Don West and Steve Moses join Shawn Vincent to explore the case of Scott Hayes, a pro-Isreal demonstrator who was violently tackled by an unarmed pro-Palistineian demonstrator. Hayes fired a single, non-fatal shot, and prosecutors charged him with assault with a deadly weapon. Is Scott Hayes being wrongfully prosecuted, or did he use disproportional force agains an unarmed threat?

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.

Akira Fletcher had an ongoing feud with another woman, Nyema Norton, culminating in a confrontation where Fletcher shot Norton after an initial altercation had seemingly ended. The case touches on themes of de-escalation, managing emotional responses, and the dangers of following an aggressor. Fletcher’s decision to exit her vehicle and re-engage Norton verbally, after the initial threat had seemingly subsided, complicated her self-defense claim. Her history of animosity with Norton raises doubts about her motives for using deadly force.  Her decision to share incriminating evidence on social media further exacerbated her legal challenges. The case serves as a cautionary tale for how emotions, an ongoing grudge, and the failure to de-escalate can severely impact the outcome of a self-defense claim.

Steve Moses joins hosts Shawn Vincent and Don West to look at the lessons learned from this incident. 

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.