'Shotgun Robber' is an equal opportunity bandit

July 7, 7:31 AMCleveland Gun Rights ExaminerDaniel White

Previous Next

5 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Cleveland Gun Rights Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Ask most people where they think an armed robber might strike and they'll usually name gas stations, liquor stores, convenience stores, banks, jewelry stores, and other similar places that you see in movies and on TV being targeted.

In real life, it just doesn't work that way. Any place and anyone can be selected as a victim. This is easily demonstrated by the recent string of robberies by the 'Shotgun Bandit,' who is currently operating in the Columbus area. From WBNS News:

• 7/6/09:   Waffle House, 3690 S. High St.
• 7/2/09:   Cup-o-Joe, 2418 E. Main St.
• 7/1/09:   Max & Erma's, 739 S. Third St.
• 6/30/09: The Drug Store, 2940 Groveport Rd.
• 6/22/09: Grandma's Pizza, 3495 E. Broad St.
• 6/18/09: Starbucks, 650 S. Third St.
• 6/18/09: Tee Jayes, 1385 Parsons Ave.
• 6/15/09: Marathon, 1690 S. High St.
• 6/13/09: The Drug Store, 2940 Groveport Rd.
• 6/13/09: 7-Eleven, 2481 Petzinger Rd.
• 6/13/09: Certified, 1093 Frank Rd.
• 6/12/09: Starbucks at 650 S. Third St.
• 6/12/09: Individual robbed at Mohawk and Whittier streets

From that, we see a mix of gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants (including a Class D licensee), coffee shops, and more; including someone just walking down the street.

One of the arguments used by the gun control crowd is that people who choose to be armed for self-defense are paranoid. Do you really need a gun for protection when going out for coffee? Or pizza? Or a burger? Or to pick up your prescription? Apparently so, according to the above list.

The truth of the matter is that anyone at any time and in any place could find themselves confronted by an armed criminal bent on violence. That person wasn't deterred by laws prohibiting armed robbery, assault, menacing, or restrictions on ownership (I'll bet when this guy is caught he turns out to be a repeat offender prohibited from owning firearms). He wasn't deterred from robbing a restaurant that has a class D liquor license and therefore prohibits the public from carrying a firearm inside, and if anyone honestly believes that a "no guns allowed" sign would have made him go elsewhere I have a couple of bridges still in inventory at low, low prices.

No gun law can stop a criminal. Banning guns will no more disarm them than banning drugs stopped the drug trade. Criminals don't abide by those laws, only the law abiding citizens do, which is why gun control is doomed to fail.

Comments

Name: Comments:
characters left NOTE: Do Not Alter These Fields: Contact Email: Contact Email: Contact Url: Subscribe to Blog: Remember my Info: