Good Guy With a Gun

 

This past Saturday, a man was shot at Campbell Park in Titusville, FL. He’d gotten into a fistfight with another person, then left, and returned with a gun. When the gunman began to shoot, a bystander with a licensed gun shot him. There were over 100 people at the back-to-school event.

The gunman was airlifted to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. The bystander, fully cooperating with law enforcement, was uninjured. Charges weren’t expected to be filed.

I have mixed feelings about this story. I’m glad Florida has concealed carry laws. I’m so grateful that the bystander was able to effectively protect 100 people. I was only able, however, to find the online story on the Fox News site  and a local ABC station.

Gee, I wonder why?

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  1. Terry Mott Member
    Terry Mott
    @TerryMott

    That’s unpossible!  I’ve been assured by people who claim to be more intelligent and (more importantly) more compassionate than myself that these sorts of things never happen.  Therefore, this must be a lie.

    • #1
  2. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Terry Mott (View Comment):

    That’s unpossible! I’ve been assured by people who claim to be more intelligent and (more importantly) more compassionate than myself that these sorts of things never happen. Therefore, this must be a lie.

    Oh darn it! You caught me! I thought I wouldn’t be found out for at least . . . an hour! And I don’t mind not knowing who the gunman was (who wants to give him press), but I hope the bystander will be recognized in some way. Thanks @terrymott!

    • #2
  3. Terry Mott Member
    Terry Mott
    @TerryMott

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Terry Mott (View Comment):

    That’s unpossible! I’ve been assured by people who claim to be more intelligent and (more importantly) more compassionate than myself that these sorts of things never happen. Therefore, this must be a lie.

    Oh darn it! You caught me! I thought I wouldn’t be found out for at least . . . an hour! And I don’t mind not knowing who the gunman was (who wants to give him press), but I hope the bystander will be recognized in some way. Thanks @terrymott!

    The bystander might not want to be recognized.  It might make them a target for the perpetrator’s “friends” and family.  As a CHL holder, I’ve thought about this.  If (God forbid) I were to ever use my weapon in defense of myself or others, I think I’d rather remain anonymous.

    • #3
  4. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Terry Mott (View Comment):
    The bystander might not want to be recognized. It might make them a target for the perpetrator’s “friends” and family. As a CHL holder, I’ve thought about this. If (God forbid) I were to ever use my weapon in defense of myself or others, I think I’d rather remain anonymous.

    Very good point! No good deed goes unpunished, eh? Well, I’m sure those close to him will let him know how deeply they appreciate him.

    • #4
  5. Bartholomew Xerxes Ogilvie, Jr. Coolidge
    Bartholomew Xerxes Ogilvie, Jr.
    @BartholomewXerxesOgilvieJr

    They’ll probably find a way to count it as a school shooting, though.

    • #5
  6. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Bartholomew Xerxes Ogilvie, Jr. (View Comment):

    They’ll probably find a way to count it as a school shooting, though.

    Well, it was a Back to School event, after all . . .

    • #6
  7. Terry Mott Member
    Terry Mott
    @TerryMott

    Bartholomew Xerxes Ogilvie, Jr. (View Comment):

    They’ll probably find a way to count it as a school shooting, though.

    Well, it was a back-to-school event </snark>.

    They’ll probably even count it as two shootings – one for the perpetrator and another for the defender.

    It’s also proof that we need more funding for public schools.  And health care.  And grief counselors.  And bureaucrats to oversee them all.  And unions.  And…

    • #7
  8. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    We take care of our own. FL is bringing a guardian program to the schools and Polk County has already selected its first protectors. Meanwhile, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (remember that shooting) is getting squirrely about metal detectors–now that school is starting. They can’t figure out how to do it without slowing students down. I don’t know how effective those machines are, but they might at least be a deterrent. But no one wants to be inconvenienced.

    • #8
  9. TheSockMonkey Inactive
    TheSockMonkey
    @TheSockMonkey

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    We take care of our own. FL is bringing a guardian program to the schools and Polk County has already selected its first protectors. Meanwhile, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (remember that shooting) is getting squirrely about metal detectors–now that school is starting. They can’t figure out how to do it without slowing students down. I don’t know how effective those machines are, but they might at least be a deterrent. But no one wants to be inconvenienced.

    Yeah, people like the idea of just throwing metal detectors at the problem. They forget that metal detectors must be manned (or personned, per Justin Trudeau), and the students will need to go through one at a time.

     

     

    • #9
  10. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Thank you for the head’s up.  

    Outside Flagstaff, there is an extremely rural area called “the 40’s” which is off of the electric grid.  People live in trailers on 40 acre parcels.  Most of them are armed.  For some reason, you rarely hear about any burglaries out in “the 40’s.”  Go figure. 

    • #10
  11. TheSockMonkey Inactive
    TheSockMonkey
    @TheSockMonkey

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Outside Flagstaff, there is an extremely rural area called “the 40’s” which is off of the electric grid. People live in trailers on 40 acre parcels. Most of them are armed. For some reason, you rarely hear about any burglaries out in “the 40’s.” Go figure.

    The three S’s?

    • #11
  12. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    TheSockMonkey (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Outside Flagstaff, there is an extremely rural area called “the 40’s” which is off of the electric grid. People live in trailers on 40 acre parcels. Most of them are armed. For some reason, you rarely hear about any burglaries out in “the 40’s.” Go figure.

    The three S’s?

    Huh?

    • #12
  13. Terry Mott Member
    Terry Mott
    @TerryMott

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    TheSockMonkey (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Outside Flagstaff, there is an extremely rural area called “the 40’s” which is off of the electric grid. People live in trailers on 40 acre parcels. Most of them are armed. For some reason, you rarely hear about any burglaries out in “the 40’s.” Go figure.

    The three S’s?

    Huh?

    Shoot, shovel & shut-up

    • #13
  14. Terry Mott Member
    Terry Mott
    @TerryMott

    Another good-guy-with-a-gun that obviously never happened (ht / PJ Media)

    https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/concealed-carry-holder-rescued-woman-from-carjacking-in-littlefield/1344495930

     

    • #14
  15. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Susan Quinn: Gee, I wonder why?

    It’s because the left doesn’t accept the truth that it takes a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy with a gun, and the good guy does not have to be a policeman.

    The rich and powerful can afford bodyguards (even David Hogg!), but the average person has to be his own bodyguard . . .

    • #15
  16. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Terry Mott (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    TheSockMonkey (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Outside Flagstaff, there is an extremely rural area called “the 40’s” which is off of the electric grid. People live in trailers on 40 acre parcels. Most of them are armed. For some reason, you rarely hear about any burglaries out in “the 40’s.” Go figure.

    The three S’s?

    Huh?

    Shoot, shovel & shut-up

    I love it!  (That also applies if you find an “endangered species” on your land.)

    • #16
  17. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Terry Mott (View Comment):

    Another good-guy-with-a-gun that obviously never happened (ht / PJ Media)

    https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/concealed-carry-holder-rescued-woman-from-carjacking-in-littlefield/1344495930

     

    Considering stories in the past on people ignoring crimes in process, this story is so heartening . Thanks,  Terry. 

    • #17
  18. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    The standard explanation of why some item didn’t get coverage is that the news media don’t cover dog- bites- man stories. 

    • #18
  19. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    The standard explanation of why some item didn’t get coverage is that the news media don’t cover dog- bites- man stories. 

    I guess the shooter would have had to kill lots of people for it to make the news. And then the rants would be made for gun control. Oh my.

    • #19
  20. Simon Templar Member
    Simon Templar
    @

    A fistfight at a back to school event?  Is that a thing these days?

    • #20
  21. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Terry Mott (View Comment):

    Another good-guy-with-a-gun that obviously never happened (ht / PJ Media)

    https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/concealed-carry-holder-rescued-woman-from-carjacking-in-littlefield/1344495930

     

    Happens a lot more then most of us are aware of….

    ARMED CITIZEN® STORIES

     

    • #21
  22. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Kozak (View Comment):

    Terry Mott (View Comment):

    Another good-guy-with-a-gun that obviously never happened (ht / PJ Media)

    https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/concealed-carry-holder-rescued-woman-from-carjacking-in-littlefield/1344495930

     

    Happens a lot more then most of us are aware of….

    ARMED CITIZEN® STORIES

     

    @kozak, these are amazing stories. I might suggest that you write an OP on this topic, suggesting the importance of making sure more of this information gets out. Just sayin’ . . .

    • #22
  23. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Kozak (View Comment):

    Terry Mott (View Comment):

    Another good-guy-with-a-gun that obviously never happened (ht / PJ Media)

    https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/concealed-carry-holder-rescued-woman-from-carjacking-in-littlefield/1344495930

     

    Happens a lot more then most of us are aware of….

    ARMED CITIZEN® STORIES

     

    @kozak, these are amazing stories. I might suggest that you write an OP on this topic, suggesting the importance of making sure more of this information gets out. Just sayin’ . . .

    The NRA also has a column called “The Armed Citizen”.  I’d provide the link, but I don’t have my magazine in front of me . . .

    • #23
  24. Hypatia Member
    Hypatia
    @

    Yee-HAA!  I’ll have you know Pa is #2 in the nation for concealed carry permits,  behind #1 Florida and right ahead of Texas!

    Lets face it:

    the government isn’t going to guarantee our safety.  It can’t, even now.  And many people in positions of power are determined to bring in more criminal illegals and shield from deportation any already here.   That’s what “Abolish ICE! ” means.

    I don’t know what people who seek “asylum” because they have crime at home (not a legal ground to do so)  expect to happen when they get here. Look at Chicago.

    Armed citizenry is the bedrock of our  nation and our only hope for the future.

    • #24
  25. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Terry Mott (View Comment):

    Shoot, shovel & shut-up

    I love it! (That also applies if you find an “endangered species” on your land.)

    I once knew a builder whose crew found some arrowheads while excavating. He told them to keep it quiet and they kept on going. If anyone had found out, the Indians would have stopped the whole thing and he’d have lost a fortune.

    • #25
  26. Cato Rand Inactive
    Cato Rand
    @CatoRand

    Great story and great news.  Thanks for sharing.

    • #26
  27. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Terry Mott (View Comment):

    Shoot, shovel & shut-up

    I love it! (That also applies if you find an “endangered species” on your land.)

    I once knew a builder whose crew found some arrowheads while excavating. He told them to keep it quiet and they kept on going. If anyone had found out, the Indians would have stopped the whole thing and he’d have lost a fortune.

    So true.  You can’t dig a hole anywhere in the US without some Indian claiming it’s a scared burial ground for his tribe . . .

    • #27
  28. Simon Templar Member
    Simon Templar
    @

    Stad (View Comment):
    The NRA also has a column called “The Armed Citizen”. I’d provide the link, but I don’t have my magazine in front of me . . .

    I probably should not admit it but I always like the stories about the 90 year old WWII vet who arms himself after being burgled for the 100th time and whacks a couple of criminals, both with records a mile long, when they break into his house mid-afternoon while he is taking his daily siesta. 

    FYI “The Armed “Citizen” is in every edition of the NRA magazine.  It always the first and often the only thing that I read.

    • #28
  29. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Kozak (View Comment):

    Terry Mott (View Comment):

    Another good-guy-with-a-gun that obviously never happened (ht / PJ Media)

    https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/concealed-carry-holder-rescued-woman-from-carjacking-in-littlefield/1344495930

     

    Happens a lot more then most of us are aware of….

    ARMED CITIZEN® STORIES

     

    @kozak, these are amazing stories. I might suggest that you write an OP on this topic, suggesting the importance of making sure more of this information gets out. Just sayin’ . . .

    I agree.  You are a great writer and have repeatedly stumped me.  I hope you write an OP on this issue.  I would also be interested to hear your personal experience, i.e. do you carry, etc?

    • #29
  30. Ontheleftcoast Inactive
    Ontheleftcoast
    @Ontheleftcoast

    Guns don’t kill people, people kill people:

    Boston:

    Recent advances in criminological research suggest that there is significant clustering of crime in micro places, or ‘hot spots,’ that generate a disproportionate amount of criminal events in a city… We find that Boston gun violence is intensely concentrated at a small number of street segments and intersections rather than spread evenly across the urban landscape between 1980 and 2008.

    Boston again:

    The concentration is not just in terms of place, but also people. It’s a tiny handful of the community that’s responsible for the lion’s share of the bloodshed. Turning to Boston again, in the period between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s, more than half of all murders, more than three-quarters of youth homicides and 70 percent of all shootings were perpetrated by 1 percent of youth between the ages of 15 and 24.

    Chicago:

    As shown by Yale University sociologists in a recent study, 70 percent of all shootings in Chicago can be located in a social network composed of less than 6 percent of the city’s population.

    The two top causes of death among African Americans under 25 are physicians (abortions) and African American males from 15-24.

    • #30
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