Second Call Defense
Second Call Defense
PowerPoint Script
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We're learning about how to physically defend yourself with a firearm. But in today's world, pulling a trigger is not the end of self defense. It's just the beginning. Because after you stop a physical attack, you may face a legal and financial attack.
So I want to briefly discuss the aftermath of a self defense shooting and how to protect yourself from a legal and a financial perspective. And I'm going to suggest a very simple way to do that.
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You are taking this class today to help prepare yourself for the unfortunate event that you are forced to use your gun in self-defense. And that is very important because we live in violent times. The odds of your having to use your gun defensively continue to increase every year.
There are many statistics about gun use in America. By some studies, a gun is used in self-defense by an innocent person once every 13 seconds. Other studies suggest a gun is used in self-defense over 1.5 million times a year.
The bottom line is that self defense with a gun is far more common than most people realize. And you face the real possibility that you may have to actually use a gun to defense your life.
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Preparing to use your gun defensively can take many forms. You must select a firearm you can shoot accurately. You must physically train with that firearm to acquire the necessary skills and muscle memory to use your firearm under stress. You must develop the right mindset to be able to pull the trigger if you need to. You must prepare yourself psychologically for the ugly reality of shooting someone and possibly taking a life.
And … you MUST understand the legal and financial consequences of armed self defense and prepare to deal with it rapidly and effectively.
Many otherwise responsible gun owners spend a lot of time and effort choosing a gun or learning to put holes in a target. But very few fully understand or prepare for the devastating legal and the financial ramifications of self defense.
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The consequences after a self defense shooting can be devastating. Even if your actions are justified, you may be arrested, jailed, sued, fired, and bankrupted as a result of protecting yourself or your loved ones. Pulling the trigger takes a fraction of a second. But the aftermath can last for years, even for the rest of your life.
In a moment, I'll tell you about an organization you can join called Second Call Defense that gives you complete legal protection for armed self defense. But first, let me tell you the story of Harold fish to show just how bad it can get.
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Harold Fish was a 57-year-old retired high school teacher in Arizona with a clean record and a license to carry a concealed weapon. While hiking, a man charged him, waving his arms and threatening to kill him. Harold Fish shot the man in self defense.
The Detective investigating the case informed Harold, and later members of the media, that it was a clear case of self-defense. Unfortunately, the Prosecutor saw things differently and went as far as removing the the original Lead Investigator from the case to improve his chances of getting a conviction.
Harold was prepared to defend himself with a gun. What Harold didn’t prepare for was defending himself legally and financially after the shooting. Harold relied on the Police and Prosecutor to do the “right thing.” And he cooperated fully, without an Attorney, during the course of the investigation. But the reality is, police have no duty to “help” you. Their job is to assign fault and gather evidence for a prosecutor.
What happened? The Prosecutor convinced a jury to find him guilty of second degree murder. Fish spent 3 years in prison. His legal bills eventually exceeded one million dollars.
The good news is that after 3 years in prison, Harold's case was appealed and he was released. The appeal even included charges of prosecutorial misconduct.
The bad news is that for the better part of 7 years, Harold was either defending himself in court or serving time. His 2-month-old was over 7 when it was finally over, and his 15-year-old son was a 22-year-old young man. Harold passed away on September 8, 2012, leaving his family deeply in debt.
This is just one of many examples of why it is important to understand that self defense does not end when you pull the trigger. Pulling the trigger is just the beginning. And what happened to Harold Fish happens to people all over America every day. And it could happen to you too.
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Now let's dispel some common myths.
Your homeowners policy will not protect you. Most homeowner liability policies exclude coverage for injury or damage intentionally caused by the insured. This is sometimes called the "intentional injury exclusion."
Self defense insurance or “umbrella” policies are for reimbursement only. So all your expenses are out-of-pocket until and IF you're found not guilty or your case is dismissed. Most policies don't cover retainers, bail, or lost wages.
Your savings and retirement aren't enough. Unless you are a multimillionaire, it is unlikely that you have enough ready cash available to cover all the potential costs of criminal or civil action against you.
Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground won't shield you. These laws make using lethal force easier to defend. But they do not remove the need to hire an attorney nor do they give you a "get out jail free" card.
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So how do you prepare to defend yourself legally and financially? One way is to just be rich. If you have loads of money laying around, you can buy legal defense when you need it.
Most of us aren't rich, so another way is to start a special savings account and line up an understanding lawyer who's willing to personally take your call 24 hours a day 7 days a week. But how long will it take to save anywhere up to $10,000 for a retainer, up to $25,000 for a bond to get out of jail, and thousands more for legal fees. How will you save enough money to cover a quarter million dollar civil judgment against you? How will you pay your bills when you're sitting in jail and not earning an income?
There's another way that's a lot easier. Join Second Call Defense. I'm a member and I'll tell you why.
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Second Call Defense is a membership program that is designed specifically to protect you when you are forced to use your gun in self defense. Second Call Defense pioneered the idea of complete legal protection for armed self defense. And it's the most comprehensive protection in America.
Remember what happens to you when you are forced to defend yourself. You're going to be shaken up. You won't be thinking straight. Your body will be suffering from a massive adrenaline dump. You'll want to talk a a lot and you could end up doing or saying things that could get you in serious trouble.
The idea behind Second Call Defense is that you need more than insurance. You need someone to have your back at that very moment. Someone to help you calm down. Someone to advise you on how to deal with law enforcement. Someone who can make sure you get quick legal representation and immediate financial assistance so you don't become another Harold Fish. Generally, if you get the right kind of help up-front, you can avoid all the legal and financial hassles later.
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Second Call Defense makes it easy. All you have to do is make two phone calls. The first to 911 to request medical help and inform police. The second to Second Call Defense. By calling their 24/7 Emergency Legal Hotline, you immediately trigger a Rapid Response Team that will give you step-by-step instructions and activate the legal and financial resources that come with the membership level you choose.
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Let's start by looking at the Insurance benefits that are backed by the NRA endorsed insurance program and administered by Lockton Affinity, LLC. Depending on the membership level you sign up for, Second Call Defense gives you ...
Unlimited Civil Defense Protection at the top membership levels. Plus you get Civil Damages Protection up to $250,000. This is amazing coverage because a civil suit is where you can really get taken to the cleaners and lose everything you have, even if you've been found not-guilty in a criminal trial.
You also get Accidental Shooting Protection up to $250,000. This covers you for bodily injury or property damage while shooting in competitions or at private shooting ranges or while hunting on public or private land.
Plus you get Criminal Defense Protection up to $100,000. This covers legal fees required to successfully defend you in a criminal case.
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Now let's look at the Financial Support that comes with membership. Depending on your membership level, you'll get ...
Immediate Cash up to $25,000 to secure a bond up to $250,000. This allows you to get out of jail and assist your attorney in preparing a strong defense. This dramatically increases your odds of being found not guilty.
You also get an Immediate Attorney Retainer up to $10,000 wired directly to any attorney you choose. This assures you'll have representation quickly.
You get funds for Aftermath Cleanup up to $2,000. A crime scene can be pretty messy and it could present a “bio hazard.” So these funds help pay to have someone clean and sanitize the area if this is not covered by your homeowner insurance.
Plus you'll get Compensation While in Court up to $500 a day. This helps you pay for all your ordinary day-to-day bills and not feel pressured to accept a “bad deal” from prosecutors.
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The insurance and financial benefits alone are worth joining Second Call Defense. But that's only the beginning. As a member, you'll also have a Rapid Response Team who will spring into action immediately. For most membership levels this includes ...
A members-only 24/7 Emergency Legal Hotline manned day and night by an experienced Second Amendment Attorney, 7 days a week, including holidays, to provide assistance when you need it most.
A Personal Crisis Manager who will be with you from the time you pull the trigger to the time when all your legal and financial problems are solved.
Access to a Nationwide Attorney Network with well over 9,000 pre-screened defense attorneys in all 50 states.
Local Attorney Referral within 24 hours. If you don't already have a lawyer, they'll refer you to the top 3 lawyers wherever the shooting takes place so you can choose the one best for your case.
They'll notify your Emergency Contacts if you need family or friends to help.
… coordinate Expert Witnesses if you need them in a court case.
… help you retrieve or replace your gun if it's seized by authorities.
… and provide up to 40 sessions of Psychological Support with a therapist. Because let's face it, shooting someone can really mess with your head even if you're totally justified in shooting them.
And if things get really bad, they even offer On-Site Assistance, which means someone from the home office will actually drive or fly to your location and personally help you in any way necessary. So when they say they've “got your back,” they really mean it.
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Finally, there's Education and Training.
Every member will receive a Member Newsletter and have access to Self Defense News online. Plus for the higher levels of membership, you can attend Online Training.
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Second Call Defense is the comprehensive legal protection for armed self defense in America.
You get immediate, real-time legal and financial protection after you pull the trigger.
There are no out-of-pocket costs. You get up-front money for retainer, bond, and more right when you need it.
It's good in all 50 states and U.S. Territories anywhere and everywhere it’s legal to have a gun. And the protection follows you even when you’re traveling or on vacation.
It covers all legal firearms used for self defense, including handguns, rifles, and shotguns.
It covers off-duty law enforcement and non-deployed military members.
You don't need a concealed carry license needed to join.
It's a convenient month-to-month membership. There are no long-term commitment. No big advance payments. And you can change or cancel your membership anytime.
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At this point, you're probably thinking this is great, but how much does it cost? Please look at the application form. You'll see 3 membership levels plus an extra “plus” level. They range from $9.95 a month up to $49.95 a month. So really, given the benefits you get, it's actually very reasonable. You probably paying more than that for a cell phone.
Basic gives you entry level protection. You're covered for criminal defense protection and accidental shooting. Plus you get cash for bond and cash for an attorney retainer. Plus you get a lot of the Rapid Response Team services and education and training benefits.
The Defender Level is where all the benefits kick in, including unlimited civil suit defense protection, so you have full coverage. The insurance and financial support amounts are significantly higher and you get all of the Rapid Response Team services and extra education and training. Note that this is the level where you can add a spouse to your membership for just $5.
Ultimate is the Cadillac level that gives you everything. There's unlimited civil suit defense protection, coverage for a quarter million dollars in damages, a quarter million dollars for accidental shooting, and $50,000 for criminal defense protection. Financial Resources go up to $25,000 for bond, $10,000 for an attorney retainer, $2,000 for aftermath cleanup, and $500 per day compensation while in court. And of course you get all the Rapid Response Team service and all educational benefits. You can add your spouse for just $7.