Resistance and compliance buy equal response in laundromat robbery

June 18, 9:28 AMCleveland Gun Rights ExaminerDaniel White

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I don't usually post two articles in one day, but there's been an update to today's laundromat robbery and murder. I'll keep it brief.

At approximately 4:30am this morning, the Soap Opera Laundry on W25th Street in Cleveland was robbed. The robber confronted two female employees at gunpoint. He demanded Tracy Pickryl, 38, hand over her jewelry. She resisted and was shot in the head and killed.

The robber then turned his attention to the second employee, who immediately complied with his demands. He then shot at her as well, but missed.

There are "experts" that will tell you never to resist a criminal attack. They will point to the woman murdered as proof. Yet, the second woman did not resist and the robber tried to kill her as well. We may never know if the robber only fired the second shot to try to eliminate a witness to a murder, or if he intended to kill both of them anyway. What we do know is that in this case, both responses resulted in being shot at.

I'm reminded of the Elyria gas station robbery from last summer. Video surveillance showed the clerk complying with every command that robber gave, yet before leaving he still shot and killed her.

There are no easy answers. Resisting an armed robber when you are unarmed may escalate the situation, or it may save your life if you're able to escape the attack. Not resisting means putting your fate solely in the hands of the criminal. At least in the former, you have a say in the matter.

Personally, I prefer armed resistance as that greatly increases the odds in your favor. Of course, many workplaces, either out of fear of liability or workplace violence, ban employees from being armed anyway rendering this a moot point while at work. But, at least you have a choice when you're not at work. I choose to carry.