KNOW THIS before carrying a Gun (ft. CCW Safe)

In this episode of Gun Owners of America's State of the Second, hosts Kaylee and John sit down in East Tennessee with Mike Darter, founder and CEO of CCW Safe, to talk through what actually happens after a self-defense incident and why a plan matters before you ever carry. Mike spent 20 years in law enforcement, and the company grew out of a shooting he was involved in on a raid that left two drug dealers dead and led to a federal lawsuit he won at summary judgment. His Fraternal Order of Police membership covered the year-and-a-half case, and when he left law enforcement he realized he no longer had that protection. He and his stepbrother Kyle Sweet, a former cop turned attorney, looked for something comparable for civilians, found only insurance, and started CCW Safe in 2012. Mike walks through how the service works in practice. CCW Safe is a membership, not insurance, a deliberate choice because insurance cannot cover intentional acts and an attorney could argue pulling a trigger is intentional. A member calls a 24-hour center, the call is patched to one of two on-call attorneys, and attorney-client privilege starts within minutes. A critical response team of former homicide detectives gets boots on the ground that day or the next, and national trial counsel Don West vets and hires the best local attorney for that specific case rather than pulling from a pre-set list. Coverage runs beyond the courtroom to investigators, expert witnesses, biohazard cleanup, counseling, and even workout and diet plans, which he illustrates through the Stephen Maddox murder-one case in Wilson, North Carolina. He explains why CCW Safe covers brandishing and non-firearm self-defense, why they pulled out of Washington and New Jersey to stay in 48 states, and how they keep members healthy mentally, emotionally, and physically. The back half turns to culture and education. Mike, Kaylee, and John talk about an increasingly anti-gun climate, the media's rush to judgment, and the case for being prepared whether or not you buy coverage. Mike points listeners to the free case studies on CCW Safe's site, including the Ted Wafer case, and shares how one member avoided a shooting because he remembered it. The hosts and Mike trade range-day stories about new and green shooters, immigrants who fight to exercise the freedom they never had, and the need to rebuild youth shooting sports. They close on GOA's inaugural Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit, August 17 and 18 in Knoxville, Tennessee, where CCW Safe will have a booth. Linksccwsafe.comgoals.gunowners.orgQuestions this episode answers What is CCW Safe and how did Mike Darter's law enforcement experience lead him to start it? CCW Safe is a self-defense legal-coverage membership for gun owners, founded in 2012 by Mike Darter and his stepbrother Kyle Sweet. Darter spent 20 years in law enforcement and was sued over a raid shooting; his police union covered that case, and he saw civilians had no comparable protection. Why is CCW Safe a membership service instead of insurance? It is a membership by design because insurance cannot cover intentional acts, and an attorney could argue that pulling a trigger is an intentional act. The membership model lets CCW Safe fund a self-defense legal defense without that coverage gap. What happens in the minutes and days after a member calls following a self-defense incident? A member calls a 24-hour center, the call is patched to one of two on-call attorneys, and attorney-client privilege begins within minutes. A critical response team of former homicide detectives gets on the ground that day or the next, and national trial counsel Don West hires the best local attorney for the case. Why does CCW Safe vet and hire a local attorney for each case instead of using a pre-set list? National trial counsel Don West vets and hires the best local attorney for that specific case rather than pulling from a pre-set list, matching the defense to the facts and jurisdiction of each incident. What does CCW Safe cover beyond legal fees? Coverage extends past the courtroom to investigators, expert witnesses, biohazard cleanup, counseling, and even workout and diet plans, with the goal of keeping members healthy mentally, emotionally, and physically. CCW Safe also covers brandishing and non-firearm self-defense, not just shootings. Why did CCW Safe pull out of Washington and New Jersey? CCW Safe pulled out of Washington and New Jersey so it could keep operating in 48 states. Darter frames it as a deliberate choice to stay viable across the rest of the country. What should gun owners do to be prepared before they ever have to use a firearm? Darter's core message is that you need to be prepared before you carry, treating yourself as your own first responder. He points listeners to the free case studies on CCW Safe's site, including the Ted Wafer case, and notes one member avoided a shooting because he remembered one. When and where is Gun Owners of America's inaugural Gun Owners Action Leadership Summit? Gun Owners of America's inaugural Gun Owners Action Leadership Summit (GOALS) is August 17 and 18 in Knoxville, Tennessee, where CCW Safe will have a booth. Chapters 00:00 — Welcome and meeting Mike from CCW Safe 00:20 — Mike's origin story and the shooting that started it 02:35 — Why CCW Safe left Washington and New Jersey 04:01 — What happens when a member calls after a shooting 06:10 — Attorney-client privilege starts in minutes 07:22 — Why CCW Safe covers brandishing cases 09:02 — Defending cases in California 11:27 — Vetting the right local attorney, the Maddox case 15:53 — Why not insurance and the captive insurance company 19:51 — Free case studies and the Ted Wafer case 28:13 — Core values, dedication, commitment, caring 32:19 — Acting as your own first responder and being prepared 33:52 — Anti-gun culture, the media, and education 47:48 — New shooters, immigrants, and building an on-ramp 1:02:04 — GOA Summit in Knoxville and where to find CCW Safe About the guest Mike Darter is the founder and CEO of CCW Safe. He spent 20 years in law enforcement, including time as a gang unit officer. While on a raid he was involved in a shooting that left two drug dealers dead, was sued in federal court, and won the case at summary judgment after about a year and a half, with his Fraternal Order of Police membership covering the costs. He co-founded CCW Safe with his stepbrother Kyle Sweet, a former police officer turned trial attorney who serves as general counsel, starting the company in 2012. Mike has three daughters, leads wildlife photo tours several times a year, and previously ran a judo school. He is an Oklahoma fan and played rugby at OU. CCW Safe operates a range outside Oklahoma City. Key quotes "The only thing that's out there is insurance and that's not a great product for that." — Mike Darter "insurance cannot cover intentional acts" — Mike Darter "if you're involved in a shooting, it's the worst thing, most traumatic thing you've probably ever been involved in." — Mike Darter "that's our job to keep our members healthy mentally, emotionally, and physically." — Mike Darter "I think the biggest thing is you need to be prepared." — Mike Darter "the best thing that you can do to encourage someone to become a gun owner is to build an on ramp for them." — Kaylee