Use of Force

Two individuals appear engaged in a physical struggle near a white SUV while a federal officer approaches with a firearm drawn on a city street.

You Don’t Get to Fight Anymore: Lessons for Armed Citizens from the Alex Pretti Incident in Minnesota

By Mitch Goerdt / January 27, 2026

I wrote You Don’t Get to Fight Anymore last summer as a reminder to armed citizens that carrying a firearm changes the rules. Not legally. Morally. Practically. Permanently. Today, that…

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Mugshot of the suspect charged in a deadly road rage shooting in Horry County, South Carolina.

Lesson From a Road Rage Shooting: Pride Is Not a Self-Defense Strategy

By Mitch Goerdt / January 13, 2026

Yesterday morning, I woke up to my partner telling me she had just been sideswiped while driving the kids to school. No injuries. The car is damaged, but drivable. Everyone…

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use of force shooting

What is Excessive Force? No Charges in Houston Taqueria Shooting

By Matthew Maruster / January 5, 2024

This week, a grand jury in Texas declined to indict a man for shooting and killing another man who was actively robbing patrons in a restaurant. You may be familiar…

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Hatchet Wielding Lunatic Teaches Lesson on Real-Life Violence

By Matthew Maruster / September 23, 2022

Violent encounters like this one in a New York City restaurant seem to be commonplace. We could spend a lot of time analyzing the many useful lessons this video provides.…

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When is a Punch Considered Deadly Force?

By Matthew Maruster / April 26, 2022

A seventeen-year-old is facing a manslaughter charge after an April 21 fight in Brunswick, Georgia. No, he didn’t shoot anyone with his everyday carry (EDC) handgun. The young man didn’t…

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Can You Shoot a Peeping Tom – The “Fear Factor”

By Matthew Maruster / September 14, 2021

A woman in Texas shot a man claiming she was in fear of her life. The incident started shortly before 11 PM on Friday, September 10th. According to reports, while…

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Are you Your Own Worst Character Witness?

By Matthew Maruster / September 20, 2019

Because you carry a firearm, you are at a higher risk of ending up in court. Yes, you may also be less likely to die at the hands of an…

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Episode 148: Stand Your Ground – Self Defense Law with Andrew Branca

By Riley Bowman / August 16, 2017

Riley and Jacob had the privilege of interviewing Andrew Branca, the top attorney in the U.S. for all things self-defense law. Andrew is the author of the book The Law of Self Defense and is an experienced attorney who teaches at the FBI’s National Academy, has taught at Sig Sauer Academy, appears on the Outdoor Channel’s TV show “The Best Defense”, and writes extensively for websites and blogs online including the National Review. He is often quoted as a subject matter expert on use-of-force law by major national print and broadcast media. He regularly consults with attorneys across the nation on various self-defense cases. In this episode we get into “Stand Your Ground” law, “Castle Doctrine”, “Make My Day”, how to deal with law enforcement and the consequences immediately following a defensive gun use.

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