From: [s--rb--k] at [galaxy.ucr.edu] (aaron greewnood) Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton,alt.rush-limbaugh,talk.politics.misc,alt.feminism,soc.women,alt.president.clinton Subject: Re: Armed Citizen - 1992 Date: 9 Feb 1994 18:00:37 -0800 Clipped from talk.politics.guns and reposted to groups where discussiong of gun control is going on. In article <2jb2ir$[7--3] at [dazixca.dazixca.ingr.com]>, Ron Phillips <[c r philli] at [hound.edaca.ingr.com]> wrote: THE ARMED CITIZEN +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Studies indicate that firearms are used over 2 million times a year for personal protection, and that presence of a firearm, without a shot being fired, prevents crime in many instances. Shooting usually can be justified only where crime constitutes an immediate, imminent threat to life or limb, or, in some cases, property. Anyone is free to quote or reproduce these accounts. Send clippings to: "The Armed Citizen," 11250 Waples Mill Rd., Fairfax, VA 22030. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ARMED CITIZEN - JANUARY 1992 ===================================================================== An armed robber was preparing to handcuff Astoria, New York, shopkeeper Robert Knight when Knight seized the opportunity to act. Stooping down, he pulled a pistol from an ankle holster. Both men fired at the same time, but Knight, who has a license for the gun, hit his target, seriously wounding him. (The Daily News, New York City, NY, 09/21/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== As her husband grappled with one of two men who tried to rob their rural Albert, Alabama, store, Menda Pettway picked up a pistol the couple keeps for protection. Firing a single shot, she hit her husband's assailant in the leg, stopping the attack. The man and his confederate fled, but were later apprehended by police. "We're so far away from the law that it's usually up to us to protect our own businesses," a neighbor said. (The Advertiser, Montgomery, AL, 10/12/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Her family taken hostage by her daughter's ex-boyfriend, Barbara Holt of Kearns, Utah, and her husband were threatened with death, then forced into the bathroom of their home. When the man, armed with a rifle, went into the kitchen with her daughter, Holt slipped into the bedroom and got her .22 pistol. "I was hiding in the corner and when he came out of the kitchen, I just pulled the trigger," Holt said. Her single shot hit the man in the head and stopped the attack. (The Tribune, Salt Lake City, UT, 10/21/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== John Hercules was working at his Nashville, Tennessee, jewelry store when two teenagers entered, displayed a gun and attempted to rob the business. When Hercules confronted the pair, one shot him in the shoulder. Hercules returned fire and fatally wounded his attacker. The other robber fled but was arrested soon after. Police said he confessed to several other robberies. (The Banner, Nashville, TN, 09/12/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Two men and a woman intent on burglarizing a Cowan, Indiana, home never got inside after they saw what was behind door number one. When the trio kicked the door down, the homeowner was waiting for them with a loaded shotgun, and informed them he would use it if they entered. The three fled, but two suspects were later captured by police. (The Star, Muncie, IN, 10/10/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== William DeMar was at the Riviera Beach, Florida, service station where he works when he noticed two men holding a gun on his boss, Dave Bowers, and Bowers' father. Drawing the handgun he keeps at the garage, DeMar opened fire on the pair, wounding one and stopping the robbery. The wounded man drove away but was later arrested. The other robber also tried to flee, but Bowers grabbed his own pistol and captured the man a short distance away. (The Post, Palm Beach, FL, 09/13/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Awakened by his five-year-old daughter, who told him a window had fallen out in her room, Darryl Padgett picked up a flashlight but abandoned it for a .22 rifle when a man came through the window. When his order to halt was ignored, Padgett shot the man twice and waited until police showed up to arrest the intruder. "I've taken care of my family all my life," Padgett said. "The old ways are the best ways." (The Californian, Bakersfield, CA, 10/12/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== When John Graves, 81, of Greensboro, North Carolina, took the trash out at night, he also took a pistol. He needed it one evening when someone grabbed him. Noticing the would-be robber had two accomplices, Graves pulled his pistol and shot and wounded the teenager. "All the evidence showed that he ... was defending himself," the local prosecutor said. (The News & Record, Greensboro, NC, 09/20/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== When a car pulled into the driveway of a vacant house across the street, Sara Lott of Salley, South Carolina, picked up a pistol and, along with a friend, went to investigate. The man in the car told Lott he was waiting for his girlfriend, but she recognized the car as having been stolen from a neighbor's home. Lott held the man, recently released from prison, at gunpoint for police. (The State, Columbia, SC, 10/03/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== A 44-year-old San Francisco woman, allegedly raped by a man who, despite a court order while awaiting trial, continued to harass and threaten her, found herself being pursued by the man while out for a drive early one morning. When he blocked her car with his own, got our and pulled a gun, the woman pulled her own pistol and, firing through the windshield of her car, shot and mortally wounded her assailant. (The Chronicle, San Francisco, CA, 09/15/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Anwan Farrooq was behind the counter of his Richmond, Virginia, convenience store when three men entered. As two approached the counter with beer, the third pulled a handgun and opened fire. Hit in the chest by one of the bullets, Farrooq was saved by his steel lined flak jacket. Pulling his own pistol, Farrooq mortally wounded the gunman and wounded one of the accomplices. The third fled. Farrooq began wearing the armored vest when a friend was robbed. (The News Leader, Richmond, VA, 10/10/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Lulah Lavery was home with her daughter at their Richford, Vermont, home when they heard the sounds of a forced entry. As her daughter phoned police, Lavery loaded a shotgun and went to investigate. Finding a man reaching through a broken backdoor window, Lavery fired a single blast. The man fled, but a wounded suspect was quickly apprehended. (The Messenger, St. Albans, VT, 10/11/91) ===================================================================== ARMED CITIZEN - MARCH 1992 ===================================================================== Thomas Terry of Anniston, Alabama, was eating in a local restaurant late one evening when several armed men came in and announced a robbery. As the robbers tried to herd everyone into a walk-in cooler, Terry tried to escape through a locked door but alerted the crooks to his presence. When one approached the table where he was hiding, Terry pulled his .45, killed that man in an exchange of shots and wounded his accomplice. A third criminal fled. (The Star, Anniston, AL, 12/18/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Alerted when she saw a strange car drive up and the occupants knock on the door, a 19-year-old woman got a rifle and hid in a bedroom closet. When the men broke through a cellar door and entered the bedroom, she stepped out of the closet, trained the gun on them and ordered them out. They fled. (The Lawrence County Advocate, Lawrence, TN, 12/18/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Listening in on a police radio, Ron Sisk heard a police chase proceed through his community of Cottonwood, Arizona. When the suspect's stolen truck crashed into a car Sisk was following and he began to run, Sisk grabbed his gun and held the man for police. The fugitive was wanted on felony charges ranging from armed robbery to attempted murder committed during a week-long, two-state spree. (The Journal Extra, Cottonwood, AZ, 12/05/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Dennis Brown of Atlanta, Georgia,--featured in the January 1991 "Armed Citizen"--recently killed a second thug at the Atlanta, Georgia hotel where he works. Brown and a co-worker went to investigate an activated car alarm in the parking lot and brought a suspect back into the office. When he pulled a pistol and opened fire, both hotel employees returned the favor with their own guns, kill the gunman. (The Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, GA, 11/03/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Describing her attacker as a man who had once been "one of the family," Juliette Blackmon, 81, of Kansas City, Missouri, was forced to take action when he tried to rob them. After asking to use the bathroom, the man instead grabbed a knife from the kitchen and threatened her and her husband, Elliot. Elliot picked up a pistol from the bedroom, however, and passed it to his wife. Firing twice, she killed the man. "I had to do it," she said. "I'm a Christian woman, but we have to have protection." (The Star, Kansas City, MO, 10/24/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== His store burglarized twice in a week, Denis Picard of Lewiston, Maine, was on hand for the third attempt. When he heard the door to the business being broken down, Picard got a shotgun and investigated. Finding a man pawing through a gun case, Picard ordered him to stop. When the intruder instead started to advance, Picard helped him make up his mind with a warning blast, then held him for police. (The Sun-Journal, Lewiston, ME, 10/09/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== After watching two men kicking open the door to her home in a burglary attempt, a Kingwood, Texas, woman picked up a pistol and fired several shots, scaring them off. Police and local residents then conducted a manhunt to capture the pair, who police suspect in numerous other "kick" burglaries in the area. (The Echo, Houston, TX, 10/23/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Sweeping the walk in front of his Norristown, Pennsylvania, restaurant, Long Som heard his 10-year-old daughter screaming. Som pulled a pistol, for which he has a permit, and ran to where she had been loading boxes in the car, to find a man trying to carry her away. Deciding Som was serious after the businessman fired several shots in the air, the attacker dropped the girl and ran away. (The Times Herald, Norristown, PA, 12/16/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Delwin Smith was ready when two armed teenagers went on a crime spree which left one Houston, Alaska, resident wounded. After eluding the police, the teens broke into a home and struggled with the owner but fled into the woods after a shotgun one was carrying went off and wounded the man. Smith, knowing their location from bulletins on his police radio, was waiting when they emerged from the brush and held them at shotgun point until police arrived. (The Daily News, Anchorage, AK, 12/14/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== After their son received several death threats, an Everett, Washington, couple arranged for an armed neighbor to be at their home when the boy arrived from school. When the man--a suspect in several sexual assaults on children--broke into the home, the neighbor struggled with and shot him. The intruder fled, but was later apprehended by police. (The Herald, Everett, WA, 12/19/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Citizens of Ivor, Virginia, turned out in force when two men robbed the local bank. After their car crashed while fleeing from police, the duo fled into a wooded area. Local residents immediately armed themselves and, along with police, surrounded the woods. The pair surrendered to a volunteer and an officer the next morning. Said one local resident, "Here, the feeling is 'Hey, you've got my money.'" (The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, VA, 10/20/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Two handgun-toting teenagers probably got the shocks of their lives when they attempted to rob a gas station in Richmond, Indiana--the clerk pulled his own gun and shot at them. Patrick Harding gave the duo money from the cash register, but when one of the youths threatened to shoot him, Harding pulled his own pistol and fired a single shot, which sent them running. (The Palladium-Item, Richmond, IN, 11/21/91) ===================================================================== ARMED CITIZEN - APRIL 1992 ===================================================================== A Birmingham, Alabama pharmacist was behind the counter of his store when a man brought an item to the counter and, instead of paying, began rifling the cash drawer. Told to stop, the robber instead threatened the druggist and acted as if he had a concealed weapon. The man received a mortal wound when the pharmacist fired his own gun. (The Post-Herald, Birmingham, AL, 01/09/92) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Asleep at home one morning, Rev. Joel Yarber, a Baptist minister in Memphis, Tennessee, awoke to someone knocking on the door and then heard sounds inside the house. Picking up a pistol and investigating, Yarber found a man attempting to steal a VCR. When threatened with a tire iron, Yarber fired four shots, mortally wounding the intruder. Police said the man entered the home by kicking in a door, and got there in a stolen car. (The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, 02/07/92) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Arriving at their Vallejo, California, check-cashing store, Charles Davenport and his wife were confronted by a handgun-wielding man who ordered them into the store. Davenport grabbed his own gun from his car and drove the man off in an exchange of shots. An apparent accomplice also fired, but fled when Davenport fired at him. Police apprehended three suspects a short time later. (The Times-Herald, Vallejo, CA, 12/24/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== The only thing between her children and the man breaking into her home was a shotgun, and a Flint, Michigan, woman took full advantage of the fact that she was armed. As the intruder broke through the door, the woman hid her two children under a table, knelt in front of it, and when he entered the room, fired several blasts from the pump gun. The wounded prison parolee fled, but police apprehended him by following a trail of blood. (The Journal, Flint MI, 01/10/92) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Herman Moser's World War II Navy marksmanship training came in handy when a man tried to rob his jewelry store in the Chinatown section of New York City. Moser, 71, was at the shop with his grandson and another man when the armed robber entered. When the robber ordered them into the shop's bathroom, Moser, fearing for their lives, pulled his licensed handgun, fired and killed the man. "It still came to me, the steady, where to aim," Moser said. (The Times, New York, NY, 01/07/92) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Even though ill and wearing an oxygen mask, a homebreaker found that 74-year-old Lena Mae Pate of Oroville, California, was no pushover. When the man broke into her home and, despite warnings, continued to advance, Pate fired at him with her .38 revolver, putting him to flight. A wounded suspect--who had once worked for Pate--was arrested after seeking treatment. (The Bee, Sacramento, CA, 01/04/92) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Even though the three robbers who entered their St. Petersburg, Florida, pawnshop were holding them at gunpoint, David and Elizabeth Anderson were able to turn the situation around and come out on top. When Elizabeth and one of the thugs started to struggle and his gun went off, David pulled his own pistol and shot one robber, killing him, and with his wife held the other two for police, who said the three were apparently trying to steal guns. (The Times, St. Petersburg, FL, 01/18/92) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Linda Patterson was walking to her car in the parking lot of a Searcy, Arkansas, store a few days before Christmas when she saw a man holding a knife on a woman. Patterson pulled a revolver from her purse and yelled, "You had better think twice about what you are doing!" Seeing that she was armed, the would-be kidnapper fled. (The White River Journal, Des Arc, AR, 01/02/92) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== A would-be robber got a lesson in superior armament when he tried to rob the San Diego, California, liquor store where Majid Kachi works. When the man walked in a threatened him with a large knife, Kachi caught his arm with one hand and pulled a revolver from under the counter with the other, prompting the man to turn tail and run. "Mr. Kachi would have been quite legally justified in shooting the man who was threatening him and his business," a police spokesman said. (The Union, San Diego, CA, 11/17/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Only 11, a Talkeetna, Alaska, girl called on the firearms training her mother had given her when someone broke into her home early one morning. When she heard movement outside, then inside, the house, the girl got a shotgun and yelled, "I've got a loaded shotgun and if you don't get out of here right now, I'm going to blow your head off!" The intruder took the non-too-subtle hint and fled. (The Times, Anchorage, AK, 01/15/92) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Faced with greater odds and superior firepower, Atlanta, Georgia, grocer Nam Hoon Kim made his shots count when the four men who had just taken money from his store and held his wife at gunpoint started shooting. Kim grabbed his own gun and, in the exchange, killed one of his assailants and put the others to flight. Kim was not charged by police, and neither he not his wife were injured. (The Constitution, Atlanta, GA, 11/27/91) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Mary Lee and Samuel Carleton had just pulled up to their Terrytown, Louisiana, home when a man pointed a gun at Sam and demanded money. What the robber didn't know is that Mary Lee is a security guard and retired police officer. She fired a single shot from her own pistol, putting the crook and an accomplice to flight. (The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, LA, 02/05/92) ===================================================================== ARMED CITIZEN - MAY 1992 ================================================================= John Parker was alone in his Racine, Wis., tavern one evening when a pair of youthful gang members armed with sawed-off shotguns burst through the door. Parker grabbed a .357 Mag. from under the counter and, as one of the thugs fired a blast at him, unleashed four shots. Parker received a slight hand wound, but killed both of his assailants. Police said both youths had long police records, and the district attorney ruled that Parker acted in self-defense. (The Journal Times, Racine, Wis., 01/15/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Fed up with repeated burglaries at the grocery store where he works as a clerk, Phil Holznagel of Spokane, Wash., decided to mount his own stake out. His plan paid off early one morning when two men broke into the store. Holznagel corralled one of the men in the store and held him at gun point for police. (Spokesman-Review and Chronicle, Spokane, Wash., 03/0l/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= His shadow proved to be the undoing for a St. Paul, Minn., house breaker. Asleep on the sofa, Bob McQuiston awakened to what he thought was one of his children upstairs. "I usually spot their little shadows when I'm downstairs...but this shadow just kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger," he said. McQuiston called police, grabbed his double-barrel shotgun and held the intruder for police. (The Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn., 03/01/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Robert Smith missed both, part of the Super bowl and being run down, but he did capture a man who attempted to burglarize his neighbor's truck. Smith grabbed his .38 and went to intervene when he noticed the man in the truck. When the criminal's accomplice tried to run him down, Smith fired two shots, causing the car to veer up over a curb and into a house. The driver fled, and Smith held the failed thief for police. (The Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, Okla., 01/28/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= BBs are no match for bullets, a young hoodlum found out when he attempted to rob a Brooklyn grocery store with a BB gun. When the youth entered the store brandishing the gun, the owner fired several shots with his licensed 9 mm, killing the thug. The store owner was not charged. (The Daily News, New York, N.Y., 03/11/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Hearing noises outside her Mission, Tex., home, 65-year- old Celia Munoz found a pair of house-breakers at work. They beat her, but she managed to break away and retrieved a .22 rifle. When one criminal lunged at her, she put them to flight with a single shot. Police later arrested two suspects, one with a hand wound. "I am never gonna be without a gun," she said. "If anybody is kicking my door down, you better watch out." (The Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, Tex., 03/14/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= A clerk working the graveyard shift alone at a Wilco, Va., service station unlocked the door to let in what appeared to be a customer. Once inside, however, the "customer" pulled a lug wrench from under his coat and demanded money. The clerk responded by pulling a .32 automatic, which convinced the would- be robber to flee. ( The News & Advance, Lynchburg, Va., 01/20/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Charles O'Brien started spending nights in his Plano, Tex., store after a November burglary. Awakened one evening by the sounds of breaking glass next door, O'Brien picked up a pistol, investigated and found two juveniles holding bags. A 10- year-old ran off, but O'Brien held the 16-year-old for police, who found the boy was armed with a pistol taken in the earlier entry. (The Star Courier, Plano, Tex., 01/09/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= A dentist by trade, Fred Sickles recently branched out by capturing two men who attempted to burglarize his home. Sickles was eating breakfast with his wife when the men started pounding on the doors. "We had a good idea why they were here, so we just sat quietly and waited, "Sickles said. Scared off by an alarm after they broke down the back door, the men found Sickles waiting for them at their car with a loaded shotgun. He fired a warning blast and held the pair for police. (The Times, Kenton, Ohio, 02/24/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Ernie Smith was watching television in his Eugene, Oreg., home when he heard loud noises coming from his store next door. Looking through a peephole, Smith saw a man drop through a hole in the ceiling. Smith grabbed his shotgun, ran into the store and held the burglar for police. "Hey, I got to defend my wife and the house," Smith said. "And a loaded 12-ga. talks." (The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oreg., 01/14/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= An early-morning burglary attempt proved to be fatal when, instead of loot, the culprit found an armed homeowner. Mary Berry was awake because of an earlier burglary at her Louisville, Ky., home, and when she heard sounds of another forced entry, she called police. She was still on the phone when the man entered the kitchen, and Berry mortally wounded him with a single blast from her shotgun. (The Courier Journal, Louisville, Ky., 03/07/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Hugh Davitt of Scranton, Pa., stopped his car to talk to a group of teenagers after they snow balled his car. Instead of talking, the youths began to beat Davitt. After one of them sprayed him with Mace, David pulled his registered pistol and fired a single shot, wounding one of his assailants and stopping the attack. Authorities later said Davitt acted in self-defense and would not be charged. (The Tribute, Scranton, Pa., 03/10/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Wearing a mask and armed with a sawed-off shotgun, a man bent on robbery entered Reid's Mart in Hubert, N.C., just as owner Steve Reid was closing for the night. Reid at first thought it was a joke, but when it became evident that the gunman meant business, Reid pulled his 9 mm from his back pocket and fired a single shot, striking the crook in the chest, killing him. (The Daily News, Jacksonville, N.C., 03/25/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Odell Smith, Jr., a Birmingham, Ala., cabbie, picked up two men who turned out to be armed robbers. When the man in the back seat held a gun to his head and demanded money, Smith grabbed his .38, spun in the driver's seat and fired three shots, killing the gunman and then wounding his accomplice. (The News, Birmingham, Ala., 04/10/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Napping in her rural Mission, Tex., home with her two children, Vanessa Cooper heard a car pull up, and, looking out the window, saw an unfamiliar car in the driveway. Fearing for the safety of her children, Cooper picked up a pistol and went to investigate. She found a man in the living room, and when he ignored her questions on why he was there and lunged at her, Cooper fired, killing the intruder. (The Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, Tex., 03/13/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= When his stepfather began beating a 16-year-old Kalispell, Mont., youth's mother, the boy ordered him to stop. When the man---who had a history of alcohol-induced violence against the family---continued his attack, the teen got a rifle and shot and killed the man. "The boy clearly was justifiably concerned about the welfare of his mother and younger brother and sister when he shot," said the county attorney. (The Daily InterLake, Kalispell, Mont., 02/21/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Six burglaries in one week were enough for Todd Bridges, the manager of several Wichita, Kans., muffler shops. Armed with his AR-15, his late-night stakeout was rewarded when a man forced his way into the shop Bridges was guarding. Bridges ordered the man to halt, but when the burglar began running toward the back of the shop, fired three shots, hitting him once, "I didn't want him to get back there and start taking shots at me," said Bridges. (The Eagle, Wichita, Kans., 03/27/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= David Shanley was content to let the two men who had taken money from the register of his liquor store flee until one pulled a gun and threatened to kill him. When that happened, Shanley, a former New York City police officer, drew his own gun and opened fire, wounding both robbers. Both fled but were apprehended by police while seeking medical treatment for their wounds. (The Newsday, Long Island, N.Y., 04/10/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Ron Simpson carries a gun on the job as a midnight-shift service station attendant in Aurora, Ill. He needed it recently- for a third time in 18 months-when a man walked in, pretended to have a gun and demanded money from the register. When the robber dropped his guard, Simpson pulled his 9 mm pistol and held him for police. "The gun's not there to protect the store; it's purely to protect me," Simpson said. (The Beacon, Aurora, Ill., 04/23/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Covering the rioting in Atlanta, Ga., that followed the Rodney King jury verdict in Los Angeles, a TV-news team found themselves the targets of the mob. They were rescued when Garnett Sumpter, the husband of one of their coworkers, happened onto the scene. Drawing his licensed pistol, Sumpter convinced the mob to go elsewhere. (The Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, Ga., 05/5/92) ================================================================= ARMED CITIZEN - JUNE 1992 ================================================================= Vincent McCarthy wasn't afraid to lend a hand when he noticed a police officer struggling with a man and woman at the side of the road. He tried to help subdue the man, who was kicking the officer in the face. Despite McCarthy's warnings, when the man pressed his assault, the tour boat captain shot him once in the leg with a pistol he is licensed to carry and stopped the attack. Neither the officer nor McCarthy were seriously injured. (The Daily Commercial, Leesburg, Fla., 04/10/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= T.J. Namen credits his insomnia with helping him nab two teens who were breaking into cars in the lot of the Anchorage, Alaska apartment building he manages. Getting a pistol and sneaking outside after noticing the two, Namen waited until he heard breaking glass, then jumped up, announced that he was armed and held them for the police. (The Daily News, Anchorage, Alaska, 03/31/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Jack Arnold, 81, thought he had escaped the gang violence of his North Richmond, Calif., home, when he moved into his motor home and parked it outside of the city. He was apparently the target of random violence, however, when a man carrying a knife burst through the door one evening. After being threatened and struck, Arnold grabbed a 12-ga. and killed the intruder with a single blast. (Daily Ledger/Post Dispatch, Pittsburg, Calif., 03/05/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Peter DelFranco, owner of a Bridgeport, Conn., pizza shop, ordered a man out of the store after he tried to get change for a roll of "dimes" actually containing pennies. Instead of leaving, the man stepped behind the counter, feigned having a gun and started taking money from the cash register. DelFranco fired a single shot from his pistol, putting the man to flight. A wounded suspect was found nearby. (The Post, Bridgeport, Conn., 01/15/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Mike Court was finishing his day's work by making a bank run for the Tampa, Fla., store where he works. As he prepared to make the deposit, a robber stepped up and demanded the money. Instead, Court pulled his own .380 and, after a short discussion, the two began to shoot it out. The exchange ended when Court wounded the criminal. "If I'd given him the money, who's to say he wouldn't have shot me anyway," Court pondered. (The Times, St. Petersburg, Fla., 02/20/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Apparently intent on burglary, two hoods cut the phone lines to Floris Gold's Cape Ferrelo, Oreg., home. They were busy forcing their way into the basement when confronted by the 72- year-old-home-owner, but fled when they noticed she was carrying a shotgun. One fired a shot as he was running---missing Gold--- which earned him a charge of attempted murder when police caught up with him and his accomplice a short time later. (The Curry Coastal Pilot, Brookings, Oreg., 02/12/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Increased crime prompted Angelo Accurso to get a permit to keep a gun in his buffalo, N.Y., market. He put it to good use when a man walked in one morning and began to beat him with a piece of pipe. Although seriously injured, Accurso managed to pull his pistol and loosed several shots. Severely wounded, Accurso's attacker staggered from the store and collapsed on the street. (The News, Buffalo, N.Y., 04/03/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= After entering through an unlocked back door of an Alcolu, S.C., woman's home, a male intruder put an extension cord around the woman's neck and told her not to scream. Thinking quickly, the woman fell to the floor and grabbed a rifle kept under the couch, prompting her attacker to flee. (The Item, Sumter, S.C., 02/8/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Even though Pizza Hut has a policy against drivers carrying firearms, a Pensacola, Fla., delivery man decided his own safety was more important than company policy and took his pistol with him. He needed it one evening when three criminals tried to rob him. Making the delivery, the man decided he didn't like what he saw. Telling the trio he was getting their drinks, he instead got his 9 mm. When one of the group yelled "Die!" and fired a shot, the delivery man ducked behind his car and returned fire, driving them away. A company official later said the man would keep his job. (The News Journal, Pensacola, Fla., 01/29/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= A would-be armed robber found it never pays to bring a knife to a gunfight when he vaulted a counter in Walter Krasowski's Chicago coin shop and slashed him with a butcher's knife. Krasowski pulled a .45 revolver, fired and wounded his assailant twice. The man fled, with Krasowski in pursuit. Police found the man lying in the street, with Krasowski holding him at gunpoint. (The Daily Southtown Economist, Chicago, Ill., 03/20/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= James Summey of Lincolnton, N.C., got the drop on two men who had broken into his son's home and was holding them at gunpoint while his wife phoned police. He almost made a fatal mistake, however, when he agreed to let one of the house breakers get a cigarette. Instead of tobacco, the man came up with a .25 semi-automatic pistol and fired several shots at Summey; all missed. Summey returned fire with his .44 Mag., prompting the gunman to cease hostilities and wait quietly for police. His accomplice fled, but turned himself in soon after. "If Mr. Summey had wanted to harm one of them, he could have really done it," a detective later said. (The Lincoln Times-News, Lincolnton, N.C., 02/19/92) ================================================================= ARMED CITIZEN - AUGUST 1992 ================================================================= Witnessing two women being repeatedly stabbed in front of his bicycle shop in Baltimore, Md., Sandy Mandel grabbed his licensed .45 and went to intervene. He chased the knife-wielding assailant for a block, but when the attacker turned and raised his knife, Mandel fired a single shot, wounding him. (The Sun, Baltimore, Md., 05/15/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= After finding money missing from her Kennewick, Wash., tavern, Carol Mae hodgins decided to start spending nights in the business. Alerted when the phone began to ring, Hodgins and a friend---both armed with .357s---were ready when a former employee used a key to open the door. After he took money from several games in the bar, Hodgins---a former security guard--- held him for police. (The Tri-Cities Herald, Kennewick, Wash., 04/11/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= His wife awakened by the sound of breaking glass outside their Arlington, Tex., apartment, NRA member Jim Newton grabbed his AR-15. Outside he found two men trying to steal his wife's car. Newton returned fire when one man shot at him, killing the gunman and putting his accomplice to flight. "It appears that he was definitely in fear of his life and that he fired in self- defense," a police detective said. A handgun found near the dead man had been fired twice, police said. (The Star-Telegram, Ft. Worth, Tex., 05/14/92 ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Stalking his former girl friend was a fatal mistake for a Memphis, Tenn., man after he kicked his way into her home for the second time in eight months. Not finding the woman at home, the intruder instead stabbed the woman's mother and Donzale Shelby, a family friend, with a kitchen knife. Although wounded, Shelby grabbed a gun and shot his attacker once in the chest, mortally wounding him. (The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn., 05/30/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= A convicted felon with a long police record pushed his luck too far when he attempted to rob the Charleston, S.C., area nightclub managed by Paul Thomas. Thomas and a female employee were locking up for the night when the armed robber grabbed the woman, held a gun to her head and forced them back inside. Thomas feigned a breathing problem, however, and when the gunman lowered his gun, Thomas whipped out a pistol and fired several shots, killing the man. (The Post and Courier, Charleston, S.C., 04/14/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Delivering pizzas in Syracuse, N.Y., early one morning, John MacDonald was accosted by two men who tried to steal the pies. MacDonald tried to keep hold of the pizza bag, but when one of the pair attacked him with a broomstick, MacDonald let go and drew his pistol. One man fled with the pizzas, but MacDonald gave the other a ride to the police station in his delivery car. He is licensed to carry, police said. (The Herald American, Syracuse, N.Y., 04/19/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Araina Thompson, beaten repeatedly by her former boyfriend, knew a court order would not keep her safe when he was released from jail, so she took the precaution of buying a pistol. When he showed up at her Bensalen, Pa., apartment, violating the court order for the third time, and began to beat her. Thompson got her pistol and shot and killed him. (The Trentonian, Trenton, N.J., 04/25/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Victimized by two previous burglaries at his Newport News, Va., home, Jonas Norris evened the score when the man returned for a third try. After entering the home via a window, the burglar's movements woke Norris, who fired several shots at him. The man fled, but a wounded suspect was apprehended while seeking medical treatment. (The Daily Press, Newport News, Va., 04/23/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Hearing screams near their Maple Rapids, Mich., home, Louis and Cindy Ward investigated and found a 65-lb. pit bull attacking an 11-year-old neighbor. As Cindy calmed the girl and distracted the dog into ceasing its attack, Louis grabbed a shot- gun. Hoping to draw the animal away, Louis picked up a stick and threw it, but when the dog came after him, Ward shot and killed it. Police credited Ward's actions with saving the girl's life. (The State Journal, Lansing, Mich., 04/19/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Driving to work, Macon, Ga., resident Joe Moody saw a couple who manage a local grocery being robbed by three armed, masked men. He paused nearby to tell a security guard to call police, then, with his .44 Mag., returned to the store. Gun in hand, he hopped out of his truck and ordered the trio of thugs to scram. They took the hint and fled. Police later arrested several suspects, all convicted felons. (The Telegraph, Macon, Ga., 04/21/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Mark Rigas was working in his Waldoboro, Maine, pizza shop one evening when a man walked in, waved a gun around and demanded money. Instead of complying, Rigas pulled his own gun-- which he keeps in the shop for just such an occasion--and called police. The would-be robber fled while Rigas was on the phone, but a suspect was soon arrested. "I work too hard for my money to let some guy rob me," said Rigas. (The Courier-Gazette, Rockland, Maine, 04/23/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Believing the burglars who took more than $20,000 in tools and motorcycles from his motorcycle shop in Jeffersonville, Ky., would return, Jim Beatty armed himself with a shotgun and waited. When two men broke into the shop, Beatty forced them back out again with several warning blasts. (The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky., 03/17/92) ================================================================= ARMED CITIZEN - SEPTEMBER 1992 ================================================================= David Plasters, a city councilman in Greeley, Colo., picked up his 9 mm and went to investigate when he heard noises at the rear of his home at 2:30 a.m.. In the kitchen, Plasters found a man entering through a window. Plasters ordered him to freeze, but the intruder ran though the house and out another window and escaped. (The Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colo., 06/17/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Two burglars casing a Wichita, Kans., residential area made the wrong choice when they broke into a home occupied by a woman and her great-grandmother. The two women fled the house and went to a neighbor's home. The neighbor grabbed his .357, interrupted the burglary and ordered the pair to surrender. They instead jumped in their car and fled as the neighbor fired six shots at them. Responding police soon arrested one suspect and recovered a large cache of stolen property. (The Eagle, Wichita, Kans., 05/14/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Kouman Lee was behind the counter of his Fontana, Calif., store when an armed robber came in and demanded money. As the man took cash from the register, Lee, the victim of several previous robberies, was able to reach a gun kept behind the counter and fired, hitting the robber. The wounded criminal fled, but was found at a local hospital. (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Ontario, Calif., 05/27/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Noticing his girl friend's garage in disarray, Lithonia, Ga., resident Orlando Sheppard got a pistol out of his truck. When he walked inside the house, he found two men there, one armed with a handgun. Both Sheppard and the intruder fired; the gunman---owner of several felony convictions---was mortally wounded. Sheppard, his girl friend and her young son escaped uninjured. The accomplice fled. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, Ga., 06/10/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Hearing glass breaking in his 75-year-old neighbor's backyard, Leonard Carralero, Jr., of Miami, Fla., got his shot- gun, investigated and found an intruder attempting to break into the woman's house. The stranger sprinted away, but Carralero caught up with him on the front yard. Carralero, thinking the man was reaching for what appeared to be a gun under his clothes, fired a single blast and mortally wounded the would-be burglar. Police said the dead man had a police record. (The Herald, Miami, Fla., 04/18/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Answering his telephone at 3 a.m., Bill Gross of Phoenix, Ariz., heard his next-door neighbor on the line, telling him someone was breaking into her apartment. Gross armed himself with a semi-auto, went outside and found a man trying to open the woman's front window. Gross ordered him to stop, but when the man turned and charged, he fired a shot which wounded the intruder. (The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Ariz., 04/30/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Stopped for a red light, Laura Huntington of Woodstock, Ga., suddenly found herself with an extra passenger in the car--- a man holding a razor to her throat. Following his directions, Huntington stopped the car on command, and seizing the moment, pulled her revolver. Her assailant wisely decided to flee. "I had already made up my mind I was going to use it," she said. (The Daily Journal, Marietta, Ga., 06/04/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Pensacola, Fla., area resident Jack Taylor was helping a friend fix his car when the pair were attacked by a man wielding a tree limb. Struck from behind, Taylor, a former deputy sheriff, pulled a pistol from his back pocket and shot at his attacker. The man and an accomplice fled, but a wounded suspect and a juvenile were later caught. (The News Journal, Pensacola, Fla., 06/12/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Walking through the woods in a state park in Wenatchee, Wash., Michael Vanney was horrified to see a cougar pounce on his five-year-old daughter Jessica. Armed only with a hunting knife, Vanney yelled for his wife to bring a handgun, then jumped on the cat, knocking it off the girl. When his wife arrived with the gun, Vanney fired two shots, treeing the cat, which was later captured and held in quarantine. Jessica suffered only minor scrapes in the attack, according to an Associated Press report. (The Tribune, Salt Lake City, Utah, 06/24/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= A vow of vengeance led only to a gunshot wound for a Houston, Tex., man after he stalked a female former coworker for six months. The woman, who had filed several complaints with police over the man's harassment, was in a grocery store parking lot when the stalker jumped into her car and tried to abduct her. When he did, the woman pulled a gun and fired, wounding him twice. (The Post, Houston, Tex., 06/03/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Gray Edge of Woodruff, S.C., tucked a pistol in the waistband of his pants when a smalltime criminal fleeing from police started pounding on the door to his home, demanding to use the phone. When Edge opened the door slightly to hand out a portable phone, the man forced his way inside and began to threaten Edge with a metal bar. Knocked off balance, Edge managed to pull his gun and fire, mortally wounding his assailant (The Herald-Journal, Spartanburg, S.C., 05/11/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Beth Smith of Hartselle, Ala., grabbed her pistol when her grandmother burst into the house, saying two men had invaded her home next door. In pursuit of the fleeing pair, Smith fired a warning shot, prompting one to drop to the ground. Smith held him for police. (The News Journal, Pensacola, Fla., 06/11/92) ================================================================= ARMED CITIZEN - OCTOBER 1992 ================================================================= Asleep in the apartment above his Brooklyn, N.Y., auto shop, Ezekial Witherspoon grabbed his licensed 9mm pistol when he awoke to the sounds of forced entry. In the ensuring confron- ation, Witherspoon shot and mortally wounded an intruder who had gained entry to the shop by smashing a window. Police did not charge Witherspoon, stating that the shooting appeared to be justified. (Newsday, New York, N.Y., 07/15/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= John Gibbs, a Jacksonville, Fla., volunteer reserve police officer, was using a car wash early one morning when a car with three men in it drove up and stopped nearby. When one of the occupants jumped out and pulled a gun, Gibbs countered with his own gun. In the short fight that ensued, Gibbs escaped harm while mortally wounding his assailant. The accomplices fled. Police said Gibbs apparently acted properly in shooting the man. (The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, Fla., 07/20/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= James Eldridge heard glass shattering and looked out his house window to see two men in his carry-out store lot. When one got a pillow case out of a car and the pair started for the store's front door, Eldridge got his shotgun and confronted them. One would-be burglar fled, but the store owner held the other until police came. (The News-Sun, Springfield, Ohio, 07/13/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Timothy Riley, a resident of Green, Ohio, is very popular with his neighbor. Hearing glass breaking next door, Riley armed himself with a shotgun and confronted two house breakers. The pair ran back inside, but surrendered when Riley ordered them out. Riley held them at gunpoint for police. "When those burglars saw the barrel of my shotgun, they laid down on the ground and got real peaceful." (The Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio, 06/09/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= An armed robber had successfully hit Kep Van Dang's Pensacola, Fla., store twice in a week, but pressed his luck too far when he tried a third time. Dang got a pistol after the second robbery, in which the criminal threatened to come back. When the robber returned and pointed a gun at Dang and a clerk, the storekeeper pulled his new .38 and fired several shots, halting the robbery and driving the man from the store. Police, who found a wounded suspect several blocks away, said Dang would not be charged. "We're going to keep that gun, it's our pro- tection," said Dang through an interpreter. (The News-Journal, Pensacola, Fla., 07/15/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Shoved aside by a strongarm thief who vaulted the counter and began looting the till, the clerk of a Bristol, Pa., convenience store simply pulled his licensed revolver and fired a single shot. The blast had the desired effect, driving the man from the store. (The Times, Trenton, N.J., 07/28/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Watching a house for a friend, Arthur and Annie Brown of Greenville, S.C., were ready when they found a trio of teenagers while checking the home. Noticing items out of place when they entered, the Browns had their pistols ready when they confronted the intruders. Mrs. Brown, 73, fired a warning shot from her gun, and together with her husband, held the three for police. "We both got our pistols because of previous break-ins," she told police. (The Piedomont, Greenville, S.C., 06/11/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Feeling uneasy about her only customer, a lone Palmdale, Calif., store clerk put herself within easy reach of the revolver she keeps in the store for protection. When the man exposed him- self and threatened to rape her, the clerk responded by firing a single shot from her .357 Mag., prompting the criminal to flee the store. (The Antelope Valley Press, Palmdale, Calif., 07/10/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= The owner of a lunch truck gave the burglar a chance to leave, but when the thief wouldn't comply, the Elizabeth, N.J. truck owner retrieved a shotgun, only to be confronted by the intruder carrying a machete. After a warning shot had no effect, the truck owner fired a blast that put the man to flight. Police arrested a wounded suspect two blocks away. (The Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J., 06/05/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= A would-be robber paid with his life when he tried the ultimate in stupid stunts---robbing a gun store at knife point. Edward Sarhan was working in the Miami, Fla., area shop when the man entered and demanded money. As employee Tony Milan wrestled with the knife-wielding assailant, Sarhan drew his .38 revolver and shot the man three times, killing him. (The Herald, Miami, Fla., 06/09/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Two self-described "feisty" senior citizens were more than a match for an armed intruder who entered their Ambridge, Pa., home, apparently intent on burglary. As the crook pointed a pistol at her, Jean Hankinson screamed for husband Melvin to get the shotgun. As Melvin grabbed for his scattergun, the thief ran downstairs and dove through the window. Police said he apparently took a set of car keys and the next night tried to take the Hankinson's car, but was again driven off. (The Beaver County times, Beaver, Pa., 07/13/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= When his dogs interrupted his morning shave, Tom Fletcher looked outside to see a man hiding behind a peach tree in his Juliette, Ga., yard. Fearing the man was a wanted fugitive, Fletcher, 76, picked up his pistol, went outside and captured the stranger. It turned out the man was wanted for the throat- slashing murder of a woman during a burglary and the stabbing of a motorist. (The Telegraph, Macon, Ga., 07/05/92) ================================================================= ARMED CITIZEN - NOVEMBER 1992 ================================================================= A pair of Las Vegas, Nev., carjackers learned that it's hard to practice your profession when the chosen victims are also armed. The pair approached a car parked outside a pizza shop, drew guns and announced the robbery, but the car's two occupants drew their own guns and opened fire. The two would-be robbers fled, but a wounded suspect and an accomplice were apprehended shortly after the incident. (The Review-Journal, Las Vegas, Nev., 08/18/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Hearing suspicious noises outside his home early one morning, a West Goshen, Pa., homeowner --- already on alert after his car had been stolen two months earlier --- picked up his 9 mm pistol and investigated. Outside he found two men loading his gas grill into their car. He ordered them to stop and held them at gunpoint for police. (The Daily Local News, West Chester, Pa., 09/01/91) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Working outside his father-in-law's restaurant, a Tacoma, Wash., man was informed by his wife that a group of armed and unruly teens was causing a disturbance in the eatery. When the group moved outside and one member threatened the Tacoman with a bottle, he fired a single shot from his pistol, wounding his attacker and putting a stop to the disturbance. The wounded man faces several charges, police said. (The Morning News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash., 07/29/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Feeling sympathy for an acquaintance with a hard-luck story, Gary Melton loaded the man $50. The man returned to Melton's store the next day, but not to repay the load. Threatening Melton --- who is confined to a wheelchair --- with a letter opener, the man demanded more money. Instead of complying, Melton pulled his pistol and shot the man to death. Police said the slaying was justified. The Times Dispatch, Richmond, Va., 08/28/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= William Stubbs was in his Hallsboro, N.C., store when a man walked in and started to beat him with a club. Stubbs feigned unconsciousness until his wife, hearing the commotion, walked in and was attacked. Stubbs --- who suffered several broken bones and cuts in the attack --- grabbed a pistol from a drawer and shot the man several times, killing him. Stubb's wife was also badly beaten in the attack. (The Sunday Star-News, Wilmington, N.C., 06/28/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= After successfully fighting off a would-be rapist while walking her dog, a Murray, Utah, woman, enraged over the incident, retrieved a pistol from her home and went hunting for the man. Finding him attempting to hitch a ride on a local highway, she held him at gunpoint until a passing motorist summoned police. (The Tribune, Salt Lake City, Utah, 08/06/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Stopped at a highway rest stop, Ray Cage of Justine, Tex., was returning to his truck when he was approached by two men. When one flashed a gun and ordered him out of the truck, Cage instead came up with his own gun and exchanged shots with the duo. Even though he was wounded in the hip, Cage drove his attackers off. Two suspects were later apprehended. (The Citizen, Keller, Tex., 08/04/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Charleston, S.C., resident Theodore Palmer returned home from work early one morning only to find a stranger in his bedroom. Queried as to what he wanted, the man instead advanced on Palmer, who retreated to the hallway and grabbed a rifle he keeps there. In a brief struggle for control of the gun, Palmer shot the intruder several times. He fled, but a wounded suspect was later apprehended. A police officer said burglars should consider being shot ... "an occupational hazard." (The Post & Courier, Charleston, S.C., 08/27/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Stocking a cooler in the store where she works, a Eufaula, Okla., woman was confronted by one of two men who entered the store. Turning, the woman saw the second man behind her, his pants down. She threw a case of beer at the second man and ran to the counter, the duo in pursuit. Getting a pistol kept in a drawer, she drove the men from the premises without firing a shot. (The News-Capital & Democrat, McAlester, Okla., 07/27/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Talking with several friends outside a York, Pa., restaurant, Barb Wallace was shocked to see one of her party randomly attacked. The two men sparred, but Wallace's friend was knocked to the ground and kicked, his cheekbone crushed. When the attacker turned his attention to Wallace --- who works as a prison guard --- she pulled her revolver. The man fled. (The Daily Record, York, Pa., 08/10/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Robbed at gunpoint, Dayton, Ohio, pizza-delivery man William Armour decided he should carry a gun on the job. Armour was sitting in his car when a man approached and put a pistol to his head. Reacting quickly, Armour grabbed his own pistol and fired a single shot, mortally wounding the would-be robber. Domino's Pizza, citing company policy forbidding drivers to carry guns, fired Armour. (The Daily News, Dayton, Ohio, 07/28/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= A history of domestic violence by a Mississippi man against his wife ended when he was shot to death by his son. When the man came home drunk and started to beat his wife with a base- ball bat, Chris Cayson of Plantersville, Miss., grabbed a rifle and fired four times, killing his father. Police, citing a history of abuse, said Cayson's actions saved his mother from serious injury or death. (The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Tupelo, Miss., 06/10/92) ================================================================= ARMED CITIZEN - DECEMBER 1992 ================================================================= "I suppose it was silly, but I was worried about my cats," said Corydon, Ind., resident Mary Setzer after she foiled a burglary at her home. Alerted to the break-in by a friend, Setzer arrived home to find the basement door forced open. She retrieved her revolver, found two teenagers in her basement and held them for police. Setzer immediately purchased a shotgun, saying "A pump gun makes a noise when you load the chamber. Most people when they hear that, they're not going to hang around." (The Courier Journal, Louisville, Ky., 06/02/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= World War II veteran William Marisak's best war story comes from the war against crime. While he was tending bar at his Brooklyn tavern, four armed robbers burst in and shot him twice. Marisak responded with his licensed .308, wounding one of the gunmen and putting the others to flight. "If I didn't have a gun, all of us would have been dead," he said. (Newsday, New York, N.Y., 09/13/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Panagiotis "Pete" Ioannidis thought he has left violence behind him when he moved from his native Greece --- where he battled Nazis and Communists --- to Providence, R.I. He was forced to take up arms again, however, when a man walked into his convenience store, pressed a knife to his wife's throat and demanded money. Ioannidis emerged from a back room, pulled his pistol and fired three shots, mortally wounding the robber. (The Journal-Bulletin, Providence, R.I., 09/29/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= A trio of strongarm robbers demanded money from James Tibbs and his son. When the Pueblo, Colo., residents refused, the crooks started throwing punches. The elder Tibbs pulled a pistol from his pocket and fired a warning shot, then fired for effect, when the criminals persisted, wounding two. (The Chieftain, Pueblo, Colo., 08/02/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Benny Taylor of Anniston, Ala., and his wife had been terrorized for years by a thug who regularly stole their Social Security money. When the criminal's attacks became increasingly violent, Taylor finally accepted the loan of a .38 from a friend. When the man showed up at the house again and kicked through the door, Taylor fired twice, killing him. "I didn't know what else to do," Taylor said. "This is my home." (The Star, Anniston, Ala., 09/09/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= While Clint Reynold's uncle tried to fend off a 600-lb grizzly with a rifle butt as it tried to climb through a window of the family's Central, Alaska, home, Reynolds, 14, jumped out of bed and loaded his .357 Mag. revolver. He rushed to the rescue, firing 15 shots at the bear, seven striking home, mortally wounding the marauding bruin. (The Daily News-Miner, Fairbanks, Alaska 07/22/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= A former boxer writing a crime novel did some first-hand research when he stopped a burglary in a crowded North Hollywood, Calif., coffee shop. A regular at the shop, Randy Shields was working on the story when two armed robbers burst in and fired several shots. Slightly wounded as he crawled behind a table, he came up firing when the bandits threaten to kill customers and employees. In the ensuring battle, Shields chased the men from the store. Two wounded suspects were later apprehended. (The Mercury News, San Jose, Calif., 09/21/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Steve Cartier thought he's subdued a deranged intruder with his 9mm pistol, but when his wife phoned Battle Ground, Oreg., police, the housebreaker lunged at her. After scuffling with the man, who ignored two warning shots, Cartier shot and killed him. The county prosecutor said he expected no charges to be filed against the homeowner. (The Oregonian, Portland, Oreg., 08/14/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= After losing nearly everything to Hurricane Andrew, Dade County, Fla., resident Bart Sanfillipo was serious when he put a sign in his front yard warning looters he would shoot. Sanfillipo, his wife and an insurance adjuster were tallying the damage when an armed bandit leaped from a van and fired a shotgun blast over their heads. Sanfillipo responded with his .44, hitting the young thug in the head at 30 ft. "Score one the good guys," a police detective said of the incident. (The Sun-Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 09/14/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= A Yonkers, N.Y., woman demurred when a stongarm robber demanded her purse as she was making a call at a public phone. She instead reached in the purse and came up with her licensed .38. The criminal fled empty-handed. (The Herald Statesman, Yonkers, N.Y., 08/06/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= A semi-automatic pistol provided protection the police couldn't for a New Orleans, La., area woman. After calling police to report a prowler outside her home, the woman got the gun, and when the intruder crept through the front door, shot him once in the neck, putting him to flight. A wounded suspect was apprehended minutes later. (The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, La., 07/22/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= An Upper Marlboro, Md., homeowner warned the intruder he was armed. But the housebreaker ignored the warning and charged up the stairs. The householder opened up with a .38 and killed him. (The Times, Washington, D.C., 09/02/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Two would-be burglars made a big blunder when they woke up the owner of a Mechanicsville, Md., home. When one shined a flashlight into the face of the sleeping 71-year-old man, he grabbed his shotgun and chased the duo from the home with several blasts. (The Enterprise, Lexington Park, Md., 08/21/92) =================================================================