Law enforcement veteran and consulting expert Doug Deaton explains that when a concealed carrier fires in self-defense, they become the subject of a legal process that will dominate their lives until it is concluded – whether that is a decision not to file charges or a trial verdict. Once the process has begun, there is no turning back.

A man in Spokane took it upon himself to livestream a video of a homeless encampment. When he felt threatened by some of the vagrants, he retrieved a firearm from his car, proclaimed he was “constitutionally protected,” and reengaged with some of the individuals who surrounded him while asking for him to leave. Feeling threatened, he fired in self-defense. Just because you have the right to be somewhere or do something doesn’t mean it's a smart or appropriate thing to do.

The Daniel Penny case, while not involving a firearm, raises critical questions about the use of force in self-defense and the defense of others. Don West and Steve Moses join Shawn Vincent to discuss the legal and tactical intricacies of Daniel Penny’s use of force and his subsequent criminal defense. 

Shawn Vincent and Don West look at how retired MMA fighter Shannon “The Cannon” Rich found himself in an argument over a parking space when the other guy attacked him with a knife. Rich retrieved a pistol from his vehicle and fired a lethal shot in self-defense. Eyewitness accounts and security footage matched Rich’s statement to police and he was not charged, but the experience provides lessons for concealed carriers about the value of de-escalation and some insight on how to navigate post shooting interactions with law enforcement.

CCW Safe Co-Founder Mike Darter is joined by CCW Safe Critical Response Team member Cris Cunningham to discuss current events and trends in the justice system as well as the day to day realities of being a concealed carrier that may have to deal with that system if a worst case scenario were to occur. 

A news story about a homeowner who shot a bear on his property raises questions about when armed defenders can use firearms against animals. Don West and Steve Moses join Shawn Vincent to discuss the legal and tactical liabilities armed defenders should consider before using deadly force against wildlife, feral dogs, or rogue neighborhood pets.

A 77-year-old man in Oakland, California confronted three would-be burglars in his backyard. While one intruder escaped over a fence, the home defender shot and killed a second, while he held the third at gunpoint until police arrived. Steve Moses and Don West discuss the tactical and legal risks of exiting your home to confront intruders in your yard and the perils of holding a suspect at gunpoint. This defender was initially arrested for the shooting – in part because he didn’t make any statements to law enforcement, including making a self-defense claim. We’ll look to his example for lessons on how to interact with law enforcement in the wake of a self-defense shooting.

One of the most common self-defense scenarios armed defenders may confront in their homes is dealing with a potential threat banging on the front door late at night. Many times, the stranger on the other side of the door turns out to be someone who is lost, confused, drunk, high, or injured. Sometimes the potential threat turns out to be a law enforcement officer, perhaps mistakenly at the wrong house. It’s also possible, the person is an intruder who presents a legitimate threat. Steve Moses and Don West explain why opening the door to a stranger at night is a mistake – both from a tactical and legal perspective, and Steve provides practical alternatives for armed defenders who find themselves dealing with an unknown threat at the front door.

CCW Safe Co-Founder and CEO Mike Darter is joined by Co-Founder and COO Stan Campbell to look back on the thirteen year history of the company.

George Alan Kelly claimed he fired warning shots at a group of illegal migrants trespassing on his borderlands Arizona ranch. Later, one of those men was found dead, shot in the back. Kelly faced trial for murder charges. Seven of eight jurors voted for acquittal. One voted guilty. Kelly’s mistrial brings up issues of prairie justice, the trouble with warning shots, and the idea that no defendant ever wins a prosecution – the best they can do is survive it.

Daniel Perry fatally shot Garret Foster during a protest march in the summer following the police killing of George Floyd. Foster was dressed in tactical gear and carrying an AK-47-style rifle, and Perry claimed self-defense. Perry wasn’t immediately arrested, but a year later, after prosecutors uncovered troubling social media posts and messages, Perry faced murder charges, and a jury ultimately convicted him. In an extraordinary turn of events, the governor pardoned Perry. Don West and Steve Moses join Shawn Vincent to talk about the lessons the Perry case provides for concealed carriers.