In this episode, Stan and Mike talk with Kyle Sweet, Co-Founder and General Counsel for CCW Safe. Kyle talks about the captive insurance company, 2A Insurance, which was formed by CCW Safe in 2016. They talk about the role it plays in servicing the coverage for CCW Safe, which services the membership of our members.

Posted: Wednesday, January 23, 2019

In the event that a lawful concealed carrier gets shot during an attempted robbery, carjacking, or similar event, the chances are good that it will be with a handgun. The damage that a low-velocity handgun bullet does to the human body is significantly less than that of a high-velocity rifle bullet. This is one of the reasons that SWAT team employ rifles when conducting high-risk entries. Hits to the upper thoracic area with a properly designed 5.56mm round have the ability to stop fights very quickly. Low-velocity pistol rounds, even with high-performance hollow point bullets, typically drill a permanent wound channel approximately the diameter of the expanded round. It would not be unreasonable to speculate that the approximate diameter might be somewhere between ½” and ¾”. If the handgun round used meets the FBI’s protocol, penetration might be somewhere around 12”.

Posted: Monday, January 21, 2019

Shortly after midnight, during the earliest hours of New Year’s Day, 2013, Gyrell Lee watched as Quinton Epps shot Jamieal Walker twice in the stomach, continuing to fire as Walker ran for his life. Walker was Lee’s cousin and best friend. Epps, according to local reporting, was a known trouble maker, and he had come by Walker’s house several times throughout the evening, arguing with Walker. Each time, Epps was more intoxicated and verbally abusive than the last.

Posted: Friday, January 18, 2019

In this episode, Stan and Mike talk with Justin Collett, newest member to the CCW Safe Team. Justin will be the new content manager for CCW Safe. Justin has already been working with us on a contract basis for several years, but now will join us full time to produce and manage even more online video content.

Posted: Thursday, January 17, 2019

In a recent CCW Safe article, former Marine sniper and professional mixed martial arts fighter Gerald Strebendt accepted a plea deal in the face of a murder charge for shooting an intoxicated driver named David Crofut shortly after an automobile collision. Crofut approached Strebendt and got close enough to grab the muzzle of Strebendt’s AR-15 carbine before Strebendt fired the fatal shot. Strebendt called 911 as soon he exited his vehicle and was heard to shout “get back from me” multiple times. He requested an ambulance for the victim and placed his firearm on the ground prior to law enforcement arrival. Strebendt was eventually indicted, even though he claimed that in the dark he thought that Crofut was reaching into his pockets in order to grab a handgun.

Posted: Monday, January 14, 2019

Prosecutors said that Gyrell Lee was, in his own words, “waiting for a clear shot” to shoot Quinton Epps. Moments earlier, Lee’s cousin Jamieal Walker punched Epps in the face after a heated argument. Defense attorney Sam Dixon contended Lee knew Epps had a gun hidden behind his back, and Lee was just trying to protect his cousin from an imminent deadly threat. He failed. After being punched, Epps shot Walker multiple times before turning his gun on Lee. Lee fired first, shooting Epps eight times. Epps died of the wounds 2 ½ hours later. Lee fled the scene and hid his gun under a trash can. Officers from the Elizabeth City Police in North Carolina picked Lee up the next day as part of an investigation into a double homicide. It was New Year’s Day 2013.

Posted: Friday, January 11, 2019

In this podcast, Stan and Mike interview CCW Safe National Trial Counsel, Don West for part III of Critical Phases. The three continue talking about the critical components of a lethal self defense incident picking up where they left off in the last episode.

Posted: Wednesday, January 9, 2019

“With power comes great responsibility”. The concealed carrier literally has the power of life or death over everyone that he or she encounters. Great care must be given to keeping that power in check that goes beyond situational awareness, conflict de-escalation, threat assessment, decision making under stressful circumstances, gunhandling skills, and ability to make good hits at appropriate speed if a lethal force response is absolutely required. I am talking about doing nothing more than keeping up with the location of your handgun 24/7.

Posted: Monday, January 7, 2019

In our series “In Self-Defense,” we explore high-profile self-defense shootings looking for lessons for concealed carriers. Like most of the shooters we analyze, Gyrell Lee was NOT a CCW Safe member. We’ve chosen his case because it provides clear lessons for concealed carriers regarding what can go wrong in a self-defense shooting.

Posted: Friday, January 4, 2019

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 arrest

Posted: Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Happy New Year from CCW Safe! We hope that you are enjoying this new series from Steve Moses on New Year's Resolutions. Today, in part three of this series, Steve wraps it up talking about shooting, and classes, clinics, seminars and programs.

Posted: Tuesday, January 1, 2019

While I have an opinion of what constitutes some good New Year Resolutions for concealed carriers, I realize that circumstances are such that many well-intentioned are simply not able to adopt all or some of them. That is perfectly understandable. We always encourage people to do all they can with what they have to work with at the time, and understand that as people age, move, or deal with the inevitable trials of life their opportunities and abilities will diminish.

Posted: Monday, December 31, 2018

At least one way to describe a New Year’s Resolution is that it is a self-promise that one makes in order to change an attitude or behavior in some way that will result in self-improvement, whether physical, mental, emotional, or relational. A positive attitudinal change can often have the same effect on behavior, and a positive behavioral change can do the same for attitude. For instance, if I decide that 2019 is the year that I join a gym because I view myself as being in poor physical shape, I am likely to eat better, reduce stress, slow down the effects of aging, and sleep better at night. There is only one problem; most New Year’s Resolutions don’t make it through March. Change is hard. Unfortunately, life can suddenly become much harder if we are suddenly confronted with violence and ill-prepared to deal with it. I write quite often about the importance of avoiding conflict if possible, but I now want to discuss the importance of being prepared to respond effectively if threatened with serious injury or death.

Posted: Friday, December 28, 2018

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.

Posted: Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Merry Christmas from all of us at CCW Safe!

Posted: Tuesday, December 25, 2018

In our series The Four Core Principles of Concealed Carriers, we’re exploring what I see as the most important principles concealed carriers should adopt to be safe and responsible as they exercise their right to carry. In this installment we will examine the importance of JUDGEMENT and a personal example which made me chose it as a core principle.

Posted: Monday, December 24, 2018

Not long ago, a CCW Safe member wrote us to describe a terrifying encounter he had at the home he shares with his wife and children on a 10 acre ranch. On a late fall evening, around 11 pm, he heard noisy footsteps falling on his front deck. He peeked outside to find a tall man pacing and shouting curse words, wearing nothing but cowboy boots and bluejeans. He appeared to be drunk. His face was bloodied and beaten.

Posted: Friday, December 21, 2018

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.

Posted: Wednesday, December 19, 2018

In our series The Four Core Principles of Concealed Carriers, we’re exploring what I see as the most important principles concealed carriers should adopt to be safe and responsible as they exercise their right to carry. In this installment we will examine the importance of TRAINING and a personal example which made me chose it as a core principle.

Posted: Monday, December 17, 2018

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. Stan also gives 10 recommended tips if you are ever involved in a self defense shooting or deadly use of force.

Posted: Wednesday, December 12, 2018

In our series The Four Core Principles of Concealed Carriers, we’re exploring what I see as the most important principles concealed carriers should adopt to be safe and responsible as they exercise their right to carry. In this installment we will examine the importance of EDUCATION and a personal example which made me chose it as a principle.

Posted: Monday, December 10, 2018

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 HOLIDAYS Pay 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.

Posted: Wednesday, December 5, 2018

In our series The Four Principles of Concealed Carriers, we’re exploring what I see as the most important principle concealed carriers should adopt to be safe and responsible as they exercise their right to carry. In this installment we will examine the importance of mindset and a personal example which made me choose it as a core principle.

Posted: Monday, December 3, 2018

Denied bond, the former Marine sniper and professional mixed martial arts fighter had been in jail for 14 months when he accepted a plea deal in May of 2015. At the time, a trial was still at least a year away, and the defense had been dogged by reports of Strebendt’s prior bad acts -- fights and road rage incidents.

Posted: Friday, November 30, 2018

This case of the week involves a Montana man who reportedly managed to shoot his hunting partner just as they returned from a hunt to their cars in a K-Mart parking lot, according this ABC Fox news report.

Posted: Thursday, November 29, 2018