When should you use Lethal Force and What happens next?

This is a question that has been tied hand in hand with the firearms training community since it has existed. Marty Hayes, known primarily for his role as the founder and director of the Firearms Academy of Seattle made a commitment to himself a long time ago that he would never teach someone how to use a firearms for self defense without teaching them when it was appropriate to do so. For over two decades, he has maintained his promise by educating his students in aspects of the law and justified use of force that apply to the Armed Citizen.

Marty has also been an ardent supporter of the training provided in the use of lethal force by Massad Ayoob, “the” acknowledged expert in the field. In fact, Marty requires that all of his instructor candidates complete training under Ayoob before he will consider allowing them to teach for his academy.

A few years ago, Marty and Gila Hayes started a new project designed specifically to educate more firearms owners about the legal aspects of self defense, The Armed Citizen’s Legal Defense Network. One of the big attractions of the network for members is that it will provide financial assistance to members who find themselves involved in the legal system after a self defense shooting incident. More importantly though, at least to me, the network provides important educational information to members so that they might be able to avoid legal repercussions… even in the event that they do need to use their firearm to defend themselves or others.

Regular readers of this blog may recall that I have mentioned ACLDN in the past, but I think it is worth mentioning again.

I spent the last week at the Firearms Academy of Seattle as a guest instructor. We had over 30 students go through the Combat Focus Shooting program. I have been an affiliated instructor with the network since Marty and Gila first told me about the project a couple of years ago, but this week I gained a new appreciation for the educational service that the network is providing. As an affiliated instructor, I can refer my students to take advantage of the network’s educational information. I firmly believe that using lethal force is a matter of “should you” not “could you”. In the moment that you are threatened and have the means to appropriately defend yourself, I believe that you should. But, having an education in the legal aspects of that use of force, especially as it pertains to your articulation of why you defended yourself and in dealing with the police and legal system afterwards is incredibly important. The Armed Citizen’s Legal Defense Network provides a huge opportunity to gain that education and the offer of assistance if you ever really need it.  Check them out. I seriously recommend joining the network.

-RJP

PS- Marty and I discuss the ACLDN and his academy in THIS VIDEO CLIP as well!