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A good week for self-defense
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(Photo courtesy of Oleg Volk.)
This week, many law-abiding citizens, including women and elderly, used firearms to defend their lives, families, and property.
Monday, June 15
Spring, Texas A woman was the victim of a home invasion robbery, as two 17-year-old males broke into her home. She locked herself in her bedroom and waited as they went through her house. When they kicked in the bedroom door, she “fired several shots at the suspects,” according to Lieutenant Jeff Stauber with the Harris County Sheriff's Department. Both suspects were wounded, and ran out of the house calling for help, claiming they were innocent shooting victims. Investigators were able to tie them to the robbery, at which point they confessed.
The homeowner will not face charges.
"She was in fear of her life and literally held up inside her bedroom, by herself at home. And I could just imagine the fear that this woman was going through and this lady was just protecting herself," Stauber said.
Neighbors were concerned about this happening so close to home, and plan on taking steps to protect themselves in the future:
"We've discussed it with all the girls out here in the neighborhood," resident Rhonda Potenza said. "We're going to get gun safety courses … we've got to do what we've got to do."
Barstow, California–As three men committed home invasion robbery, the homeowner armed himself with a handgun and shot one invader, who died on the front lawn. The other two fled.
Tuesday, June 16
Machias, Maine–A 77-year-old woman faced down an armed invader and escorted him out of her house:
Doris Gatchell’s daughter, Vanessa Gatchell, 50, was home watching television on South Princeton Road when she heard footsteps in the hallway at about 4:30 p.m., according to court documents made available Monday. Doris Gatchell had just left the house and Vanessa Gatchell thought her mother had returned because she had forgotten something. “She called out, but there was no answer,” according to the affidavit on file with the court.
Vanessa Gatchell went into the hallway and found Moore armed with a gun and a knife just standing there, the affidavit said.
Vanessa offered him money, but he said he wanted liquor and made threats to hurt her. After getting some wine from Vanessa, he made her sit in the front room for 30 minutes while he drank.
Eventually, Dorris came home. While both women were in the kitchen, Vanessa told her mother what was going on. Dorris retrieved a gun, went back into the front room, and stood behind the man’s chair. She ordered him to leave the house or she would shoot him. After he left, they called police, who apprehended the man at his home. Not surprisingly, the man has a “long criminal history,” but apparently didn’t care that it was illegal for felons to possess firearms:
He faces up to 30 years in jail and fines of up to $50,000 on each of the two most serious charges of burglary with a firearm and robbery. He also has been charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, theft and criminal restraint.
Blountville, Tennessee– A homeowner caught a burglar entering his camper trailer. He went inside and retrieved a handgun, and upon returning found the intruder inside the his car, which was next to the camper. He held the intruder at gunpoint until deputies arrived.
Wednesday, June 17
Roswell, Georgia–An elderly man defended himself against a knife-wielding attacker who tried to rob the liquor store where he worked. The attacker lunged at the victim, but the knife point struck the cell phone given to the man by his police officer son. This provided an opportunity to retrieve his handgun from the under the counter. The gun, also given to him by his son, performed its job, wounding and stopping the attacker.
Police said Carlos JeanPeirre, 34, is recovering from non-life threatening wounds and faces multiple charges including aggravated assault and attempted robbery.
Wescott's son, Jason, said he gave both gifts to his father to keep him safe.
"Something like that can happen in a split second and it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it," Jason Wescott said.
So speaks the voice of professional law enforcement experience.
Midville, Utah–A concealed carry licensee stopped a robbery in progress. After shooting warning shots at the fleeing suspects: “The gunfire stopped the suspects dead in their tracks.” He held them at gunpoint until police arrived.
Mesa, Arizona–Late Wednesday night, two armed men broke into a home and forced the four residents into one room. One resident was able to obtain a shotgun and shoot both intruders, killing one and wounding the other.
Thursday, June 18
Harris County, Texas–An elderly homeowner twice ordered a crack cocaine user off his property. During the second incident, the trespasser “approached the homeowner” instead of leaving, at which point the 69-year-old man shot him once with a .22 caliber rifle.
Las Vegas, Nevada–A homeowner repelled two suspects after one kicked in his door, halting a home invasion in its tracks.
Friday, June 19
Altamonte Springs, Florida–A homeowner shot and killed an intruder who was kicking in the front door. Police say the deceased “has an extensive criminal history.”
The next time somebody tells you we don’t “need” guns because they are rarely used in self-defense, refer them to Clayton Cramer’s Civilian Self-Defense Blog. Researchers estimate that 1.5-2.5 million times a year–4,000 to over 7,000 times a day–armed citizens stop crimes in progress, often without firing a shot.
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For in-depth analysis of the issues surrounding gun control, read 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.
Check out other Gun Rights Examiners:
- Atlanta: Armed customer stops robbery
- Austin: Texas children drowning, but where’s the outrage?
- Boston: The Educated Patriot: The Courage To Be Free
- Charlotte: The gun debate (explained for liberals)
- Cleveland: Not so safe streets
- DC: How would Churchill vote in Virginia's Democratic primary for Governor on Tuesday?
- Denver: Holocaust Museum shooting short-circuited by a gun
- Los Angeles: Pocket knife ban models the gun control formula.
- Minneapolis: Dirty Deeds in Virginia
- National: GAO 'Mexican crime gun' report 'incomplete'
- Seattle: Political hypocrisy and social bigotry swirling around edges of PrideFest
- St. Louis: When gun bans are not enough--the war on . . . pocket knives?
- Wisconsin: Gun rights advocates make progress
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