Seems like pretty standard media coverage. But what makes this case different is that 21 percent of the news stories actually mentioned that a citizen licensed to carry a concealed weapon used his gun to try and help stop the attack.
Quote:
It is not remarkable that someone such as Mark Wilson was there at the scene to stop the attack before police arrived. For example, in about 30 percent of the multiple victim public school shootings that have captivated Americans"™ attention starting in 1997, people used guns to stop the attacks before uniformed police were able to arrive on the scene. Few people know about these cases because only about one percent of the news stories on these cases mention how the attacks were stopped.
Quote:
What is remarkable is that this heroism--an act of defensive gun use (search)--did receive some national attention. Undoubtedly, much of the coverage came from the fact that Mark Wilson was killed by Arroyo, but it still doesn"™t take away from the fact that many stories admitted that he had saved at least one life and a few stories quoted police saying that he had probably saved multiple lives.
Of course, gun control advocates draw their usual conclusion from all this. Kristen Rand, legislative director for the pro-gun control Violence Policy Center (search) in Washington, D.C., claims the Tyler shooting last Thursday shows that criminals are undeterred by people potentially carrying concealed weapons. But, in fact, more nearly the opposite is true. When Arroyo faced the choice of continuing to shoot others or defending himself, he was forced to defend himself. Making Arroyo's attacks more risky caused him to change his behavior.
Quote:
More generally, though, it is strange that Rand points to one case as evidence that deterrence doesn't work. In the book, The Bias Against Guns, Bill Landes of the University of Chicago Law School and I examine multiple-victim public shootings in the United States from 1977 to 1999 and find that when states passed right-to-carry laws, these attacks fell by 60 percent. Deaths and injuries from multiple-victim public shootings fell on average by 78 percent.
Quote:
Many people find it hard to believe that 18 national surveys by academics as well as national polling organizations show that there are 2 million defensive gun uses each year. After all, if these events were really happening, wouldn't we hear about them on the news? Yet when was the last time you saw a story on the national evening news (or even the local news) about a citizen using a gun to stop a crime? ABC"™s and NBC"™s news coverage continued this pattern, but at least some CBS and CNN news reports provided some balance and Fox News"™ website also gave the full story.
This misreporting actually endangers people's lives. By selectively reporting the news and turning a defensive gun use story into one that merely says "police shot him dead," the media give misleading impressions of what actions saved the lives of people confronted by violence. As Wilson's case demonstrates, defensive gun use is not a guns-rights myth. Guns have been and are used by law abiding citizens to protect and save their own lives and the lives of others.
A few things here: It's amazing to read a story like this condoning the right to bear arms. It's not surprising that the media has attempted to hide stories of heros stopping gun violence with guns.
And lastly, would you step into a situation that had nothing to do with defending yourself in order to defend innocent people as did Wilson?
__________________
We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a civilization, it expects what never was and what never will be.
A few things here: It's amazing to read a story like this condoning the right to bear arms. It's not surprising that the media has attempted to hide stories of heros stopping gun violence with guns.
Terrific article...it's about time!
Quote:
And lastly, would you step into a situation that had nothing to do with defending yourself in order to defend innocent people as did Wilson?
Yes, I probably would. When I holster up, I always spend a moment wondering if today's the day. To be perfectly honest, the thought of getting into a gunfight scares the crap out of me. I don't want to die at the hands of some criminal or lunatic. But we can't always pick and choose what situations we find ourselves in. I spend a fair amount of time practicing for the worst case scenario, both physically and mentally. I just hope it's an insurance policy I never have to claim.
Whatever happens, I don't think I could just crouch and watch innocent people die. There comes a time when enough is enough, and something has to be done about it. I hope every other carrier feels the same way. We cannot allow thugs and murderers to victimize us at will.
Thanks for the post, bob. Nice article. I will be taking my concealed carry class in April sponsored by our Second Amendment Student Society. I don't own a pistol, but plan to in the near future. I doubt I will carry one much, but I would like to keep one in the pickup.
Quote:
And lastly, would you step into a situation that had nothing to do with defending yourself in order to defend innocent people as did Wilson?
I would jump at the chance to take out an armed criminal. I have confidence in my abilities and have always wondered how I would perform at showtime if the need ever arises.
__________________
You may beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride!
Yes, I probably would. When I holster up, I always spend a moment wondering if today's the day. To be perfectly honest, the thought of getting into a gunfight scares the crap out of me. I don't want to die at the hands of some criminal or lunatic. But we can't always pick and choose what situations we find ourselves in. I spend a fair amount of time practicing for the worst case scenario, both physically and mentally. I just hope it's an insurance policy I never have to claim.
Whatever happens, I don't think I could just crouch and watch innocent people die. There comes a time when enough is enough, and something has to be done about it. I hope every other carrier feels the same way. We cannot allow thugs and murderers to victimize us at will.
Aught, Very well stated......
As a single mother that has my CCW I feel the same way..if any individual carries or even has a weapon for self defense in their home IMHO it is a mental drill that has to be done all of the time. I am not talking about being obsessed with it....just being exceedingly aware of the responsibility and what you would do if confronted in any instance. To not do this would be counter productive IMO and irresponsible as a gun owner and as one that carries.....
Hmm...risk death to save innocent life, or survive through cowardice... that's a tough one. I guess I'd rather have my wife explain to my daughter that her daddy died trying to save someones life, than to try to explain to her why daddy is alive because I was a coward.
Unfortunately in our society today, many people would choose the cowards path because they are vain and selfish, feeling that their continued pathetic existance is more important than the life of any number of other innocent people.
I suggest that everyone reads the following essay, if they haven't already:
Wilson, a licensed concealed handgun permit holder, heard Arroyo"™s shots and saw the commotion from his apartment window. He grabbed a handgun and headed toward the attacker.
The man was a Hero and I don't want to second guess what he did, but if I were in that apartment, I would have chose something a lot better than a handgun to bring to a rifle fight. Any rifle or a shotgun loaded with slugs would have stopped that fight on the first shot instead of just annoying the monster. Then again, its possible that Wilson didn't own anything or had anything available that was bigger than the handgun he used.
Me, I hope I would have had the intestinal fortitude to act, to grab the M1 off the rack and snap in a clip and go. I wasn't there so I couldn't say if I could have or would have done it.
__________________
Obamanfreude - 1. taking pleasure from the misfortunes of an Obama supporter as he or she is adversely affected by the policies of their Dear Leader.
This is not a question for only the CCW/CCL holders here. This man was in his home and left the safety of his home to intervene, in this case with a handgun. It could happen to anybody where an incident occurs within sight and hearing of our homes or on our way to the range, hunting or any other place and happen to have a weapon within reach.
I personnally hope I would have the courage to intervene, I think I would but until faced with a situation nobody really knows how they are going to react.
You really do have to train yourself , thinking through what and how you are going to respond and practicing even if only in your mind. A positive attitude and outlook where you enter a situation, any situation, and come out on top is one of the keys to survival.
This is not a question for only the CCW/CCL holders here. This man was in his home and left the safety of his home to intervene, in this case with a handgun. It could happen to anybody where an incident occurs within sight and hearing of our homes or on our way to the range, hunting or any other place and happen to have a weapon within reach.
I personnally hope I would have the courage to intervene, I think I would but until faced with a situation nobody really knows how they are going to react.
You really do have to train yourself , thinking through what and how you are going to respond and practicing even if only in your mind. A positive attitude and outlook where you enter a situation, any situation, and come out on top is one of the keys to survival.
Coastie, very well said. And yes, this does apply to everyone that lives in this country that has the right to keep and bear arms - my thoughts exactly. I would love to say that I am a big bad-azz gun-totin fearless beast, but that would be a lie. I get tic'd reading the news everyday of people that innocently get their lives stripped from them by the hands of a dirt-bag pshycho. I would love justice to be had in the streets, so I'm guessing that I would step in to take the perp down, but until faced with reality, it's only a thought at this point.
Nothing at all wrong with owning many choices of weapons, particularly high powered, big caliber stuff. Just as there is nothing wrong with practicing head shots either.
__________________
We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a civilization, it expects what never was and what never will be.
CCW Carriers.... would you step in to help?
