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(Photo courtesy of Oleg Volk)
The following story challenges the belief that resisting your attacker only escalates the violence. Just give them what they want and they’ll leave you alive, right?
Seattle residents Teresa Butz and her partner were in bed sleeping when Isaiah. M.K. Kalebu allegedly broke into their home and stabbed both multiple times. The women escaped the house, while Kalebu ran away. A neighbor heard somebody screaming for help and ran outside. Butz died at the scene from her injuries. A neighbor said Butz told him the attacker said that if they did what he asked, he wouldn’t hurt them. Her last words: “He lied, he lied.”
Kalebu is being held for investigation of murder, rape, attempted murder, and burglary. Police say that fingerprints and DNA evidence link him to the scene, and bail was set at $10 million.
This last detail is important, as the rest of the story will highlight.
In early July, Kalebu was arrested after his pit bull threatened neighbors. His aunt, Rachel Kalebu, bailed him out. The next day, Rachel obtained a restraining order against Isaiah, claiming that he threatened her.
A few days later, Rachel and former NFL quarterback John “J.J.” Jones died in a suspicious house fire, of which Isaiah Kalebu is the suspect.
Sometimes, people commit what they think is an act of kindness, but in this case, Rachel’s bailing her nephew out may have resulted in four people being murdered.
Isaiah’s mother, Denise Kalebu, remains in disbelief that he could have done any of this. Yet she has been aware that he suffers from mental illness for at least 18 months, and called police herself in March 2008, after he threatened to kill her. He was charged with felony harassment for that incident and was scheduled to go to trial in August, 2009.
Some truths to remember
Jessica Gonzales, trying to protect her three young children and herself from a violent estranged husband, obtained a restraining order, too. After the husband kidnapped the kids and murdered them, she sued the city, claiming that the restraining order gave her a special relationship with police. But whenever this issue is brought before the Supreme Court or other high courts, they have consistently ruled that police have no duty to protect a particular member of society, even if they have a restraining order.
Self-defense saves lives, and armed self-defense enables a woman to save multiple lives. Recently, one armed mom saved 5 lives by using a handgun.
Examination of the FBI Supplemental Homicide reports for the years 2000-2007 shows that over half of all women who successfully defended themselves from violent attackers used a firearm.
Considering that men average over 40 pounds more lean muscle mass than women, firearms provide a way to even the playing field. Samuel Colt, who invented the revolver, had this slogan: “God created men equal, Col. Colt made them equal.”
Ladies: Don’t limit your options, or your children’s future, because of an ideology or a fear.
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For in-depth analysis of the issues discussed here, read Howard’s book Four Hundred Years of Gun Control: Why Isn’t It Working?, which deconstructs the gun control agenda and motivates more people to support our civil right of self-defense. Autographed copies are available from the author.
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Comments
Assuming the maxim of "give them what they want and they'll leave you alive" is true, how do you know what it is that they want?
Suppose they want you, your children, your spouse or significant other raped or dead?
Man with a gun walks into a bank to rob it, there's a statistically high probability he's there just for the money and doesn't want to hurt anyone.
Same man with a gun kicks down the door to one's home, and the probability he's there "just for the money" goes down significantly.
So, you can't trust someone who would threaten to murder you to get what he wants. It seems like such a simple concept, but wishful thinking is a powerful thing.
Howard, as I'm sure you're aware there's statistical information available which bears out the anecdotal evidence you present here.
Here's the info clipped from "Guy's Gun Facts". He cites this as coming from the British Home Office study, I know there's very similar data from the DOJ NCVS study.
"You are far more likely to survive a violent assault if you defend yourself with a gun. In episodes where a robbery victim was injured, the injury/defense rates were:
Resisting with a gun 6%
Did nothing at all 25%
Resisted with a knife 40%
Non-violent resistance 45%"
One of the most striking results I noticed when I reviewed these studies in detail was that the protective effects are far larger for women than for men. As I recall roughly 50% better.
That is one of the things I find the most egregious about the hoplophobes. This is not just a matter of opinion, study after study has PROVEN we're right.
Ken Grubb, you cannot be expected to know what the motives of a criminal are, who has invaded your home. They may rob you, and then kill you to prevent any witnesses from testifying; for good measure.
Marion Hammer said it best: "Excuse me Mr. Criminal, are you in here to rob, rape and kill me, or just rob me?"
I fully agree with the gist of the article. However, one thing that I beg to differ with; based upon more then twenty years in EMS I just will never buy the "women weigh less" statistic that is always rolled out.
Patrick: Please review the article. You are talking about weight. I was talking about lean muscle mass. This is a function of genetics, which affects production and ratios of testosterone and estrogen. Men have more of the former; they build muscle easier than women. Therefore, men have a greater ratio of muscle to fat. Muscle, not fat, correlates with strength. A higher percentage of women are killed by means other than firearms, because they are less physically able to defend themselves. The fact that you see more obese women in ER is not an issue for this column.
"This report is dedicated to Elizabeth McCandless Murray, a suburban Boston woman pursued by an abusive ex-spouse. Betsy 'did everything' that women are normally advised to do to protect herself. She got restraining order (violated 13 times), filed criminal charges, left her job, went into hiding, took unarmed self-defense training, and even hired a private detective. Apparently nobody suggested that she learn to use higher levels of force, such as firearms, for self-protection.
"In December, 1992, Betsy was shot and killed by her ex-husband.
"We dedicate this report to her memory, in the hope that we can reach other women at risk for violence (that is, all women), in time to teach them how not to be victims."
--1992-1993 We are AWARE Annual Report
(The phrase "did everything" appeared in numerous state newspaper reports. It was, of course, a lie, although the people who wrote it believed it -- in much the same manner that a frog physically cannot see a fly unless it moves
This is what I don't get. When I've been mugged, the first thing they say is "freeze" or "don't move." So if you have a gun, you can't use it. Unless you're walking around holding the gun in your hand, how does it protect you? Even then, someone can come up from behind and say "drop it." (And in one of the instances above, when my friend reach for her wallet, the muggers knocked her down, thinking she was going for a weapon; so if you did reach for yr gun, a similar thing would happen).
A gun would prob not have helped these two women, as they didn't hear the guy until he was at their bedside and they woke up. If they'd heard him earlier of course they would've had time to get to a gun. But once he was there, any move they made, he'd stab them. But, the attack did take a horrifyingly long time, so ultimately a gun may have helped, if they'd been able to avoid being stabbed too much to grab it. It would be worth trying.
How I dealt with the muggers...I ran!
Diane: and your point? Your friend wasn't paying attention and let the attacker get too close? Hypothetical situations where a gun MIGHT not help justifies gun control? If somebody yells "freeze" you must obey?
I am glad you got away. However, there are numerous media stories where women successfully defended against attackers, and the women used guns to save their lives.
If you don't get that, then you are just looking for a reason to support gun control.
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