Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
A trip to the grocery store turned into a standoff when a shopper decided to take the law into his own hands.
The shopper, who asked to not be identified, said he had two options – ignore the surrounded elderly man or do something he never thought he would have to.
The photo showing the heated standoff between the shopper and a group of men has quickly gone viral since the incident Wednesday night.
“I was freaking out and I was shaking,” the shopper said.
The 24-year-old said he was leaving the grocery store when he saw something he couldn’t ignore.
“I saw seven people against one guy, and I didn’t like those odds,” he said.
The outnumbered man was elderly, so the shopper said he felt obligated to get involved.
When he had his gun drawn, the attackers turned their attention to him.
“They kept yelling, ‘This isn’t your fight, you need to walk away and you need to put the gun down,’” he recalled.
While all this was happening, other shoppers pulled out weapons of their own – cellphones – so they could record the incident and call police.
By the time police arrived, the attackers and the victim had taken off.
It turned out, they were all related. Police say the elderly man was an uncle being assaulted by his nephew.
The courageous shopper said he’s been carrying legally for years and is glad he’s never had to draw his weapon before.
He said his actions wouldn’t change if he was in the situation again.
“If you see a crime happening and you see someone getting injured and you have the ability to stop it, you should,” he said.
The shopper said he never had the idea of shooting anyone, and he made sure to keep his finger away from the trigger.
The uncle chose to not press charges against his nephew, according to police.
Question of the Day: Would You Draw Your Gun in This Situation?
So, “Gene” sees a group of men attacking an older man in a supermarket parking lot in broad daylight. Gene draws down on them (click the image above to view the video). Problem: he doesn’t move and get behind cover as he does so. Relevance: not much, given the result, but worth noting. Problem: the assault turned out to be a domestic. Relevance: it’s worth noting that domestic disputes are a cop’s worst nightmare and so, yours. Point of information: As Gene stops the assault, he hears a shopper calling 911 saying “there’s a man with a gun!” Relevance: a lot! If a responding cop sees . . .
a man pointing a gun at an unarmed someone in a supermarket parking lot – any someone – what are they going to think? They might not think, or even issue a command. They might simply shoot the pistol-packing public protector dead. While that possibility may not change a concealed carrier’s initial decision on whether or not to intervene, it highlights the fact that drawing and/or using a firearm in defense of [seemingly] innocent life is an inherently risky business.
And while you’re considering how to answer this question, remember that Gene’s a young man (26). I don’t think he has a family. In contrast, I’m a single father — parenting without a net. If I get killed, my kid suffers. I’ll admit it: I’m reluctant to clear leather in to save strangers, lest the innocent life under my care pays the price. I reckon you should consider your family’s fate before risking life and limb for others.
Then again . . .
I have this stupidly strong sense of morality. Like Jon Wayne Taylor, I can’t stand to see people suffer. So I don’t know if I would have intervened in this situation. But this much I’ll say: I’d be glad I was carrying an extra mag and I would get behind cover before I drew. At least I hope so. Your take?
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/11/robert-farago/379334/
http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/man-armed-gun-stops-group-assaulting-elderly-man-v/nk3B5/