From tribune.usask.ca!decwrl!ames!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!news.ingr.com!baggins.dazixco.ingr.com!dazixca.dazixca.ingr.com!hound.edaca.ingr.com!crphilli Fri Feb 11 08:52:10 1994 Path: tribune.usask.ca!decwrl!ames!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!news.ingr.com!baggins.dazixco.ingr.com!dazixca.dazixca.ingr.com!hound.edaca.ingr.com!crphilli From: crphilli@hound.edaca.ingr.com (Ron Phillips) Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns Subject: Armed Citizen - 1993 Date: 9 Feb 1994 16:22:22 GMT Organization: "Intergraph Electronics, Mountain View, CA" Lines: 1526 Distribution: usa Message-ID: <2jb2ju$723@dazixca.dazixca.ingr.com> Reply-To: crphilli@hound.edaca.ingr.com NNTP-Posting-Host: hound 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 1993 ================================================================= "I'm not the guy to shoot someone, but when a guy comes after you with an 18" pizza knife, you have to do something," said Brockton, Mass., restauranteur George Mouraditis. The pizza maker grabbed his licensed pistol and went to investigate when he heard breaking glass, and opened fire when the burglar brandished the knife. Police said the incident was a clear case of self defense and mounted a search for the wounded criminal. (The Enterprise, Brockton, Mass., 09/18/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= When a criminal quartet drew weapons and announced a robbery, Dorchester, Mass., storekeeper Paul Doung pulled two licensed semi-autos and, in a furious exchange, wounded one thug and drove all four from the store. After reviewing surveillance videotape, police ruled Doung legally defended himself and would face no charges. (The Globe, Boston, Mass., 08/18/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Working on his truck, Sammy Creech of Ruston, La., glanced across the street in time to see two male teenagers grab an elderly woman's purse. The duo jumped into a car---occupied by two female youths---and took off, with Creech in hot pursuit. The driver of the car eventually lost control and crashed into a parked car. Creech walked up to the car, but when he saw a gun on the floorboards, retreated to his truck, got a .38 and ordered the foursome, all runaways from New York, to wait for police. (The Daily Leader, Ruston, La., 10/05/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Answering a knock on the door of his Harrisburg, Pa., apartment, Tony Thompson was greeted by a man brandishing a gun. During the ensuing struggle between the homeowner and the masked gunman, Thompson was shot in the arm but managed to get his own gun and fire, killing his attacker. (The Evening News, Harrisburg, Pa., 10/27/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Supposedly looking for his keys, a man convinced Gary Harr, manager of a Mapleton, Ill., tavern, to let him into the business after closing. Once inside, the man shot Harr in the back four times. Critically wounded, Harr managed to stumble behind the counter, grab a revolver and kill his assailant with several shots. "He thought he could get something for nothing, but he got what he deserved," said John Pusser, owner of the bar and brother of the late Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser. (The Journal Star, Peoria, Ill., 09/19/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Up and about early one morning, a Salem, Wis., woman became suspicious when her dog began growling at something outside. Getting her revolver, she told her daughter to call police and then went out to look around. She found two men trying to take her Corvette from the garage and fired several shots to scare the men off. As they were running to their van, one thug returned fire, but missed. (The News, Kenosha, Wis., 11/07/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Alerted by noises from outside at 4 a.m., Mesa, Ariz., resident Thomas Winfield got his pistol, went to investigate and found a man trying to jimmy his car's ignition with a screwdriver. Winfield ordered the man from the car and was holding him for police, but then the man lunged, Winfield shot him once, mortally wounding him. (The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Ariz., 11/06/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= The target of a recent burglary, Willeen Lansberry was suspicious when she got several hang-up phone calls in one day. Hiding in her Niagra Falls, N.Y., apartment with her .38, her stakeout was rewarded when two teenagers forced open the door. Emerging from her hiding place, Lansberry held the pair for police. (The News, Buffalo, N.Y., 10/06/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= The would-be burglar who kicked in the font door of Sonya Poole's Lakeland, Fla., home, saw something he'll never forget; Poole aiming a .44 right between his eyes. Instead of shooting the intruder, Poole fired several warning shots, chasing him and an accomplice from the resident. While Poole called police, a lawn-care worker saw one of the fleeing men, followed him and called police on a portable phone when the man hid in a nearby store. (The Ledger, Lakeland, Fla., 08/14/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Two men were discussing gold bracelets in a New Rochelle, N.Y., jewelry store when they announced a robbery and drew pistols. They found themselves the targets of a withering hail of fire laid down by store owner Joseph Soares, who used three firearms, all registered, to halt the robbery and kill one of the pistol-wielding thugs. A local district attorney said it appeared that Soares acted justifiably in self-defense. (The Standard-Star, New Rochelle, N.Y., 08/27/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Nervous because three men in a passing car were staring at her, a Lancaster, Calif., woman got a pistol from her stranded car and loaded it. Her precaution proved warranted when the men returned and demanded money. Aiming her gun, she ordered the trio to leave, which they hastily did. (The Antelope Valley Press, Lancaster, Calif., 11/06/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Two teenage girls were asleep at the one's Bakersfield, Calif., home when two armed, masked men kicked their way in through the door, confronted the young woman and demanded money. When one grabbed a wallet, one girl, a guest in the home, grabbed a 9mm and opened fire, mortally wounding one of the invaders. The other escaped. Police said the girl would not face charges. (The Californian, Bakersfield, Calif., 09/21/92) ================================================================= ARMED CITIZEN - FEBRUARY 1993 ================================================================= Sue Atkins had vowed not to be the victim of a robbery again, and made good on her promise when a robber walked into the Durham, N.C., Western Union office where she works, said he had a gun and demanded money. What he got was an arm wound from Atkin's pistol. He ran, but police caught up with him nearby. "The threat of a weapon is the same thing as armed robbery in North Carolina," said a police officer. (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., 11/03/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= A coordinated armed robbery attempt at a Barrington, R.I., jewelry store backfired when the robber met an armed citizen. Owner George Gray was on the phone when the armed man entered. When Gray yelled into the phone for help, the crook fired at him but missed. Gray then returned fire, killing his attacker. Police said the dead man had a long police record, adding that Gray acted in self-defense. (The Journal-Bulletin, Providence, R.I., 09/10/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Jessie Bishop was rudely awakened when an intruder tried to climb through the window of her Phoenix, Ariz., home. Bishop warned the man she was going to call police, but when he continued to climb through the window, she fired a single shot from her revolver, fatally wounding him. (The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Ariz., 11/15/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Getting cigarettes for his "customer," Trung Thach, manager of a San Antonio, Tex., convenience store, turned back to find him holding a gun. Thach complied with the man's demands for money by reaching into the till with his right hand, but pulled a 9mm from under the counter with his left and fired twice, mortally wounding the robber. Police, noting the robber's "gun" was a realistic-looking toy, said Thach was justified in firing. (The Light, San Antonio, Tex., 10/19/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Nathaniel Womack tried to ignore the late-night pounding on the door of his Lynchburg, Va., home, hoping the visitor would go away. When a prowler broke down the door and barged into his bedroom, however, Womack shot him in the face and put him to flight. A wounded suspect was apprehended a short time later. (The News & Daily Advance, Lynchburg, Va., 09/11/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Gail Meadows, a columnist for the anti-gun Miami Herald, got a firsthand look at crime and what armed citizens can do to prevent it when her car was rammed by another near her home. Four thugs swarmed her car and were trying to rob her when--alerted by Meadows beeping her horn--her neighbors came to the rescue. One man, armed with a shotgun, wounded one attacker and drove off the others. (The Herald, Miami, Fla., 10/28/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Jacksonville, Fla., resident David Pierce capitalized on an unusual opportunity while driving home one afternoon --- he recovered his stolen truck. Taken along with over $12,000 in tools and cash in a nighttime theft at his home, the truck pulled up beside Pierce at an intersection about three weeks later. Pierce grabbed his .357 revolver, ordered two men from the truck and held them for police, who lodged several charges agains the pair. (The Florida times-Union, Jacksonville, Fla., 10/29/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Hearing noises from his father's grocery store next door early one morning, Hickory, La., resident Bruce Bennett peered through his window and saw a man banging on the side door of the business. Bennett got his gun and found the man trying to break through the front door. Bennett held him at gunpoint until police arrived. (The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, La., 11/05/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= James Brown didn't hesitate in becoming involved when he saw a man being robbed and assaulted by several gun-toting thugs outside a Covina, Calif., bank. Brown chased one of the group who was carrying two bags full of money. When the robber turned and fired two shots at him at a distance of 200 ft. and missed, Brown returned fire and wounded the gunman in the stomach. Brown then held the man for police, who later arrested his accomplice. (The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, West Covina, Calif., 10/31/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= An East Long Beach, Calif., man pushed his luck too far when he apparently tried to break into the same house twice in 10 days. Hearing sounds near his front door, resident George Doolittle grabbed his handgun and went to investigate. When he got into the front hall, Doolittle saw the man coming through the front door. Doolittle fired two times, wounded the intruder and held him for police. (The Press-Telegram, Long Beach, Calif., 10/07/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Police scored an easy collar after an Erie, Pa., homeowner heard a break-in, called police and then grabbed his rifle. Confronting the intruder, the homeowner forced him to retreat outside, right into the handcuffs of arriving officers. (The Daily Times., Erie, Pa., 10/22/92) ================================================================= - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================= Billy Sisson and two fellow elk hunters had stopped for gas at a Grande Ronde, Oreg., market, when a man witnesses described as possibly drunk or on drugs approached and started an argument. After a terse exchange with the hunters, he began threatening the trio with a revolver. Sisson retrieved his .30-'06 and fired a single shot, mortally wounding the man; police said he had a lengthy arrest record. (The Statesman Journal, Salem, Oreg., 11/17/92) ================================================================= ARMED CITIZEN - MARCH 1993 ================================================================== Charlie Mikos of Bensalem, Pa., had just gone to bed when he was roused by his daughter's screams and the sounds of a struggle. Running downstairs, he found a man holding what later turned out to be a stun gun to her head. Grabbing his pistol, Mikos trained it on the man, convinced him to cease his assault and held him for police. (The Bucks County Courier Times, Levittown, Pa., 11/06/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== When he heard his dog barking early one morning, Willie Wilson of Winston-Salem, N.C., grabbed his rifle, went onto his front porch to investigate and found a man rummaging through his truck. Wilson yelled and the thief turned and fired a shot, prompting Wilson to return fire. The man and an accomplice fled, but a wounded suspect was later apprehended. (The Journal, Winston-Salem, N.C., 11/24/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== After a man gained entry to a Jericho, N.Y., hotel by opening his coat to prove to the manager that he was unarmed, the manager remarked that the inn had been robbed several times in the past month. Pulling a gun, he would-be guest replied, "I know, I'm the robber." The manager pulled a .357 and killed the robber--who had several juvenile felony convictions and was a suspect in a string of armed robberies--with two shots. (Newsday, Long Island, N.Y., 10/22/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Finding firearms piled on the couch and the television pulled away from the wall of her future mother-in-law's home in Datil, N. Mex., Shawna Haynes called police and family members and then got a rifle and loaded it. Noticing a man approaching the door to the house, Haynes warned him away. When he ignored her and tried to open the door, she fired several shots, putting him to flight. (The Defensor Chieftain, Socorro, N. Mex., 11/14/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== While working late at his store, Lazaro Salazar, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., businessman, heard screams from the store next door. He grabbed his pistol and confronted an armed robber exiting the shop. The criminal raised his pistol, but Salazar was faster on the draw and fired, wounding him. Neighbors said the crook had previously robbed them, one shopowner five times. (The sun-Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 11/10/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Though beaten and shot by a pair of robbers, Carol Ponciano of Oroville, Calif., managed to get a pistol from her bedroom and opened fire on the pair as they assaulted her roommate. Her shots mortally wounded one of the intruders. The other fled, but a wounded juvenile was apprehended later. The county sheriff, noting the dead man had an "18-page rap sheet," said "Had she not done what she did, I'm convinced we'd have a triple murder on our hands." (The Enterprise-Record, Chico, Calif., 12/07/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Claiming to be electrical inspectors, two men gained entry to an elderly Golo, Ky., couple's home and pretended to inspect electrical outlets. When the homeowner found one of the men rifling his wife's purse, however, he grabbed a handgun and drove the men off with several shots. (The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky., 12/02/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== A 19-year-old robber made a big mistake when, several days after stealing a pistol from a Chula Vista, Calif., gunshop, he tried to come back for the rest of the firearms. He pointed the stolen firearm at owner Gene Reynolds and his partner, but when he leaned over a counter to open a display case, Reynolds pulled his own pistol and fired several shots, wounding the man and stopping the robbery. (The Union-Tribune, San Diego, Calif., 12/09/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Samuel Stewart, 77, didn't believe the man at the front door of his Wichita, Kans., home when he claimed to be a police officer, so Stewart shut the door. Stewart called police and got his shotgun when the man broke in through an upstairs window a few minutes later and kicked through a door to the ground floor. When the housebreaker came around the corner, Steward killed him with a single blast. Police said the slain man had a police record that included burglary charges. (The Eagle, Wichita, Kans., 12/11/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Insulted, afraid and angry after discovering a burglary at their Springfield, Mo., home, Kent and Mary Dunning decided to wait and see if the burglar would return. Their vigil was soon rewarded when two men walked into the home through the back door, knocking over several cans that the Dunnings had placed as an alarm. When the pair ignored orders to halt, Kent Dunning opened fire, wounding one intruder. Dunning then held him for police. The other escaped. "I'm strongly in favor of the right to keep and bear arms," the homeowner said. (The News-Leader, Springfield, Mo., 12/29/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Jumped in his carport by two gun-wielding thugs, Columbus, Ga., area cattleman Clarence Borom handed over his wallet. When the men told him to go into the house and get more money, Borom slammed and locked the door and headed for the .38 he keeps in his bedroom. One of the two men shot out a pane of glass in the door, unlocked it and entered the house. When Borom heard the intruder threaten his wife, he opened fire. In the exchange of shots between the men, Borom was wounded in the arm, but drove both robbers from the residence. (The Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, Ga., 11/03/92) ================================================================== ARMED CITIZEN - APRIL 1993 ================================================================== Retired Las Vegas deputy police chief Larry Bolden initially tried to defend himself with a steering wheel bar lock when a criminal attacked him in his car. But then the intruder wrestled it from him, Bolden pulled his pistol and fired several times, wounding his attacker and stopping the incident. "He was just a citizen defending himself," a police official said. (The Review-Journal, Las Vegas, Nev., 11/11/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== A pair of teenaged robbers armed with a sawed-off shotgun and handguns took the day's receipts from Brooklyn bodega owner Hector Martinez. As they made their getaway, Martinez grabbed his registered 12-gauge shotgun and gave chase. When one fired, Martinez returned three blasts, slightly wounding his assailants. They fled but were apprehended when they sought medical attention. (Newsday, Long Island, N.Y., 01/05/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== A sign posted on the door of Roman Paras' shop reads "The owners of this property are armed and highly skilled to protect life, liberty and property from criminal attack." Apparently, a pair of robbers didn't pause to read it as they threatened Paras' wife in their Oxnard, Calif., convenience store. Hearing her scream, Paras grabbed his .38, ran to the front of the store and shot it out with the masked and armed men, killing one criminal. (The Times, Los Angeles, Calif., 12/04/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Anne Marie Sullivan was showering in her Portland, Oreg., home one morning when she heard the front door crash in. She jumped out of the shower in time to see a man entering the home. Running to the bedroom, Sullivan retrieved her boyfriend's pistol and fired two shots, mortally wounding the intruder. The dead man had a lengthy police and prison record. (The Oregonian, Portland, Oreg., 01/07/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Mike Baranelli would have let two robbers who burst into a Birmingham, Ala., barber shop keep his money. But the 75-year-old retired teacher was unwilling to surrender his life. When the intruders ordered Baranelli, the shop owner, and another man to lie on the floor, Baranelli pulled his pistol and shot both men in the head, killing one. "I felt sure there was going to be three dead people in there. I think I had some divine help," Baranelli said. (The Sunday Advertiser, Montgomery, Ala., 01/03/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Believing an elderly Harvey, Ill., couple would again be easy prey, a knife-wielding home invader instead met death when the 76-year-old homeowner loosed three rounds from a semi-automatic pistol. Police said the dead man had been charged several times for thefts from the couple's home. (The Star, Chicago Heights, Ill., 01/07/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== The criminal's profile was scheduled to appear on "America's Most Wanted," but his shot at fame was abruptly canceled by a Hallandale, Fla., service station clerk. The Michigan prison escapee walked into the station and announced a robbery. Instead of cash, he got bullets in the head and chest from station clerk Gary McVey. Police said McVey acted in self-defense and would not face charges. (The Sun-Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 12/04/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== A Bridgeport, Conn., oil delivery man handed over the few dollars he had. But the thug, apparently unsatisfied with his take, turned his gun on his victim and demanded more money. Instead of more cash, the deliveryman instead pulled his own pistol and fired, mortally wounding the robber. Police said the dead man had held up a nearby market just before the fatal incident. (The Courant, Hartford, Conn., 01/13/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== After repeated burglaries at her San Marcos, Calif., home, Joan Vessel, 64, was ready with a .38 and a cordless phone when she heard glass breaking one afternoon. When she found two teenagers attempting to get into her woodshed, Vessel fired a warning shot over their heads, marched them into the front yard and called police. (The Times Advocate, Escondido, Calif., 12/25/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Angry that his auto insurance had been canceled, a client used brass knuckles to take it out on Brandon, Fla., agent Steven Taylor. When his assailant walked out of the office, Taylor grabbed a pistol kept there and held the former client at gun- point until police arrived. (The Tribune, Tampa, Fla., 01/14/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Dozing one evening at his Exeter, Pa., office, Jim Pisano was awakened by the barking of his dog. Sitting in stunned amazement, he watched as two men smashed out his office window, reached in and grabbed one of his hunting rifles. Reaching a pistol on his desk, Pisano fired several shots, apparently wounding one of the burglars, and putting them to flight. (The Times-Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 12/09/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Trying on a pair of shoes was just an act for a criminal who then pulled a knife and demanded money. When the man advanced, the Flint, Mich., shoestore owner drew his pistol and fired, critically wounding the would-be robber. (The Journal, Flint, Mich., 01/13/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Disarmed and pistol whipped after struggling with a pair of shotgun-toting thugs, Brooklyn, N.Y., pharmacist Soel Melero continued fighting and managed to retrieve a second-also licensed- hidden pistol. Firing three times, the druggist killed one of his assailants. The other fled empty-handed. (The Daily News, New York, N.Y., 01/18/93) ================================================================== ARMED CITIZEN - MAY 1993 ================================================================== Darren Yakunovich didn't expect to be holding a rifle on a friend, but that's how it worked out when the 17-year-old Kipton, Ohio, youth stayed home from school to catch a burglar who had hit his parent's home several times previously. When the erstwhile friend walked into an upstairs bedroom, Yakunovich held him at gunpoint until police arrived. (The Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, Ohio 03/04/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== A slow afternoon suddenly turned exciting for Omaha, Nebr., bar owner Maurice Howard when a masked man entered and announced a robbery. Howard initially complied with the man's demands for money, but then the crook's attention was diverted, Howard went for his gun. Neither was hit in the ensuing exchange of shots, but the robber fled empty handed. (The World-Herald, Omaha, Nebr., 12/09/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== A would-be burglar made a fatal mistake when he took an empty driveway to mean that Jeff Armstrong was at work. Armstrong, of Memphis, Tenn., had lent his car to a coworker and, when he heard glass shattering at 6 a.m., grabbed his pistol. Finding a man had punched his arm through his front door and was trying to unlatch it, Armstrong ordered him to stop. When the intruder persisted, the homeowner killed him with a single shot. Police said the slain man had a criminal history and no fixed address. (The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn., 01/12/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Two would-be robbers didn't get what they expected when they pulled a knife on a man in the parking lot of an Exton, Pa., grocery store and demanded his money. "I don't think so," replied the man, who then pulled a licensed handgun, prompting the pair to beat a hasty retreat. (The Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pa., 02/25/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== A Canyon Lake, Calif., man owes his good health to his handgun, not for protecting him from criminal attack, but for allowing him to shoot his way out of a disabled car after it was swept into Canyon Lake. When raging flood waters shorted out the electrical system and prevented him from opening the window, the man shot out the window and swam to safety. (The Press-Enterprise, Riverside, Calif., 01/18/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Counting on cut phone lines to aid their burglary attempt, two men didn't count on Dyersburg, Tenn., World War II veteran J.D. Troutt having a shotgun. Awakened by breaking glass at 2:30 a.m., Troutt grabbed his 12-ga. and waited. When one man appeared, Troutt held him at gunpoint, but when the second tried to get in, he fired a blast through the window, putting him to flight. Troutt's wife ran next door and phoned police, who arrested the pair. (The State Gazette, Dyersburg, Tenn., 01/08/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Hearing the unmistakeable sounds of a door being kicked in at his Hope Mills, N.C., home early one morning, Hal Edwards grabbed his gun and went to investigate. Edwards found the intruder in his sleeping daughter's bedroom, and, after being fired upon, shot the criminal twice in the chest, killing him. (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., 02/24/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== The fact that he was recovering from a stab wound suffered in an assault the day before didn't keep Roderick McGill from preventing a rape outside his Buffalo, N.Y., home. Hearing the gagged woman's cries, McGill had his girlfriend call police and grabbed his shotgun. Outside, he confronted the would-be rapist as he attempted to strip his victim and held him for police. (The News, Buffalo, N.Y., 01/25/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== "I told him he'd picked the wrong night," said Kyle Wagstaff of the knife-wielding robber he apprehended outside the Salt Lake City, Utah, store where his fiancee works. In the store when a man walked in, pulled a knife and demanded money, he retreated outside to get a shotgun from his truck. When the robber, clutching a handful of money, walked from the store, Wagstaff trained the shotgun on him and held him for police. (The Desert News, Salt Lake City, Utah, 01/31/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== When a Kennard, Tex., woman stopped by her house on an errand, she was assaulted by a man she found burglarizing the residence. Managing to get outside the house, the woman screamed and alerted Mildred Steed, her mother and next door neighbor. Steed grabbed her .38 and fired several shots when she saw her daughter pinned to the ground, a knife to her throat. The shots mortally wounded the attacker. (The Houston County Courier, Livingston, Tex., 01/17/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== "I guess he shouldn't have forgot about me," was Larry Quebodeaux's comment on the armed robber who came through the back door of the Beaumont., Tex., restaurant Quebodeaux manages. As the thug demanded money, Quebodeaux slipped into the office, got a pistol and waited in front of the business. When the man started herding everyone into the kitchen, Quebodeaux started firing. The robber was wounded five times and driven from the business. (The Enterprise, Beaumont, Tex., 11/13/92) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== A Ft. Myers, Fla., woman had just risen to feed her baby when a robber broke down her front door with a wooden pole. Her husband grabbed a pistol and confronted the intruder, inviting him to wait for police, which he did. (The News-Press, Ft. Myers, Fla., 01/16/93) ================================================================== ARMED CITIZEN - JUNE 1993 ================================================================== Pistol-whipped in a robbery 10 years ago, Georgi Gots, a New York City jeweler and Russian immigrant, repeatedly tried to get-- and was denied--a pistol permit. Gots purchased a handgun anyway, a decision that may have saved him when an armed robber burst into his store, demanding loot. Gots pulled his own gun and killed the holdup man. Gots was taken into custody, but an investigator said police would probably not recommend charges, saying "The poor guy was just trying to protect himself." (Newsday, Long Island, N.Y., 01/28/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== A 99-year prison sentence meant only a few years in the pen for a convicted murderer and bank robber before he was free to embark on a new crime spree. His criminal career ended, however, when Manchester, Pa., bar owner Richard Schmitt traded shots with and killed the hoodlum as he struggled with and wounded several patrons during a robbery attempt. (The Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pa., 02/16/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Awakened when a burglar broke through the back door of his home in LaPine, Oreg., James Edgil, 71, was attacked when he confronted the intruder. Although beaten with a fire extinguisher, Edgil was able to retrieve his handgun and, firing two shots, drove his assailant from the home. Edgil was hospitalized with head injuries and a broken arm. (The Bulletin, Bend, Oreg., 03/30/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Hyong Kun Pak bought a gun after being robbed in 1981, but didn't keep it at his Baltimore, Md., grocery until he was robbed again 11 years later. Only weeks after the second robbery, Pak used the .357 Mag. to kill an armed robber who was holding a gun on Pak's partner. After the partner struggled and broke free, Pak fired, striking the thug in the neck, killing him. (The Sun, Baltimore, Md., 03/08/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Shouting that he was armed, Martin Madirosian sprinted to the front of his Modesto, Calif., home when an intruder began pounding on the front door, demanding to be let in early one morning. Madirosian warned him with two .45 shots, but the hoodlum dove through the door's glass window and made a threatening move, prompting Madirosian to shoot and wound him. (The Bee, Modesto, Calif., 02/04/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Vietnam veteran Victor Czerniak's dog earned a big bone by alerting him to an early morning robbery attempt at his Dallas, Tex., home. Unnerved by the dog's uncharacteristic growling, he got his .380 and confronted a man in his kitchen. When the intruder made a sudden move, Czerniak shot him once, driving him from the house. A second man also fled, but both were apprehended by police. (The Morning News, Dallas, Tex., 02/08/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Indicating that 87-year-old Floyd Bales acted in self-defense, officials said no charges would be filed against him for fatally wounding his granddaughter's estranged husband. The man, just released from jail for assaulting his wife, kicked down the door to Bale's Tukwila, Wash., home, and when he rushed inside, Bales-- terminally ill and dependent upon oxygen--killed him with several shots. (The Post-Intelligencer, Seattle, Wash., 04/07/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== "He just came in and put a gun on me, and luckily I was standing right next to mine," said Brian Charlton, a clerk in a Nashville, Tenn., store. The robber, his face wrapped in plastic, motioned Charlton to the till with the muzzle of his pistol, prompting Charlton to grab his .357 Mag. and fire, wounding the man, who was given medical treatment and charged with armed robbery. (The Tennessean, Nashville, Tenn., 03/03/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Ohio farmer Tom Study returned to his house after morning chores to find a stranger in the living room wearing Study's favorite hat. Thinking quickly, Study told the man he had to tend the cows. The ruse worked and allowed Study to retrieve a .38 from an outbuilding. By the time he returned to the house, the man was outside in Study's car. Training his pistol on the inter- loper, Study held him for police. (The Post, Cincinnati, Ohio, 03/12/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Checking on his car when he heard sounds in the parking lot of his apartment complex, an Amarillo, Tex., man came under fire from two would-be car thieves. The resident drew his own gun, and killed one of the gunmen and wounded the other. The dead man had been arraigned several months before for an incident in which an eight-month-old child was shot. (The Globe-Times, Amarillo, Tex., 02/08/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Four drug abusers made a big mistake, fatal for one of them, when they decided to rob a stash house. They knocked instead on the door of Larry Childer's Hiram, Ga., home, and one attacked and injured Childer's wife with a knife when she opened the door. Childers grabbed his .357 and fired, killing his wife's assailant. Police arrested three suspects and charged two with murder in the death of their accomplice. (The Douglas County Sentinel, Douglasville, Ga., 01/12/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Herbert Armstrong's daughter answered a knock on the door of her father's Isle of Wight, Va., home and was assaulted by an armed thug. Rushing to her aid, Armstrong, 78, was also attacked and knocked to his knees. Struggling to his feet, Armstrong grabbed a revolver from atop the refrigerator and drove the assailant from the home with several shots. (The Daily Press, Newport News., Va., 03/30/93) ================================================================== ARMED CITIZEN - JULY 1993 ================================================================== Knowing the "protection" afforded her by a court restraining order was minimal at best, Viroqua, Wisconsin, resident Lynn McMillen decided to back it up with a .357 Mag. When McMillen's ex-husband, accompanied by two companions, broke into the home where she was staying and threatened to kill her, she shot and wounded him and an accomplice. Saying McMillen's actions were in self-defense, the local district attorney added "In this case, the onces who were shot are not the victims." (The Tribune, La Crosse, WI, 03/12/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== "This is all I have," was Ronald Arruda's reply when a man jumped into his truck at an intersection, flashed a knife and demanded money. Instead of coming up with his wallet, Arruda, of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, pulled a licensed pistol and fired once, convincing the unwounded thug to abandon his plans and flee. (The Standard-Times, New Bedford, MA, 04/20/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== James Petry was asleep in his Waynesburg, Kentucky, home when two armed men kicked down the door, apparently intent on burglary. Awakened by the commotion, Petry grabbed a pistol and fired, wounding one of the burglars and putting both to flight. Two suspects, one wounded, were apprehended shortly after. (The Advocate-Messenger, Danville, KY, 04/08/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Wile an address book may not be the ideal substitute for a bullet-resistant vest, Detroit grocer Salim Mansour owes his life to the one he keeps in his breast pocket. It stopped a bullet fired by one of three robbers who invaded his store. Mansour pulled his .38 and killed one criminal: the others were caught by police. "He's showing the book to everybody," the grocers cousin said. (The Free Press, Detroit, MI, 03/24/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Kim McCormack's opinion of Phoenix changed drastically after he and his fiancee became engaged in a rush hour gun battle that left his 14-month-old daughter wounded in the arm. Stopped for a traffic signal, McCormack pulled his truck forward after another car stopped alongside and the occupants flashed a handgun. When they started shooting, McCormack and fiancee Traci Updike pulled their own pistols and returned fire, driving their assailants away. "The city is not safe," McCormack said. "For us, our guns are like an American Express card. We never leave home without them." (The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ, 04/08/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== A Denver liquor-store clerk sprung into action after an armed man entered his store, fired a shot and threatened the clerk and a customer friend. When the gunman threatened the friend, the clerk jumped over the counter and both men struggled with the robber. The clerk was finally able to get the store's gun from under the counter, fired twice and killed the attacker. Police said the clerk would not be charged. (The Post, Denver, CO, 03/17/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== In Washington, where armed criminals run rampant but honest citizens are denied the right to own handguns for personal protection, one city resident stood up for himself when he shot a man who tried to rob him in his home. The homeowner had given the thug a bucket of water, but when the bucket was returned, the good Samaritan found himself looking down the barrel of a pistol. Raising his hands as ordered, he grabbed a pistol he secreted on a shelf and shot the would-be robber. Police confiscated his gun, but the district commander said, "If the circumstances are as they seem, I don't think justice will be served if they charge this guy." (The Times, Washington, DC, 05/05/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== David Sager of Pearblossom, California, knew he didn't leave the lights on in his home, so he suspected a burglar. His fears were confirmed when a man armed with a kitchen knife dashed out the front door. Sager, armed due to a burglary only the day before, tackled the housebreaker, tied him up with an extension cord and held him at gunpoint for police. (The Antelope Valley Press, Palmdale, CA, 03/11/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== A brazen mid-afternoon robbery ended in death for a robber when the owner of a Bay Shore, New York, fur shop fought back. Voltidis Anastasios was in his store when a man and woman walked in and assaulted him. Anastasios was able to reach his shotgun and fire several blasts, killing the woman. The man fled to a waiting car, with Anastasios in pursuit and firing several more blasts. Police later apprehended several wounded suspects. (Newsday, Long Island, NY, 02/26/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Lillian Hazard wasn't kidding when she told an intruder in her Riverside, California, home he should "lay down or I'll shoot you." Obviously thinking the 85-year-old grandmother wouldn't shoot, the man tried to stand. Hazard shot him in the shoulder. "I wasn't scared because I had my gun," said Hazard. Police confiscated her pistol but said she would not be charged. (The Bee, Modesto, CA, 04/27/93) ================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ================================================================== Minutes after an alarm sounded down the street, Blaine Huey's dog started to bark. Huey, working in the back yard of his Embreeville, Pennsylvania, home, walked in and found a man in the living room. After the man tossed a coal bucket at him, Huey shot him twice with a 10 mm pistol. The wounded burglar ran, but collapsed in the basement. Police said Huey was justified in shooting the intruder. (The Daily Record, Coatesville, PA, 03/09/93) ================================================================== ARMED CITIZEN - AUGUST 1993 ====================================================================== James Bracewell, 18, was in the stockroom of his father's Dublin, Georgia, liquor store when a man armed with a knife walked in, grabbed a female clerk and demanded money. The robber got the case, but he made a mistake when he threatened to kill the clerk and told Bracewell to give him the store's handgun, kept under the counter. Bracewell grabbed the gun and fired twice, mortally wounding the robber. (The Courier Herald, Dublin, GA., 03/26/93) ====================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ====================================================================== Stopping by to check on their son's Winnabow, North Carolina home, Walter Babson heard noises in the home. Retreating to his car to get his .45, Babson then searched the mobile home and found two men hiding there, one under a bed. Babson escorted the duo to the living room and called police. (The Beacon, Brunswick, NC., 06/06/93) ====================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ====================================================================== A Ceresville, Maryland, man was sitting on the deck of his home with his wife and daughter when an armed fugitive on the run from a manhunt suddenly appeared. The homeowner got his family inside, locked the doors, grabbed his gun and loaded it. When the resident shouted that he was armed, the fugitive---captured soon after by police---ran. "It was a split-second decision to load the gun and threaten him," the man said. "But I didn't want him in my house." (The Post, Frederick, MD., 04/27/93) ====================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ====================================================================== Modesto Aguilar, Sr., and his family sleep on the floor of their San Antonio, Texas, home because it has been shot up by gang members so many times, but Qguilar evened the score a little one evening. Awakened by the familiar sound of bullets hitting his home, he got his M1 carbine and returned fire, killing one of the criminals. Two others fled. (The Express-News, San Antonio, TX., 04/16/93) ====================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ====================================================================== Raped at knifepoint in her home, an Edmonds, Washington, woman exacted revenge. Allowed by her attacker to go to the bathroom, instead she pulled a pistol from her purse. Firing several shots, she chased and cornered the sex offender in a downstairs bathroom and held him for police. Several weeks later the man pleaded guilty to eight rapes in a six-month period. (The Post-Intelligencer, Seattle, WA., 05/14/93) ====================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ====================================================================== James Henry sees his fatal shooting of an intruder in his Tulsa, Oklahoma, home as a clear case of self-defense. "I had to do it. I am too old to run," Henry said. When the man started banging on the door to his apartment, Henry retreated to his bedroom, grabbed a gun and phoned police. Though the police dispatcher told him not to shoot, Henry squeezed off a single round, mortally wounding the man, when he opened the door to the room. (The World, Tulsa, OK., 04/18/93) ====================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ====================================================================== Standing in the kitchen of his New Cassel, New York, home, facing a robber armed with a shotgun, Archell Freeman surrendered his cash and gold jewelry. When the crook demanded more loot, Freeman led him into the living room and grabbed a revolver off a shelf. Firing several times, Freeman mortally wounded the gunman. (Newsday, New York, NY., 03/26/93) ====================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ====================================================================== A Wichita, Kansas, pizza-shop clerk got the best of two robbers, one armed, when he pulled his own pistol and shot it out with them. The clerk, alone in the store when the criminal duo entered, grabbed his pistol in response to demands for money. The robber fired first and missed, while the clerk's aim was true. The pair fled, but the wounded crook collapsed and was captured. Police affirmed the clerk's right to defend himself with a handgun. (The Eagle, Wichita, KS., 03/25/93) ====================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ====================================================================== Arriving at his Fullerton, California, home late one night with $1,200 in receipts from his bar, Elias Torres was grabbed from behind while another threatened him with a handgun. Torres pulled his own pistol and fired twice, killing the gunman. Although Torres was carrying the gun---after earlier assaults---without a permit, police said he was justified in killing his attacker. "[The shooting] is indicative of the current environment with street robberies and carjackings and people . . . arming themselves," said one officer. (The Orange County Register, Santa Ana, CA., 04/27/93) ====================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ====================================================================== Alone in her Albuquerque home one morning, Catherine Mobley armed herself with a handgun when a man intent on burglary broke through a sliding glass door. Mobley ordered the man to leave, but when he refused, she shot and killed him. "If it appears to be what it appears to be, this is not an open and shut case," said the DA. "It's a shut and shut case." (The Journal, Albuquerque, NM., 05/12/93) ====================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ====================================================================== After enduring several months of vandalism directed at him by another man, Lanny Spurlock of Culleoka, Tennessee, took action when the vandal and an accomplice kicked in the door to Spurlock's home hours after challenging him to a fight. As the duo entered the home, Spurlock, armed with a handgun, fired three times, slightly wounding his tormentor and putting both to flight. (The Daily Herald, Columbia, TN., 05/10/93) ====================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ====================================================================== A man fleeding Houston police made a fatal mistake when he jumped through the window of a home owned by an armed citizen. Awakened by the noise, the homeowner grabbed his gun and, finding the intruder armed with a pistol, shot and killed him. (The Post, Houston, TX., 04/07/93) ====================================================================== ARMED CITIZEN - SEPTEMBER 1993 ===================================================================== Fired after only five days on the job, a former employee with a long criminal record returned to Roy Briehler's Ewing, New Jersey, plant market armed with Mace and a knife and intent on robbery. Briehler and the man struggled, but when the man attempted to use the Mace, Briehler pulled a .38 and fatally shot him. The local prosecutor said no charges were planned. (The Trentonian, Trenton, NJ, 05/14/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== "I threw a lot of lead at him," was how Oyster Bay, New York, jeweler Ralph Caggiano described his encounter with an armed robber. When the armed man entered the ship and announced a robbery, Caggiano scooped a .38 revolver out of his desk drawer and fired through a glass partition. The would-be bandit was slightly wounded and fled, but was quickly caught. "He had a right to use deadly physical force," said the local police commander. (Newsday, Long Island, NY, 04/01/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== "I'd rather see her on that floor than me on that floor," said a North Oakland, California, resident who shot a woman who threatened him with a meat cleaver. The man, who has no legs, was watching television when the woman rushed in. When she brandished the cleaver at him, he fired, seriously wounding her. Police said the woman was wanted in connection with a string of robberies. (The Tribune, Oakland, CA, 04/21/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== "I figured if they were going to shoot me, I was going to go down shooting them," was 70-year-old James Kelly's assessment of the armed robbery that occurred at the Indianapolis, Indiana, motel where he works. Kelly pulled a .357 Mag. when two men entered the hostelry and announced a robbery. Firing twice, Kelly wounded one of the bandits and held both for police. (The Star, Indianapolis, IN, 06/30/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Thinking about lunch and the poison ivy on his feet, Eddie Roscoe stopped by his house in Albemarle, North Carolina, and interrupted a burglary. Two men fled, but the third headed toward a bedroom, with Roscoe in pursuit. Cornered, the burglar turned and fired a shot, wounding Roscoe in the hand and side. After a struggle, Roscoe picked up a shotgun, loaded it and held the would-be crook for police, who also apprehended the accomplices. (The Herald, Bradenton, FL, 06/06/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== His suspicions aroused by a customer's unseasonably heavy dress, a Westtown, Pennsylvania, gas station attendant was ready when the man drew a pistol and demanded money. Instead of complying, the former Marine pulled his own licensed gun and fired at the gunman. Apparently wounded, the thug fled. (The Daily Local News, West Chester, PA, 05/01/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Pounding and screaming outside her Colorado Springs home early one morning led Dorby Eggert to pick up her pistol. Even though she warned an intruder several times, he broke through two doors. When he entered the kitchen, Eggert fired once, mortally wounding him. (The Gazette Telegraph, Colorado Springs, CO, 07/10/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== John Blair kept his father's old police revolver in his Jacksonville, Florida, home partially out of sentiment. But the gun provided yeoman's service when a felon tried to force his way into the home while Blair's wife Barbara was home alone. She got the gun and, as the intruder tried to enter through a window, fired, seriously wounding him. The man had been jailed twice on burglary convictions, but both times had been released to ease prison overcrowding. (The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, FL, 05/28/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== An hour-long robbery spree by a man armed with a shotgun was abruptly halted in Bradenton, Florida, when the intended victim turned the tables and shot his assailant. The thug demanded money and fired a blast at a service station clerk, but missed. The clerk returned fire with a .45 and wounded his attacker. The crook fled, but was apprehended by the police, who followed the criminal's blood trail. (The Herald, Bradenton, FL, 06/06/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Fired from his job at a work camp, an Alaska man decided to exact revenge by getting a rifle from his truck and going on a shooting spree. He was stopped before he could hurt anyone when another employee pulled a .44 Mag. and shot him in the ankle. (The Daily News, Anchorage, AK, 05/05/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== While the situation ended without incident, armed citizen Michael Acree stood ready to lend a hand when a police officer stopped a carload of unruly teenagers outside his Salem, Connecticut, home. Noticing the youths scuffling with the officer, Acree retrieved his pistol and went out onto his lawn. When the youths saw Acree and his handgun, they calmed down and the situation ended peaceably. Acree earned the appreciation both of town officials and the officer. (The Bulletin, Norwich, CT, 05/22/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Beaten in a robbery several months before, the owner of a San Bernardino, California, pizza shop started carrying a pistol to work. It came in handy when a pair of masked thugs attempted to rob the store. When the pair started tying up the staff, the owner walked to a storeroom, called police and got the gun. When the crooks noticed him, they started shooting. Returning fire, the owner killed one and wounded the other. (The Sun, San Bernardino, CA, 05/27/93) ===================================================================== ARMED CITIZEN - OCTOBER 1993 ===================================================================== Police said an Irvine, California, homeowner who shot a croquet- mallet-wielding thug in his home acted within his rights to defend himself. Jonathan Clark and his wife were awakened by breaking glass in their home. While his wife called police, Clark got his .357 and went into the hallway and saw the man breaking a window. When the intruder ignored an order to leave, Clark shot him in the wrist, putting him to flight. (The Orange County Register, Santa Ana, CA 05/29/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Charles James returned to his Hot Springs, Arkansas, home and noticed signs that someone might be in the house. James got a revolver and called loudly for whoever was in the house to surrender, but when he got no response, went outside, slamming the door loudly. James hid outside, and when a masked burglar--an acquaintance--exited the home, James held him at gunpoint for police. (The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, AR, 05/27/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Startled awake by the sound of his front door being kicked in, Phoenix resident Fidel Zabala pulled a .44 Mag. from underneath his mattress and opened the door to his bedroom. Greeted by gunfire that wounded him in the hip and arm, Zabala returned fire. Zabala and the intruder grappled briefly, but the gunman's wounds proved to be mortal. (The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ, 07/02/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Eugene DeMayo was behind the counter of his South Bronx, New York, sporting goods store when several youths, one armed with a sawed-off shotgun, burst into the store. Instead of handing over his wares, DeMayo pulled his licensed .38 and fired, mortally wounding the shotgun toter. Two other thugs fled, and no charges were planned against DeMayo. (The Post, New York, NY, 07/26/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== NRA-certified shooting instructor Greg Ferris drew from the lessons he usually teaches when three armed gang members invaded his San Antonio, Texas, gunshop. Ferris was at his workbench when the gangsters entered and charged the counter. Ferris grabbed his .38 Super target pistol and opened up when one missed him with a shotgun blast. In the ensuing battle, which also involved shop employee, Mike Falcon, one robber was killed and another wounded. Ferris, a former policeman, said, "We cannot ask police to provide individualized personal protection. We have to rely on our own resources to defend outselves." (The Express-News, San Antonio, TX, 05/21/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== "The law can't take guns away from criminals, and the law wasn't there to help me that day, so I had to help myself," said Sharon Murray of Shelby, North Carolina, after an enraged man smashed the window of her car. Murray had stopped at a red light to adjust her son's seat and waved the truck behind her through. Instead of going around, the driver hopped out, screaming, and punched through her window. Murray pulled her pistol and, after a brief standoff, the man fled. (The Gazette, Gastonia, NC, 08/01/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Marine Cpl. Rayna Ross of Woodbridge, Virginia, might be dead if a waiting period had been in effect. Instead, the instant check system in place in that state allowed her to defend her life against a former boyfriend three days after she purchased a pistol. The man, a Marine under orders to stay away from Ross because of previous assaults and threats, broke through a door and rushed into her bedroom with a bayonet. Ross fired twice, mortally wounding him. The shooting was ruled to be a case of self-defense. (The Potomac News, Woodbridge, VA, 07/02/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Apparently intent on assaulting his ex-girlfriend, a Columbia, South Carolina, man instead ended up dead. The intruder climbed a drainpipe and burst through the woman's bedroom window and began to fight with her and her friend, Larry Cannon. During the scuffle, the woman passed a revolver to Cannon, who shot their attacker in the neck, mortally wounding him. The shooting was ruled justifiable. (The State, Columbia, SC, 06/09/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Houston has seen a rash of breakins in which criminals pose as police. So Jack Idlett didn't believe the men who were kicking in the front door of his home at 5:30 a.m. When the homeowner demanded identification, they fired. Idlett returned fire, and the pair fled. The robberies have led many residents to buy guns. "We are all armed and know how to use it," a neighbor said. (The Post, Houston, TX, 06/12/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Margaret Harris was walking up the steps to her Memphis, Tennessee, home when a vagrant with a criminal record grabbed her and threatened to kill her. Harris, 66, struggled with the intruder in the house until she was able to get her .38. Although the thug never lost his grip, she fired twice, killing him. Harris advice for other elderly women living alone? "Keep a handgun handy." (The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, 06/21/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== A Tacoma, Washington, robber thought a pawn shop would be a great place to steal guns, but he forgot to take the one held by an armed citizen. The armed crook announced a robbery and started shoveling handguns into a duffle bag, but when he turned, he was shot in the leg by a customer. He hobbled outside and collapsed. The customer held him at gunpoint until police arrived. (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA, 05/11/93) ===================================================================== ARMED CITIZEN - NOVEMBER 1993 ===================================================================== Eighty-year-old Lawrence Nipp is sick of "young punks taking the country over." So when his wife told him there was a youth in the back yard of his Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, home, Nipp retrieved his gun, told his wife to call police and confronted the teen. Unconvinced by his story claiming several men were trying to kill him, Nipp held the youthful criminal--who turned out to be a robbery suspect--for police at gunpoint. (The Sun-Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 08/03/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Awakened by noises in his Manchester, New Hampshire, home, John Kazakis reached for his phone to call police. The phone was dead, however, so Kazakis picked up a rifle and went downstairs to investigate. When he saw a man take something from his mailbox and approach the house, Kazakis challenged him, and when that had no effect, fired a warning shot into the ground, prompting the man to flee. Responding police found that phone lines had been pulled out, apparently in a attempt to disable the home's burglar alarm. (The Citizen, Laconia, NH, 07/15/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== William Clark was tending the Indianapolis area liquor store where he works when a man laid a dollar bill on the counter to pay for a beer. Before Clark could take the money, however, he pulled a revolver, demanded money and Clark's gun. Clark started toward the cash register, then pulled his own 9mm and fired, killing the robber. (The Star, Indianapolis, IN, 08/13/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Alerted to an intruder's presence in her Dublin, Georgia, apartment when he began beating on her locked bedroom door, Dorothy Smith, 64, picked up her pistol. The man finally broke the door and entered the room, but Smith convinced him to leave by firing a shot. (The Courier-Herald, Dublin, GA, 07/26/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Count NRA member Dale Tipton of Hutchinson, Kansas, among those who have defended themselves with a gun and have lost their jobs for doing so. Tipton was delivering pizzas for Pizza Hut after a range session with his AR-15 when three teens tried to rob him. When one of the teens threatened him with a gun, Tipton hopped back into his car and grabbed his rifle. "As soon as they saw it, they were trucking," said Tipton. Although the incident occurred only a month after a unarmed driver was slain in Wichita, and police said he did nothing wrong, Pizza Hut fired Tipton. (The News, Hutchinson, KS, 08/17/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== "All of us were convinced he was going to kill us all," said Redwood City, California, grocer John Pacheco of a man who brandished a pistol, knocked a customer to the floor and began raving. Pacheco grabbed his .45 from its hiding place and shot twice. One bullet found its mark, killing the gunman, who had been released from prison only two months before. (The Mercury News, San Jose, CA, 07/23/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Awakened by noises, a Yuma, Arizona, homeowner got his gun before he went to investigate. When the resident was confronted by the intruder, he fired. Wounded, the interloper fled but was apprehended by police. (The Daily Sun, Yuma, AZ, 08/10/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== An attempted home invasion was thwarted when Mary Williams decided the man who had asked to use her phone had something else in mind. Williams, of Haines City, Florida, went to get her .38. When she returned, the man was beating her husband over the head with the phone. Williams ordered him from the home, but when he ignored her, she fired, mortally wounding him. (The News Chief, Winter Haven, FL, 07/25/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Bill Faith used a larger caliber tool to defend himself after he was attacked in his New Albany, Indiana, liquor store by a man wielding a shovel and hammer. Although suffering a head wound, Faith was able to pull his pistol and fire three shots. Wounded, the assailant ran, but was apprehended at a local hospital. "`When a man ... hits you in the head with a shovel, you shoot him," said the local police chief. (The Tribune, New Albany, IN, 04/14/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Willie Harris let a man use the phone in his Smithfield, Alabama, home, but when the man returned several hours later, he wasn't interested in a return call. Attacked by the man an an accomplice, Harris managed to retrieve a pistol he keeps in the house for personal protection and fired, wounding both attackers, one mortally. (The News, Birmingham, AL, 08/23/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== A Zion, Illinois, restaurant owner was ready when a strong-arm robber made his second appearance in two weeks. The thug, who was found to have cocaine in his blood, jumped the counter of Bernice Thurmond's eatery, shoved her aside and started grabbing money from the cash register. Thurmond grabbed a broom and hit the robber several times, then snatched up a handgun and fired, critically wounding him. The state's attorney said the shooting appeared justified. (The Tribune, Chicago, IL, 07/05/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== A late-night robbery attempt in a San Bernardino, California, pizza shop ended when an employee shot it out with the robbers and killed one. The armed crooks entered the shop through a back door and started binding the employees with tape. The employee pulled his gun, and in an exchange of shots, mortally wounded one and wounded the other. (The Press-Enterprise, San Bernardino, CA, 05/27/93) ===================================================================== ARMED CITIZEN - DECEMBER 1993 ===================================================================== Connie Crowe was roused to action one evening when she heard sounds of struggle and screams coming from her upstairs neighbor's Franklin, Tennessee, apartment. Crowe grabbed her revolver given to her by her father and went into the hall where she confronted an intruder. When he came rushing down the steps, Crowe ordered him to stop, and, when he didn't, shot and wounded him. "I thought 'he's not getting out of here if my neighbor's up there dead,'", Crowe said. Police said Crowe would not be charged. The wounded man faced an attempted rape charge. (The Tennessean, Nashville, TN, 10/06/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Stalked and assaulted by a former boyfriend, Terry Jackson of Albany, Georgia, feared for her life even though she had sworn out arrest warrants for the man. Deciding she needed more protection than the police could give her, the mother of five purchased a pistol at a pawnshop. Less than 12 hours later, Jackson shot and killed the man as he tried to break into her home. Police arrested and charged her with murder, but the district attorney ordered her release, saying "It does seem to be a clear-cut case of self-defense. If there had been any question in the facts I was given, I would not have acted so quickly." (The Herald, Albany, GA, 10/06/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Picking the same house to burglarize twice in an hour proved fatal for a thief in Kansas City, Missouri. Alerted to the first attempt, the owner of the home, a Kansas City woman, was at the house when the man tried again. Hearing a noise, the woman investigated, found the man, and fired several shots from her pistol, mortally wounding the intruder, who turned out to be the woman's cousin, a convicted burglar. (The Star, Kansas City, MO, 08/24/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== It was something of a comical situation. The 300-lb. "customer" was holding a 2" knife, while the Colorado Springs liquor-store clerk was holding a gun. It all started when the man asked for a bottle of wine, then pulled a knife instead of cash, prompting the clerk to grab one of the handguns kept in the store. After a brief standoff during which he put the knife away and tried to make friends, the hefty would-be crook fled empty-handed. (The Gazette Telegraph, Colorado Springs, CO, 08/28/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== "I'm just tired of people getting away with crime," was Jeffrey Rosenberg's assessment of why he kept a vigil over his new Ford Mustang. Getting two pistols, Rosenberg, of Quincy, Massachusetts, kept a six-hour watch over the car. When he confronted two men checking out the car, one took a swipe at him with a screwdriver, and Rosenberg drew his handgun and held them a gunpoint for police. (The Sun, Lowell, MA, 07/25/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== "I knew I only had one thing to do, and that was to go for my gun," said Menlo Park, California, grocery-store-owner John Pacheco, who was forced to shoot and kill an armed robber in his store. The crook entered, pulled a pistol and demanded money, prompting Pacheco to grab a .45 from under the counter and fire. The dead man had a long criminal history and was on parole for a firearms offense. (The Chronicle, San Francisco, CA, 07/23/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Emile Shermer, 82, was in his Fairhope, Alabama, home when a teenager broke in and tried to rob him at knifepoint. Instead of complying with the delinquent's demands for cash, Shermer pulled a pistol and shot him in the arm, then held him for police. (The Press Register, Baldwin, AL, 08/09/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== A Lexington, Kentucky, man had the competition seriously outgunned and didn't hesitate to prove it. Finding a man trying to break into his car in a parking lot, he ordered the burglar to stop. Instead of complying, the would-be thief pointed a small pistol at the car-owner, who pulled his .45 and shot the gunman in the stomach. (The Herald-Leader, Lexington, KY, 08/10/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Carl Spence jumped to action upon finding a strange pickup truck in his driveway and two strangers walking around his Jackson, Mississippi, area home. Spence blocked the truck with his car, ran into the house and called 911. He then grabbed his shotgun and went back outside, where the pair was trying to escape. They stopped and waited for police when they saw Spence's shotgun. (The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, MS, 09/11/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== Win Coburn of Bloomfield, Missouri, returned home to find three men--wanted by a police dragnet--ransacking his residence. Two of the fugitives fled, but Coburn held the third at gunpoint until police collected him. His accomplices were also soon captured. "We believe these arrests may have cleared up to 10 burglaries in surrounding counties," said Stoddard County Sheriff Steve Fish. (The Daily Statesman, Dexter, MO, 08/03/93) ===================================================================== - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ===================================================================== A 14-year-old San Francisco boy proved more than a match for a gunman who, along with a man armed with a knife, forced his way into the family home. The criminal ran upstairs to confront and demand money from the boy's parents. Pulling his own gun, the father was shot in the chest and dropped the pistol as he struggled with his assailant. The boy ran upstairs, grabbed the family gun and killed his father's attacker. The other man fled. (The Chronicle, San Francisco, CA, 09/09/93) =====================================================================