From: [self defense owner] at [shell.portal.com] Date: Fri, 8 Sep 1995 10:47:52 -0700 Sender: [self defense owner] at [shell.portal.com] Precedence: bulk Reply-To: "Richard L. Hartman" <[r l h] at [on-ramp.ior.com]> Followup-To: [self defense editors] at [shell.portal.com] WHAT: 92 Yr. Old Fends Off Burglar WHEN: Wednesday, 06 September 1995 WHERE: Wheatley Heights, Long Island REPORTED: New York Times DETAILS: 23 year old Eric Williams broke into a home in Wheatley Heights, pummelled the owner, and shoved him into a closet. Fortunately, that owner - a 92 year old, nearly deaf widower who lives alone - keeps a semiautomatic handgun in that closet. Conrad Schwarzkopf emerged from the closet and shot the criminal as he was still digging through the elderly man's belongings. Lt. James Maher, of Deer Park's First Squad Detectives, was quoted: "He is a cantankerous old guy, very hard of hearing, and he never heard anyone breaking in. But he was outraged that this guy had assaulted him and tried to take his stuff." After being shot, the criminal fled the scene but was found "bleeding in the street," according to police. He was charged with first-degree burglary and taken to the hospital with gunshots to the hand and chest. Schwarzkopf was treated for cuts and bruises, then released. James Brown, a former chief of the fire department where Schwarzkopf had been a past volunteer, said "He is a very thin, very old man, but he's got his wits about him. Between you and me, you could knock him over like nothing." "For his age, he is quite a guy," echoed Lt. Maher. "And that he was able to succeed in stopping a burglar is even more unusual." COMMENTS: Here is a classic example of why firearms are often called "equalizers." By himself, a frail, 92 year old man is no match for a 23 year old criminal, just as a young woman is often no match for a rapist. But a PREPARED 92 year old man - or a PREPARED young woman - properly armed with a handgun, can deter, stop, and in many cases PREVENT these criminal acts from becoming even more tragic. Don't overlook the fact that the victim owned a *semiautomatic* handgun. The word "semiautomatic" has recently been demonized by gun-grabbing, but ignorant, politicians and special-interest groups. They conveniently forget to mention that semiautomatic firearms have less recoil than other types, which makes them particularly suitable for women, the elderly, the handicapped, and anyone else for whom recoil could be objectionable. Instead, it seems, the gun-grabbing politicians and special-interest groups feel that more raped women, more beaten college students, and more closet-stuffed seniors are an acceptable alternative. One wonders if Mr. Schwarzkopf would agree with them. Richard L. Hartman Spokane WA USA