by Marty Hayes, J.D.
This is an important President’s Message, as it explains new procedures regarding the emergency telephone number that we provide to all Network members for use in the event of a self-defense incident.
After 15 years of being tethered to the emergency cell phone (meaning that I have had to stay within cell service) we have figured out a way to break those chains, or loosen them at least a little.
I enjoy seeing the fulfillment of my concept for post-self-defense assistance come to fruition when a member has a true self-defense related legal emergency. With growth of our membership numbers, though, it is becoming increasingly common to get phone calls from members who just want to chat. Sometimes the call comes from a member who wants to renew or check the status of their membership. Sometimes fumbling fingers or other inadvertent actions are to blame when a member dials the emergency number. I’ve even had calls from members’ toddlers who were too young to talk! Those examples identify only a few of the reasons members call the emergency line when they have not been involved in an act of self defense.
In response to these problems regarding the emergency phone number, we have implemented a technological solution. When you call the emergency number now, you will first hear a very brief message advising that if the call is NOT an emergency, we ask that you hang up and dial the office telephone number 888-508-3404. If you have been involved in a self-defense incident, we direct you to stay on the emergency line, which forwards the call to Network principals’ personal telephones. Primarily, our COO Gila Hayes has volunteered to answer any calls if I am unavailable. In that rare circumstance that neither Gila nor I were available to answer immediately, we ask the member to please leave your name and call-back number and we will get back to you as quickly as humanly possible. That’s unlikely because the new tech solution allows us to add another Network leader to the ring group if circumstances dictate. I doubt that will ever become necessary, but it is good to have fallback provisions we can implement if the unexpected occurs.
Good 2A News
Amazingly, a trial judge in Massachusetts, Associate Justice John F. Coffey, ruled in the case Commonwealth v. Dean F. Donnell, that Donnell being a New Hampshire resident with a valid New Hampshire Concealed Carry License was lawful to carry a concealed handgun in Massachusetts without a Massachusetts permit. Read the ruling at https://www.docdroid.net/524o4XV/opinion-coffey-comm-v-donnell-pdf.
In my opinion, this ruling is extremely important, because if it is tested and upheld by an appellate court the prospects look good. Favorable rulings for this and other appeals making their way to the United States Supreme Court would allow for national reciprocity, something I have long held should be constitutional without a national law.
Right now, the Donnell ruling has no value to anyone except to Mr. Donnell, at least until it is appealed and ruled upon by an appellate court. It will be riveting to watch how it progresses in the appellate process.
Interesting Videos on Self-Defense “Insurance”
In my May column, I mentioned an Arizona attorney, Marc J. Victor, who has been taking many of self-defense insurance companies to task by reviewing the contracts they enter into with their customers. Mr. Victor runs a separate program called “Attorneys on Retainer” which he offers nationwide. It is apparently worthwhile for him to compare and contrast his program with the other self-defense companies. If you have some spare time, I recommend watching his You Tube programs.
CCW Safe Self-Defense Policy Review
The Truth About The USCCA Self-Defense Liability Policy
Firearms Legal Protection (FLP) Self-Defense Policy Review
US LawShield Self-Defense Policy Review
I don’t believe it is in the Network’s best interest to attempt to compare and contrast our program with the others. First, there is no way I could guarantee the accuracy of their contractual language, and more importantly, I could not guarantee any explanation of what that language means. If someone else wants to do so, at least I will point out someone else’s opinion about the programs. When I came across these videos, I contacted the Attorneys for Freedom law firm, and asked to talk to Mr. Victor about the Network’s membership program to address the possibility that he might want to review what we do. We don’t have one of these multi-page insurance contracts (as you well know being a member yourself) but instead rely upon our website and other promotional material to form the “offer” side of the contract with our members. If a person signs up and pays, then a legally binding contract is formed. You can get a full understanding of our program by viewing my video Setting the Record Straight.
That’s enough for this month, see you next month.