WEAPONS

Non-Lethal
Oleoresin capsaicin (OC) pepper sprays are safe and very effective on animals and lowly motivated human offenders like drunks, but are illegal in some areas and not suitable for use in windy conditions. The mist type are best as they allow users to place a wall of irritant between them and the assailant as they retreat. The high velocity double barrel liquid type spray guns from Kimber are best suited to police use as two shots are inadequate for defensive use.

Tasers (dart firing stun guns) are safe and can be very effective, but are illegal in many areas, have a short effective range, are slow to reload (can be used like a contact type stun gun) and cannot penetrate light cover. Older style stun guns are less effective and can only be used as contact weapons (dangerous as this places the user within reach of the assailant). Pain compliance tools like Persuaders/Kubotans and collapsible batons are not suited to defensive use.

Less-Lethal
Twelve gauge shotguns can be loaded with low velocity bean bag type rounds like the 'Flexible Baton' (a nylon bag filled with lead pellets). They are normally meant to be fired at the offender's gut area in order to wind them, and are unlikely to cause a life threatening injury unless aimed at the offender's head or throat (only when justified in using lethal force). They can be very effective but light cover or insensitivity to pain due to intoxication can render them impotent.

Lethal
Police and security guards use firearms because they are the safest and most practical weapons of last resort against offenders armed with deadly weapons. They are a very effective deterrent as most offenders will flee or surrender when confronted with an armed 'victim'. Modern firearms designed for defensive use are best (not single-shot sporting guns). Knives and large police (baton) style metal flashlights can be useful but any contact weapon is less than ideal and of little use against a gun toting felon.

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GUNS

Handguns are far more versatile than long guns as they can be discretely slipped into a pocket before investigating an unusual sound and discreetly carried outside the home. A handgun is also far easier to keep hold of during a struggle than any long gun and allows you to scoop up a child with one hand and cover your retreat with a gun in the other hand. Semi-automatic pistols are prone to 'limp-wrist' stoppages if not held correctly due to an injury or awkward firing position and are dependant on ammunition quality and spring condition (susceptible to metal fatigue) for reliable functioning. Modern handguns are safer than most long guns as they will not discharge if dropped, while some (like S&W revolvers) are fitted with a built-in key lock. Handguns are also much easer to keep secure than bulky long guns.

Long guns are best restricted to defensive use inside a safe room as they not suitable for concealed carry or one handed use (if a hand/arm is injured or disabled). Semi-auto shotguns are more reliable than auto pistols and are recommended for people who have difficulty operating a pump action shotgun in high stress situations (or are disabled) and do not want to be restricted to a double-barrel shotgun. The pump shotgun is ideal for people who practice with them on a regular basis so rigorously pumping the slide to load or reload the chamber is an automatic process, but everyone else is better off with a semi-automatic. Casual users of pump action firearms are much more likely to suffer a 'pilot error' malfunction (namely short-stroke the action in a high stress encounter) than a have a mechanical problem with an auto.

Rifles are best avoided as most have excessive penetration unless chambered for a low powered pistol round or a small game round like the .22 LR, which have much less stopping power than a shotgun. The only situation where a high power rifle would be an acceptable defensive weapon is on a remote rural property where it wouldn't endanger your neighbours. A pump action like the Remington 7615P or a semi-auto like the Ruger Mini-14 would be the best rifles for such a scenario, though we believe a shotgun is better for defensive use due to their lower penetration and greater versatility - some can use less-lethal 'bean bag' rounds while slugs are effective up to 100 metres away.

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HANDGUNS

Revolver - Smith & Wesson Model 640  [ .357 Magnum / .38 Special ]
The most versatile gun for defensive use. This five-shot double-action-only (DAO) design uses a snag free internal hammer that allows users to shoot through a pocket in a close range emergency. The downside is heavy recoil with full power magnum ammunition. If you are concerned about gun snatchers it can be fitted with the Magna-Trigger safety.




Revolver - Smith & Wesson Model 619  [ .357 Magnum / .38 Special ]

This heavy duty service revolver can be used with a regular diet of full power .357 Magnum ammunition and is a lot easier to shoot well than the 640 with such rounds. Although not a pocket gun the seven-shot 619 can be readily carried via the use of a suitable holster, while its extra heft can be quite reassuring in a defensive situation (feels like it would be an effective bludgeon). It can also be fitted with the Magna-Trigger safety. People with medium to large hands find the 619's full size grip makes it easier to shoot well than the smaller 640.

The hammer spur can be removed to make it better suited to storage inside a handbag or waist pack style holster, though doing so will make it unsuitable for use with some holsters which use a thumbsnap that fastens over the top of the hammer spur to securely hold it inside the holster. The single-action notch on the hammer can also be removed so it cannot be thumbcocked for a short, light trigger pull, in order to help prevent an accidental discharge or an accusation of one. Keeping the spur also makes it easy to do a cylinder rotation check by pulling it back just enough to allow you to rotate the cylinder with your supporting hand to ensure that it turns freely when loaded.

An accidental discharge that injured or killed an offender makes the gun owner liable for massive civil damages, whereas justifiably shooting an attacker would not entitle the offender or his family/relatives to any such damages. Having a DAO trigger mechanism is highly desirable and new Smith & Wesson revolvers can be ordered with this simple modification from the factory, though any gunsmith familiar with revolvers should be able to modify your Smith & Wesson for you. Accidentally shooting an offender you were holding at gunpoint also makes you liable to criminal prosecution that could see you end up in prison with friends or relatives of the offender (not recommended).

Ammunition
The 125-grain jacketed hollowpoint .357 Magnum rounds from Federal and Remington (584 ft-lbs energy) have the best stopping power record of any handgun round. However, as many people find they produce excessive recoil in small revolvers like the 640 the reduced power 110-grain loads from Federal and Remington (410 ft-lbs energy) are recommended, which are a lot easier on small revolvers like this and have a one-shot-stop record almost as good as the full power 125-grain JHP loads. People with limited hand strength should use the less powerful .38 Special round in these revolvers, ideally Federal's 110-grain Hydra-Shok JHP round (244 ft-lbs energy).

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SHOTGUNS

Pump action shotgun - Remington 870  [ 12 gauge ]
The best long gun for defensive use. A major plus for pumps is the sound they make when loaded, which will scare off many offenders. The 12 gauge round is best for as there are a large variety of loads available for it, including less-lethal 'bean bag' rounds. If a round does not go off (dud primer) you can instantly load the next round by pumping the slide, substantially quicker than can be done with semi-automatic. It is also available in a left handed version. In countries that effectively ban the ownership of pump shotguns but not pump rifles you may be able to register one as a 12 gauge rifle by ordering it fitted with the optional rifled 'slug' barrel (which improves the accuracy of 'bean bag' type rounds).




Semi-automatic shotgun - Remington 11-87  [ 12 gauge ]
The best self-loading long gun for defensive use. For people who are not willing or able to become highly skilled with a pump action shotgun the self-loading 11-87 is best. Unlike most semi-automatic shotguns this gas operated firearm works well with a wide range of ammunition (not low power 'bean bag' type rounds which only have a small fraction of the energy of conventional rounds). It is also available in a left handed version.




Double barrel shotgun - Stoeger (Boito) Coach Gun  [ 12 gauge ]
If pump and semi-auto shotguns are unavailable in your area a double is the next best choice in a shotgun and are equally well suited to right and left handed users. The side-by-side type are faster to reload than the over-and-under variety. Internal hammers are best as the external variety can catch on clothing or cover and complicate the reloading process, while users could have an accidental discharge while trying to cock or uncock them in a stressful situation. An advantage of this type of gun is that they can be quickly disassembled into three pieces, which makes them easy to transport. The twin muzzles can be very intimidating to offenders and are easier to see in low light situations if nickel plated.

Ammunition
The best 12 gauge rounds for defensive use are the low recoil 00 buckshot loads (Federal and Winchester versions will cycle the 11-87 action) as their .36 calibre pellets have enough penetration to reach vital organs up to 25 metres away but not an external brick wall. If you live in a thin walled apartment less-lethal 'bean bag' rounds like the 'Flexible Baton' are best as they will not penetrate an internal sheetrock wall (only likely to be lethal if an offender is hit in the head or windpipe at close range). Bean bag rounds should normally be aimed at the gut area to wind an offender.

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ACCESSORIES

G2 Nitrolon
A small, powerful flashlight like the G2 should be stored with a gun for identifying targets. SureFire also make integrated forend lights for the Remingtons and a universal light that can be strapped to the Stoeger. SureFire.

Wolf Ears
These electronic shooting muffs protect the ears from high intensity gunshots but allow users to have a conversation. They can also intensify sounds like an intruder walking on carpet or breathing, and are bi-aural so you can tell what direction a sound came from. Ideal for home defence and the shooting range. Gentex Corporation.

Secret Service Grips
This smooth surface of this rosewood handgun grip allows your hand to easily slide around and grasp it even when in an enclosed space (pocket) or held tightly against the body in an IWB or bellyband style holster. They are ergonomically designed so provide excellent recoil control but are not as comfortable to use as rubber grips. Eagle Grips.

Stealth Pac
The leather Stealth Pac waist pack holster is far more stylish than the nylon variety and much quieter (snap or zip) to open than brands that use Velcro (snap is best). One should not carry a weapon in a handbag due to the difficulty in quickly accessing it and poor security (a leather lined jacket or vest pocket is far better). Coronado Leather.

Pepper Spray
It is desirable to have a non-lethal defence weapon for situations where a gun is inappropriate. Oleoresin capsaicin (OC) pepper spray is much more effective than the old tear gas and Mace type sprays and ideal for use on lowly motivated offenders and animals. ADSM, First Defense 360.

GunVault
These fast opening steel lock boxes are ideal for storing a handgun. The GV1000 Mini and GV2000 Multi have holes in their base so it can be bolted to the floor, or temporarily secured via a detachable steel cable. It opens via a button keypad (powered by AA batteries, ideally the long life lithium variety) or a backup key. GunVault Inc.

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SAFETY

Rule 1: All guns are always loaded.
Rule one doesn't mean that all guns are in fact loaded, only that all guns are treated and handled as if loaded. If you wouldn't point a loaded gun at a friend, then don't point an unloaded gun at them. If you wouldn't leave a loaded gun unattended where a child could get at it, then don't do so with an unloaded gun.

Rule 2: Never let the muzzle cover anything you're not willing to destroy.
Muzzle control is rule two. What an ejection seat is to a jet fighter pilot or a life raft to a sailor, so muzzle control is to a shooter. It's the last line of defence, the one thing that can save a life when everything else goes wrong. A gun can discharge for a number of reasons, but if the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction nobody will be hurt.

Rule 3: Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
The purpose of the trigger is to fire the gun, not rest your finger. If your finger is on the trigger and you trip or are startled the gun may go off. If you are holding an offender at gunpoint you will probably have your finger on the trigger (survival instinct), which is why guns with a long, heavy trigger pull are best for 'threat-management'.

Rule 4: Be sure of your target.
Know what you are shooting at, and what is behind it. Innocents may be behind the assailant, so it is your responsibility to aim where the bullet is unlikely to pass through the offender. In darkened houses family members and friends have been mistaken for intruders and shot, so always identify your target before firing.

(Read Gunproof Your Child if any children live in or visit your home)

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LETHAL  FORCE

Quick Education
Knowledge is power. Start with Massad Ayoob's books: In the Gravest Extreme and The Ayoob Files: The Book. Then go to a legal library and tell the librarian you want to see everything in the statute books about guns, assault, homicide and self-defence. The more knowledgeable you are, the less likely you are to make a tragic mistake.

Deadly Force
One must only use lethal force to stop an immediate and unavoidable deadly threat to an innocent person. If an offender ceases to pose a threat you cannot shoot him. There are three key factors to determining whether or not lethal force is justified. Ability: Did the offender have the means to kill or seriously injure the victim. The weapon may be a gun, knife, baseball bat, or greatly superior strength or ability (e.g., a karate expert). Proximity: Was the offender close enough to the victim to use the weapon immediately. Intent: Did the offender display his intent to kill or seriously injure the victim. This can take the form of a verbal threat, body language or other actions that indicate his intent.

Escape Hatch
There is another factor that needs to be considered. Was there any way you could have reasonably extricated yourself and other innocents from the situation without resorting to lethal force? In public some states allow you to defend yourself without retreat if attacked any place you have a right to be. Others have a "retreat requirement." This last requirement is often misunderstood. It does not say you must retreat or die. One typical law states that retreat is required before resorting to lethal force if the retreat can be accomplished with complete safety to yourself and others. Shooting an offender when a safe alternative was available may make said shooting appear unreasonable.

Castle Doctrine
An exception to the retreat requirement comes from English common law. The doctrine states, "A man's home is his castle, and attacked therein, he is not required to retreat." Do not, however, assume that because your state has a law affirming your right to defend yourself in your home that you can shoot any intruder, which is not the case. Even in your own home retreat is an excellent idea, as it indicates that your use of lethal force was a last resort. This is just one more reason why the logical thing to do when there is an intrusion is to scoop up the whole family and get them into the safe room. If the intruder smashes his way into the safe room it is clear he posed a genuine threat to your family.

The Eternal Yardstick
In most countries your actions will be judged by another doctrine derived from English common law, the 'Reasonable Man Doctrine.' The judge will tell the jury: "You must ask yourself if the firing of the gun by the defendant was the act of a reasonable and prudent person in the same situation, who knew what the defendant knew. If you believe a reasonable and prudent person in that situation knowing what the defendant knew would not have fired, then you should find the defendant guilty of manslaughter." "If, however, you believe that a reasonable and prudent person, in the same situation and knowing what the defendant knew, would have shot the deceased, you must find the defendant not guilty."

Lethal Force Commandments

1. Avoid all fights
Whenever you go armed you must go to extremes to avoid physical conflict.

2. Lethal force is a last resort.
Only use a lethal weapon as a last resort to prevent an immediate, unavoidable deadly threat to innocents.

3. Don't shoot fleeing criminals.
If an offender flees he's no longer a threat to you. Capturing offenders is a job best left to the police.

4. Never fire 'warning' shots.
A warning shot can kill an innocent bystander. You may be charged with reckless behaviour or attempted murder.

5. Never draw your weapon unless you are fully prepared to use it.
Criminals can sense if you are bluffing from body language and tone of voice.

6. Be discreet in concealing a weapon.
A gun must be kept out of sight until needed. Revealing a gun unnecessarily will attract police attention.

7. Shoot to stop, not to wound.
A wounded assailant can kill you. Never use deadly force unless justified in killing an assailant.

8. Your defence weapon should be legally owned and carried.
An illegally owned or carried gun can indicate a reckless disregard for the law.

9. Maintain your skills and knowledge.
Practice with your gun regularly (join a gun club). Keep up to date on the law relating to guns and self-defence.

10. Be responsible.
Never endanger innocents. Stay at the scene of a shooting to wait for police (if safe to do so).

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THREAT  MANAGEMENT

Home
If you know an intruder has entered your home or is about to the best thing to do is get family members into the safe room and call the police. Looking for the intruder is a bad idea as he will probably hear you coming and may ambush you. A 'safe room' is simply a main bedroom that has been fitted with a reinforced door and frame with a deadbolt lock, windows covered by bars (that can be quickly released from the inside if there is a fire) and/or fitted with reinforced glass (the bullet resistant variety or normal glass covered with window film), a secure telephone line (a land line should use an underground cable and have no extensions), a gun and flashlight. The perimeter would ideally be protected by a high fence, sensor lights and a dog, with no vegetation near entrances or windows. An alarm (connected to a private security company) that will warn you of an intruder breaking in is highly desirable, one that can be triggered manually via panic buttons located by entrances and in bedrooms even when the door/window sensors are deactivated.

You cannot call the police every time you hear an unusual sound, so if you decide to investigate tell your partner to call police if he or she hears a scuffle or shout before you leave the bedroom. Be dressed and have a flashlight and gun (ideally a handgun). Move slowly along the edge of hallways and rooms (floors are less likely to squeak as they are better supported there), only using the flashlight briefly when necessary to illuminate/clear a room or hallway (leaving it on makes you an easy target). If you realize there is an intruder who poses an imminent and unavoidable deadly threat shoot him until he is no longer a threat (a potentially armed adult intruder poses an imminent deadly threat to a child in a nearby bedroom). If the intruder has a gun don't give a warning like "don't move" as this will give him time to spin and shoot you before you can react - shoot until he is no longer a threat even if this means shooting him in the back. If he does not pose an imminent deadly threat to anyone retreat to the safe room and call police.

Street
On the street it is important to have situational awareness, best achieved by via Jeff Cooper's awareness colour code. Condition 'white' is a state of inattentiveness when in a secure environment like your home. The following three conditions are for everywhere else.

1. Yellow (ready): You are aware of your environment.
2. Orange (set): You see a potential threat and keep it under observation.
3. Red (go): A threat materializes so you take appropriate action.

In a potentially dangerous situation it is best to have your hand on your weapon. The best place to carry it is a pocket so you can discreetly have your hand on it. If an imminent deadly threat you cannot avoid materializes use lethal force. If the deadly threat is not imminent shout "piss off" and leave the area while keeping your weapon in the ready position (pointed at the ground between you and the offender). In a dangerous situation where you don't have a gun, or lethal force is not justified, a can of pepper spray is recommended, as is becoming highly proficient with half-a-dozen essential hand-to-hand combat skills (Aikido and Ju-Jitsu are the best martial arts).

Personal Defence Principles
Jeff Cooper (a legendary American gun instructor) wrote a book called Principles of Personal Defense, from which his awareness colour code was extracted. His principles are taught to many police cadets and soldiers.

1. Alertness: Don't be surprised. Use the awareness colour code.
2. Decisiveness: Have a plan of action thought out beforehand.
3. Aggressiveness: Be willing to attack the attacker.
4. Speed: Action beats reaction. Don't waste time.
5. Coolness: Gun sports are great practice for gun defence.
6. Ruthlessness: Be willing to injure or kill the attacker.
7. Surprise: Most criminals don't expect a counter-attack.

'What if?' game
It is a good idea to think about what you would do in various situations by playing the 'what if?' game. It is often too late to think through a problem when faced with a deadly threat, as the cocktail of chemicals released into he bloodstream primes the body for action ('fight or flight' reflex), not analysing situations. Trying to evaluate the pros and cons of various courses of action in such a situation may cause a lethal delay. Most violent criminals (consciously or unconsciously) want to harm their victims, so it is best to run or fight whenever practical. Getting into a kidnapper's vehicle or letting them tie you up is especially dangerous as it will probably result in your death. Fighting a rapist is more likely to result in an injury, but victims are much less likely to be raped. A good tactic with robbers is to throw a dummy purse/wallet on the ground in one direction and run in the other direction while shouting for help.

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AFTERMATH

Be Prepared
If forced to defend yourself you will want to have three things in place beforehand.

1. Money
If an attacker dies and you are charged bond can run to $100,000 or more. Give your partner power of attorney so he or she can post bond using property, since most of us do not have that much cash lying around in reserve.

2. Spare weapon
If the incident has left a vengeful perpetrator out and about, you are at risk. However, if you used a weapon it has just gone into the police evidence room! Solution? Have a spare weapon. It should be identical to your defence weapon, and be capable of being used by either hand - in case your strong hand or arm is injured.

3. Lawyer
Find the best self-defence lawyer around. If you don't have a lawyer now, contact a lawyer referral service in your area. The lawyer should be paid by you. If a co-defendant hired your lawyer (e.g., insurance company) the lawyer will try to shift the blame off their paymaster and onto you! When you get the opportunity to talk with your lawyer after a shooting, tell him or her everything, every little detail. Anything you say to your lawyer cannot be used against you.

Things to Avoid
Sometimes it is the things you don't do that can help prevent an unjust criminal conviction.

1. Don't flee or lie.
Flight equals guilt. Once a liar, always a liar.

2. Don't alter the evidence.
Modern forensic techniques allow police investigators to recreate a crime scene with 90% accuracy.

3. Don't try to explain your actions immediately.
Tunnel vision and auditory exclusion make you the world's worst witness right after a shooting.

4. Don't help opposing counsel.
Failing to point out critical evidence, not reporting harassment, talking to the media, getting angry, etc., can hurt you.

Postvention
Here are the things you should do after a self-defence incident, in the order they should be done.

1. Call the ambulance.
If someone is seriously injured dial the emergency number and ask the operator for the ambulance service. Say briefly what happened (e.g., "A person has been shot and needs medical assistance.") and where you are. Give no details.

2. Protect the scene.
Do not let anyone near the crime scene. Don't touch anything at the crime scene. An altered crime scene will be detected, and this will cast suspicion on you. If you can't protect the crime scene or are compelled to leave for safety reasons (hostile crowd), put the assailants weapon into a paper or plastic bag - do not wrap it in cloth as it destroys fingerprints. Turn the weapon over to your lawyer (or police if you do not have a lawyer - get a receipt).

3. Contact your lawyer.
Call your lawyer and briefly explain what happened. Have him or her meet you at the scene.

4. Call the police.
You (or your lawyer) dial the emergency number and ask the operator for the police. Tell the police there has been a shooting and to send a patrol. Say who and where you are. Also give them a description of yourself so you won't be mistaken for a suspect. Discuss no details of the incident.

5. Get your weapon out of sight.
If the danger's passed, put your weapon away. Whatever you do, don't turn toward police with a gun in your hand. If you're holding a suspect at gunpoint when police arrive, immediately yell "don't shoot." Then, tell them who you are. NEVER allow your gun to point at police. Police cannot be sure who the good guy is so they'll point their guns at the "person with a gun." Obey every command. Make no sudden moves. Keep your hands in the open.

6. Statement.
If you have just injured or killed an attacker it is important that you only say two things at the scene of the shooting.

a) Establish dynamic of what happened.
b) Point out critical evidence.

What should be said is something like - "Officer, I am the complainant. That man attacked me. His weapon fell into that gutter. That person is a witness. I will fully co-operate with your investigation as soon as I have been able to consult with my lawyer." - THEN SHUT UP!

Police
The police do not work for you, that's your lawyer's job. More than 97% of police suspects are guilty of a crime and lie to police, so police assume suspects are guilty of something and try to manipulate them into saying things that will hurt them in court. So beware of false sympathy from police after you put their latest client on the floor, surrounded by a chalk outline. It is advisable to wait at least 24 hours to come down from the extreme stress of a shooting before undergoing the police interrogation. Have your lawyer present and make sure the proceedings are video taped.

Court
If you are prosecuted for assaulting someone with a weapon you will have two main questions to answer.

1. Why did you assault the person?
2. Why did you have the weapon?

Unless you have very good answers to these questions you are fighting an uphill battle. People who own weapons may appear to have violent personalities unless they have a good reason for possessing them.

Jury Trial
Never waive your right to a jury trial. A judge is less likely to be sympathetic and may be overly friendly with the prosecution. A jury gives you 12 chances of freedom.

Paper Trail
By reporting all threats, instances of harassment, applying for a restraining order, etc., you are seen to be using all non-violent means to stop a threat. If you are later forced to shoot an offender who has been stalking or harassing you, you can then present evidence that you had reason to fear for your life prior to the shooting. If you shoot someone who has allegedly been stalking you the police prosecutor will ask why you never reported it. The prosecutor will tell the jury: "The truth of the matter is that you shot the victim on the spur of the moment during an argument and made up a story about being stalked to con the jury into thinking you were the victim!"

Civil Suit
Expect to be sued by the criminal (or his estate) if you have any money, even if not criminally charged. In a criminal court the onus is on the state to prove the defendant guilty beyond a "reasonable doubt" (95% probability of guilt). In a civil court you will be judged on what is called the "balance of probabilities" - the jury is instructed to find you guilty if more than 50% of the evidence suggests your guilt.

Media
Never talk to the media even if you feel compelled to tell people what happened (a condition called loghorea) - murder sells more air-time and newspapers than justifiable homicide. Editing of an interview can make the innocent look guilty. Tunnel vision, auditory exclusion and cognitive dissonance will also effect statements you make right after a shooting. Leaving stuff out or putting events in the wrong order can hurt you in court.

Mental Health
Your mental health may suffer if you are forced to kill someone. Some experience nightmares, insomnia, depression, social withdrawal, appetite disturbances, flashbacks and sexual dysfunction. Some will see you as a killer, so expect some level of condemnation and harassment. Do not expect to be congratulated for maiming or killing someone. The good news is that it will not last. Get on with your life and the trauma will fade away.

Final Word
The preceding may seem onerous but most people involved in genuine self-defence incidents are never charged, let alone convicted of a crime. Remember, better judged by 12 than carried by six.

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MYTHS

#1: Guns are not useful for defence.
Using incident files from the US National Crime Survey, Prof. Gary Kleck found victims with guns are far less likely to be attacked/injured than people without guns (Point Blank: Guns and Violence in America, 1991, Aldine de Gruyter Press). A study covering a 15 year period (1977-92) by Prof. John Lott Jnr. and Prof. David Mustard found that American states which adopted Florida type right-to-carry laws had (on average) an 8.5% fall in the murder rate (Crime, Deterrence, and Right-to-Carry Concealed Handguns, 1996, University of Chicago) - the results are examined in Lott's subsequent book, More Guns, Less Crime (2001, University of Chicago). The book Guns Save Lives (2002, Loompanics Unlimited) by Robert Waters provides many examples of ordinary people successfully defending their lives with firearms.

#2: Most murderers are ordinary people who kill in a moment of anger only because a gun is available.
Studies on homicide show that the overwhelming majority of murderers are people with life long histories of violence, sometimes irrational, sometimes acquisitive. The typical US murderer has a prior criminal history averaging at least six years, with four felony arrests. He is also likely to be a substance abuser with a record of traffic and/or gun accidents. Indeed, even people who accidentally kill with guns tend to have similar felony records and histories of substance abuse, car accidents and gun accidents. In short, they are an aberrant minority, characterized by a consistent indifference to human life, including their own - not the average gun owner.

#3: Gun owning families are at a high risk of accidental death or injury.
Gun accidents are very rare relative to the numbers exposed. Despite an estimated six million guns in Australian homes, about 100 times more people die in vehicle accidents every year than die in gun accidents (20 deaths vs. 2,000 deaths). Many of these accidental deaths are actually misreported gun suicides. About 80% of gun deaths in Australia are gun suicides, while gun restrictions have no lasting effect on the overall suicide rate. Gun accidents are largely confined to a reckless subset of the population, people with criminal histories, alcoholics and those with personality disorders - not the average gun owner. Likewise, child gun accident deaths (very rare) are usually a result of gross negligence on the part of reckless parents who have little regard for the safety of their children or the law.

#4: A criminal would take a gun off me.
Anti-gun groups have for decades asserted that people who attempt to use guns for defensive use will have the gun taken away from them by an offender. Prof. Kleck identified crime incidents (US National Crime Survey) in which the crime victim used a gun for self-protection and lost a gun to an offender (Point Blank). At most, one percent of civilian defensive gun uses resulted in the offender taking a gun away from a victim. If you believe an assailant is about to gain control of your gun during a struggle you are justified in shooting them with it as you must assume they will use it to kill you. If the assailant is clearly stronger than the victim, or is outnumbered, the victim should shoot them before they get their hands on the gun even if it is fitted with a safety device (an offender might know how to overcome it).

#5: I'll be criminally charged and sued for damages if I shoot an attacker.
You have the right to defend yourself. Don't be frightened of being charged with a crime or civil litigation. So long as you know the law and do the right thing (e.g., don't flee the scene) it is very unlikely you will be charged with a criminal offence or successfully sued in civil court. If you use force, the force must be used strictly for defensive use, reasonably proportionate to the threat, and not as a means to 'punish' your attacker (vigilantism). There is always a chance you could be criminally charged or sued, but would you prefer to be judged by 12 or carried by six? If it really is a matter of life and death (for you and your loved ones) the answer should be easy.

#6: Gun ownership has more risks than benefits.
Anti-gun groups would have us believe gun ownership is so dangerous that any protective value they have is overwhelmed by the danger they pose to their owners. A good example of this is their use of statistics that show guns kill far more gun owners than criminals. They usually neglect to mention that the great majority of gun deaths are suicides. If one divides the large number of gun suicides by the much smaller number of criminals shot dead by civilians you find that far more gun owners are killed with their own guns than are used to kill criminals. But numerous studies have shown that gun restrictions do not affect the overall suicide rate (due to substitution).

Gun accidents comprise a small fraction of all gun deaths. Many activities have much higher accidental death rates than gun ownership but provide no protection whatsoever against felons. Even an anti-gun sponsored study (Hart Survey, Point Blank) showed that 783,000 Americans used guns defensively each year (criminals flee or surrender more than 95% of the time without a shot being fired). If guns were banned these people (who kill more criminals than police do) would be greatly disadvantaged compared to gun toting felons who can readily obtain guns on the black market and could, in most cases, make do with machetes and clubs if guns magically disappeared, tools that are not practical defensive weapons for most female, elderly, injured, disabled or outnumbered victims.

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BOOKS  &  VIDEOS

Many of the following products are available from Massad Ayoob's Police Bookshelf.

Armed and Female (283 pages) by Paxton Quigley
Ms Quigley co-founded an anti-gun group but changed her mind about gun defence.

Armed Response (192 pages) by David Kenik
An excellent starting text for the first-time gun owner.

The Ayoob Files: The Book (198 pages) by Massad Ayoob
In depth look at defensive gun uses and their aftermath.

In The Gravest Extreme (130 pages) by Massad Ayoob
Looks at the practical, legal and ethical aspects of gun defence. Essential reading.

Judicious Use of Deadly Force (130 minutes) by Massad Ayoob
Core principles of law, ethics and tactics of using lethal force.

Shoot to Live: Gunfight Survival (70 minutes) by Massad Ayoob
Excellent introduction to the defensive use of firearms. Essential viewing.

StressFire: Gunfighting for Police (149 pages) by Massad Ayoob
Advanced handgun techniques clearly explained.

StressFire II: Advanced Combat Shotgun (197 pages) by Massad Ayoob
Advanced shotgun techniques clearly explained.

StressFire Series - Part One - Handgun (93 minutes) by Massad Ayoob
Advanced handgun skills clearly demonstrated.

StressFire Series - Part Two - Shotgun (150 minutes) by Massad Ayoob
Advanced shotgun skills clearly demonstrated.

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LINKS

AWARE
Arming Women Against Rape & Endangerment is an American group that provides an invaluable resource for law-abiding women willing to use force to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Lethal Force Institute
LFI is arguably the best gun defence training facility in the world. It was founded by Massad Ayoob, the pre-eminent American gun defence expert whose books and videos we highly recommended.

NRA
The National Rifle Association of America is the world's largest gun owner group and the best source of information about gun related issues. Their 'Refuse To Be A Victim' program is highly recommended.

Smith & Wesson
Also provides high quality gun defence training to law-abiding civilians - only in the US as the private ownership of guns for defensive use is banned in most countries (elites naturally fear and distrust 'the mob').

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