and the role it plays in the company, and in the services offered by CCW Safe. They talk about a recent incident and how CCW Safe responded for it's member and how commitment played a role in those actions.   Stan also gives 10 recommended tips if you are ever involved in a self defense shooting or deadly use of force. These are things that should be thought about well before any involvement, and should be thought about often, in order to effectively deal with your traumatic event, should it ever happen to you. If you are involved in a self-defense shooting, CCW Safe can greatly assist you by providing all the financial support for attorneys, expert witnesses and investigators. Here are 10 suggestions you should consider if you ever are forced to use your gun in self defense. MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE: Make sure that everyone involved, which may be you, your family, or others, are safe from any threat before doing anything. Verify that the suspect is down and no longer poses a threat. Visually scan for other suspects and visually verify that the suspect no longer has access to a weapon. Do not approach the suspect or move evidence. INITIATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE: From a position of cover (do not leave the scene) call 911 for police assistance. Request emergency medical services. These services may be for you, your family, or for others, including the suspect. Do not discuss the incident with dispatch in depth, only give brief facts of the case. Think of things such as “I was forced to defend myself”, “I was in fear for my life”, or “I was attacked”. Try not to use phrases such as “I killed someone” or “I just shot someone”. Describe what you are wearing and let the dispatcher know you will not have your weapon in your hand when the officers arrive. For members of CCW Safe initiate our response by calling our 800 Emergency Line on your membership card. Remember officers will probably remove your phone and routinely separate all involved in cars which is common in any deadly force case so call CCW Safe following your call to 911or as soon as allowed. PREPARE FOR RESPONDING OFFICERS: This happens before officers arrive on the scene. As you hear or see police cars or officers getting close, holster your weapon. If you have time retrieve your concealed carry permit, your driver’s license (if you have it) and your CCW Safe card; placing them in your front pocket. Officers responding to a shooting incident often have a heightened level of concern for their safety so be prepared to follow their directions. Raise your empty hands above your head with palms facing officers and listen to their commands. They may tell you to get on the ground, and if they do, comply with their request as there are times information of who the suspect is not conveyed through the dispatcher before the first officer arrives. They may see something that you don’t, or it may make them feel safer. Remember the first call to 911 could have been from a witness. PROVIDE INITIAL INFORMATION: Remember your defense begins with you… What you say and do can make or break your case. Provide initial information to the responding officers. Some things that can explain your situation might be “I AM THE VICTIM”, “I HAD TO USE THE WEAPON IN SELF DEFENSE”, “I WAS FORCED TO DEFEND MY LIFE”, “THAT IS THE SUSPECT”, “MY WEAPON IS SECURE IN MY HOLSTER”, “MY CCW PERMIT IS IN MY HAND ALONG WITH A NUMBER FOR MY LAWYER”, “I WILL GIVE A FULL STATEMENT IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ATTORNEY”.  Please keep in mind if you believe what you did was wrong or you have concerns about your decision to use deadly force do not speak about the incident without being in the presence of your attorney. IDENTIFY CASE ELEMENTS TO OFFICERS: What you don’t say could also hurt your case… There are certain basic case elements the responding officers are looking for when they arrive. Again, the details of the incident should only be shared in the presence of your attorney but break your silence to share case elements; especially if it would cause your defense to unravel at the start. Some basic case elements might include the following: “THAT IS THE SUSPECT”, “THAT PERSON OVER THERE IS A WITNESS”, “THERE IS THE SUSPECTS WEAPON OR CASINGS”. Sometimes witnesses decide to disappear when the officers start asking questions or police officers drive their cars over evidence. INFORM OFFICERS OF INJURIES: You should have already requested medical personnel to the scene but they will not approach until it is safe. Let officers know of any injuries and make sure that they are documented before you are cleaned up, unless the injuries are life threatening. If you are injured in any way, request to be taken to the hospital for evaluation. This is not the time to be macho because your injuries can be presented to support your decision to use deadly force. Remember just because you are not bleeding doesn’t mean you should not be checked for internal injuries that you may not realize you have due to the adrenaline overload associated with facing a traumatic occurrence. BE THE FIRST TO CALL 911: Be the first one to call 911… Even if you do not pull the trigger. Report to police you had to point your firearm at someone to defend your life so you are not seen as a suspect if that person leaves the scene and calls first. Always remember police officers commonly identify the first person who calls in as the victim and leans towards their story as the truth initially. If there are independent witnesses get their name and contact information if they are trying to leave. YOU ARE A VICTIM. ACT LIKE ONE: Act like the victim you are… Do not get emotionally drawn into the excitement of others that witnessed a good guy triumph over a bad guy. If you are ever involved in a self defense shooting you should know each person reacts differently. Try to remain calm as even officers that arrive might display signs of elation and they may act or say things that to some would be considered inappropriate. Police officers deal with shootings, violent death and accidents daily, and respond and react to those incidents differently than people who are not around it. Witnesses or bystanders may become excited. Do not get drawn into their behavior, or show any non verbal, or express verbally signs of excitement. CONTROL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE INCIDENT: Do not exchange stories with witnesses or news personnel on the scene. Do not post anything on social media, or share through any device information to family or friends. Do not make off color comments or laugh at the jokes of others. PROVIDE IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ONLY: Give the responding officers your basic identifying information only. Explain to them that you would like to give a full statement and interview in the presence of your attorney. If you are a CCW Safe member you could let authorities know you have representation for self defense actions involving deadly use of force. Please be alert, safe out there and remember assess every situation asking yourself, “If I didn’t have a weapon on me at this time what would I do?” That one question could keep you from being launched into a traumatic incident that will change your life. Stay safe out there, and Happy Holidays to all!  If you like CCW Safe's services or podcast, spread the word!

This week, Stan and Mike talk about some common sense Holiday Tips for concealed carriers.   Some of the things that they covered are: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYSPay attention to the details of your house and surroundings.   Trimmed landscaping and good exterior lighting during the long winter nights will make your home less appealing to someone looking to break in.  Do a quick check on your doors and windows and make sure that they are all locked and working properly.  Make sure ladders and tools are not left outside accessible to others.  Set your alarm, and if you don’t have one, get one.  If you can’t get one, interior lights on timers, and having someone check your mail and paper may help if you are going to be away for the holidays.CARRY CONSISTENTLYIf you carry concealed, one of the most common mistakes is carrying when you “think you might need it”.   But, there is no predicting where or when something bad is going to happen, so always be prepared.BE CONSISTENT WITH TYPE OF CARRYIf you carry on your hip, or at 4, or appendix, then be consistent with it.  It’s ok to sometimes modify due to clothing or circumstances, but when you need it, you don’t want to make a mistake on going to draw and it not being there.PRACTICE YOUR DRAWPractice your draw, especially if you have a new holster, or change to a different kind or level of retention holster.  Make sure that your gun is unloaded and practice often.  Also, practice with winter clothing, and make sure you can get a good draw if wearing bulky sweaters and coats. You have to clear the layers of clothing that is concealing your firearm to get the draw.  KEEP YOUR GUN HAND FREEEspecially during this time of year, keep your gun hand free.  You’re trying to make it to the car while carrying 4 sacks, 2 boxes, attempting to locate your keys, and answer the phone, all at the same time.   Find your keys before you leave the store and make sure that you keep your gun hand free and eyes and ears attentive to your surroundings.SITUATIONAL AWARENESSWhen you are stopping in traffic, pulling into a convenience store, pumping gas, walking into a grocery store, continually scan around you.  Try to make it a habit to keep distance in between you and other cars while stopped in traffic and visually scan around you.  While pulling into a parking lot, scan the parking lot for any potential problems or dangers, and park where you have easy access to leave if needed.  The same thing applies when walking into a grocery or convenience store, or any place with lots of people.  There’s not danger lurking around every corner, but doing a quick scan may keep you safe if there is something potentially dangerous there.  Mobile Phones are a big distraction, so keep your heads up, not buried in a phone while shopping.  VISUALIZE SCENARIOSTake your situational awareness a step further.  Visualization is a key component for police officers dealing with potentially dangerous calls daily.  If you pull into a convenience store parking lot and think to scan the lot and assess the people and inside the store, take a quick second and visualize what you would do if there was a threat inside, or as you exited your car.  When visualizing scenarios, always win.  Your mind will try to make complex, sometimes no win situations.  Rewind it and think it through.SIT FACING THE DOORThis is an easy one.  When you go out to eat, always sit where you can see the front door. While you’re waiting on your food, you can perform a couple quick visualization/mental scenario techniques as well.LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATIONTry to make it a habit of naming your location while you are driving.   At corners look at the street signs and try to know where you are at all times.  If something serious does happen, you need to know where you are, and how to articulate it so you can get help on the way.  Whether it is a car wreck, or a carjacking, trying to explain your location by landmarks can be tough.KEEP UP TO DATEIf you are going to be traveling armed this holiday season, keep up to date with the laws wherever you are.  One great app for that is Legal Heat.  Legal Heat will check for the most up to date laws when checking states, and can keep you from spending your Christmas Eve in County lock up.  Also, check out the apps available in your area to keep up to date with any news pertaining to your safety or the safety of your family.  Another great app we recommend is the Crime and Place app.  This app can give you the crime rates in various forms, including a map format, and you can even get notifications while driving on person and property crimes around you. Thanks again to Clif Beasley, and all the others who have written in about the podcast!  If you have a comment, story, or just want to be mentioned on the show, send in an email with the subject line PODCAST INFO to support@ccwsafe.com Be safe out there!  

We have decided to move the podcast to Wednesdays, and will begin that schedule with this podcast on the citizen's use of force continuum.  In this episode, Mike and Stan talk about the third part of the three part series.   They talk about the final two steps of the continuum, Action and Deadly Force.  The action is broken down into three components, communication, de-escalation, and lastly physical force.  The two talk about each component, and then talk about the last step, being deadly force.   Again, each level should fall back on avoidance if at all possible, but the two also agree that you have to protect yourself and your family.  The two also talk about the articulation that will be needed if you do have to use force, and some things to think about individually.   Time: 55:11

In this podcast, Stan and Mike talk with Steve Moses, who is the newest author for CCW Safe.   Steve is a long-time defensive weapons and instructor based out of Texas who has trained hundreds of men and women of all ages for more than two decades on how to better prepare to defend themselves and their loved ones. Steve has completed over 80 private-sector and law enforcement-only defensive weapons and tactics classes, and has trained civilian and law-enforcement officers in six states. Moses is a reserve deputy, former member of a multi-precinct Special Response Team, competitive shooter, and martial artist. Steve has written numerous articles for SWAT Magazine and other publications. Steve is a licensed Texas Level 4 Personal Security Officer and Instructor who was Shift Lead on a mega-church security detail for seven years, and has provided close protection for several former foreign Heads of State. He is currently an instructor at Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu/Krav Maga in Tyler, Texas and Director of Training for Palisade Training Group (www.ptgtrainingllc.com). This is a follow up to the article series on the Core Elements of Deadly Force.  

This week Mike and Stan are in New York and they continue the discussion about the citizen's use of force continuum. This week they talk about the 2 levels of threat assessment and calling for assistance. Stan and Mike both have examples from members where the member has used various techniques to avoid deadly encounters, and followed the use of force continuum.   Most of the conversation is spent on threat assessment, and they talk about determining if a threat is valid, which would be intent, if the attacker has the ability to attack, and also if the attacker has the opportunity to attack.  If those three core elements are met, then most self defense actions will be seen as justified. If not, then you could easily find yourself in jail and charged with a serious crime.   Next week they will continue with the final two levels of the continuum, physical action and deadly force.    Remember, you should always attempt to fall back on avoidance if possible, and avoid any deadly encounter.   Stay safe out there, and have a great weekend!  

In this week's episode, Mike and Stan talk about the Citizen's Use of Force Continuum that was developed by CCW Safe.   They talk about the foundation of the continuum being preparation and avoidance.   Preparing and avoiding is something that we do everyday, but probably don't even think about it. We wake up in the morning and most of us check the weather for any warnings, including heat waves, tornadoes, flash flooding, etc.  We grab a cup of coffee and before heading into work, we check the latest traffic reports to avoid traffic jams or accidents that may set us back. We strive to make our days as efficient as possible, and we try to avoid delays and potentially dangerous situations.    When it comes to self defense and personal protection, it should be no different. We should recognize and accept the responsibility that comes with carrying, and we should always have a good understanding of risk, and where there is a higher risk in terms of our personal protection. Location is a great example of this. I’m sure we all know of areas where we wouldn’t want to be stranded late at night, or where we wouldn’t want to take our kids anytime of day. But there are probably more locations, that we might not give much thought to, that could have elevated risks in terms of personal safety. If you are new to an area, have relocated, or are just unfamiliar with some of the surrounding areas where you live, most cities now have crime mapping available online. Even though I am not from Chicago, and live nowhere near there, I love this site that breaks down virtually every violent crime related issue in Chicago. If you can’t find anything online where you live, you can always call the non emergency line of your police department, and ask for a PIO (public information officer) or for someone who might have some information on crime in your area.  They also talk about the first layer of the continuum pyramid, being Situational Awareness.  Situational awareness is the first level in the civilian use of force continuum. From an early age, we all learn things to look out for.  Situational awareness is also based on your personal experiences, knowledge, or from information from others. It is the most important part of the continuum, because every action will be based off of your situational awareness.   Situational awareness is not only just your ability to notice things that are out of place, or potentially dangerous, but also your ability to quickly make complex decisions, based on the information you have at that time. For more information, check out the earlier articles on the continuum, which covers Preparation and Avoidance and Situational Awareness. 

In this week's podcast, Mike and Stan talk about some of the myths that we get from callers and new members.   Below is a list of the top 12 myths about our service.  Stan and Mike talk about each one of these in detail in this podcast.   CCW Safe is a reimbursement plan...Wrong! CCW Safe has a cap on their plans and what they say is too good to be true…Wrong! CCW Safe does not connect you to an attorney when you call their emergency line; you have to leave a message and then they call you back…Wrong! CCW Safe Will not let you choose your own lawyers…Wrong! CCW Safe does not pay 100% up front defense funds…Wrong! CCW Safe does not provide training to its members…Wrong!   and more... 

In this podcast episode, Stan and Mike interview Bob O'Connor, investigator for the Florida State Attorney's Office.  Bob is a highly experienced criminal investigator, and has had the opportunity to be involved at both the investigator and major case supervisory/management roles in multiple high profile, media-intensive investigations over his career. Those cases and the various assignments over a 40 year career provided Bob with a unique perspective of the criminal justice system and the interaction between the police and the public. He has worked at the local, county, state and federal levels successfully, using multiagency cooperation as the basis for mutual accomplishments.Time: 1:10:57

In this special edition of "In Self Defense", Don West and Shawn Vincent follow up on the Stephen Maddox case.  In this episode, the two hosts interview Stephen Maddox, CCW Safe member and Mike Darter, Co-Founder and CEO of CCW Safe.   This is the first case in the industry that involved a full trial of a self defense case being charged with first degree murder.  CCW Safe defended Stephen in that trial, and ended up paying over $350k in the case.  Stephen was found not guilty after a deliberation that lasted just over one hour.   In this podcast, they talk with Stephen and give an indepth interview of the incident through the veridct of not guilty.  

In this episode, Stan and Mike interview Don West, National Trial Counsel for CCW Safe.  They talk about an in depth history of Don's legal defense career, and talk about his role with CCW Safe.  Runtime 1:04:57.  

In this episode, Stan and Mike finish the discussion about the core values of CCW Safe.  They final two core values in this discussion are Experience and Leadership.  They talk about the experience and leadership of the founders of CCW Safe, as well as the employees of CCW Safe, but more importantly the attorneys, the panel advisors of CCW Safe and others that CCW Safe has aligned themselves wtih.   Time: 56 minutes. 

In this episode Stan and Mike talk with George Holt, George spent 25 years in law enforcement, and is now the preisdent of Solutions Group International, which provides specialized security services, tactical training, threat assessments and leading edge anti-terrorism / counter-terrorism applications to law enforcement, security, government, military, entertainment, and corporate sectors worldwide. Mr. Holt is a co-founder and President of SGI. Mr. Holt provides direct oversight to our Special Operations and Tactical Training Division. He recently retired from a Los Angeles area law enforcement agency at the rank of Sergeant II, after 25 years of cumulative service. In addition to serving as a Team Leader on a full-time SWAT team, he has served as a departmental accreditation manager (responsible for policy development and review in accordance with CALEA accreditation standards) and a Patrol Division Watch Commander. He is a graduate of the Rio Hondo Police Academy (basic recruit class) and the Los Angeles Police Department's Sergeant and Watch Commander Schools. He is a certified Range Master & Firearms Instructor, as well as a graduate of both the Fullerton Police Academy's S.W.A.T. Sniper School and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department S.W.A.T. School. Mr. Holt is highly decorated, having been awarded the Police Star Medal twice for heroism and bravery in the line of duty (1996 and 2001). Mr. Holt has trained police and military personnel worldwide in various areas of tactical operations and enjoys an international reputation as a highly skilled instructor. Mr. Holt also has extensive experience in the private sector, having provided personal security for several high profile clients in the fields of business, politics and entertainment. Mr. Holt is committed to utilizing his extensive training and experience to ensure that all of the services offered by SGI are of the highest quality and exceed industry standards.