Gun stance draws skepticism

Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser ^ | 6-23-02 | Todd Kleffman

[Redbob]

Fed up and frustrated by the alarming number of armed robberies in the city, Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright is urging law-abiding people to fight firepower with firepower.

But the proposal has generated little public support, and at least one expert said the suggestion borders on irresponsibility.

[Redbob]

A couple comments: First, Mayor Bright said, "“I know I’m really opening myself up for major criticism because I’m saying property over life, but we’ve got to do something." Sounds like he has way more sense than Teri Richman of NACS, who obviously made up the "statistics" he quoted.

Here's my take on that: It's not a question of "property over life," because my property IS my life. I've traded my life, working for myself or for someone else, to make the money to purchase my property. Whether that property is a car or a TV set, it represents a part of my life, and if someone steals it, he's taking a part of my life. That just is not right, and he'll find himself at-risk.

Second, when a convenience store or fast-food restaurant clerk submits to an armed robber, saying "Well, it's just $20 from the cash drawer," he never knows if this particular criminal might suddenly decide to leave no witnesses.
This happens frequently in convenience store hold-ups; in a Subway hold-up in the Dallas area a couple years ago the teen-age nightshift crew was herded into the store-room and executed with shots to the backs of their heads.
That also happened to my brother-in-law: no witnesses, but two young boys were left without a father, and now in a year or so that particular piece of trash will be released from prison, having settled his "debt to society."

When someone points a gun at you, you must assume he intends to use it to kill you. A gun is not a magic wand, like on TV; you don't wave it around to get your way. And if you do, someone is perfectly justified in shooting you.

[Redbob]

*bang_list

BANG!

[Don Myers]

This man has clearly gone over the edge. He expects the common citizen on the street to be responsible for his own well-being. The next thing you know, there will be citizens acting in self-defense. We cannot have that sort of thing going on out here in liberal heaven.

[Myrean]

If the people in Montgomery aren't willing to defend themselves they deserve to be robbed. No police force can be everywhere.

The mayor wouldn't have to tell me to defend my store. Jeez!

[jdogbearhunter]

“We support an individual’s right to protect their families, homes and businesses with a firearm, but ultimately that choice is up to them,” said NRA spokeswoman Kelly Whitley.
Sums it up nicely for me.
Perhaps store owners who choose NOT to arm themselves & protect their property should be required to obtain a special "License Not to Carry"... the proceeds can go towards Law Enforcement projects.

[JHBarenjager]

Behavior modification through taxation - I like it. Sounds like something Democrats might do to propagate their socialist agenda. Though I'm genereally against rampant taxation, this one makes sense.

[phasma proeliator]

Excellent idea Jdog...

[Atsilvquodi]

Ping

[toddst]

Second, when a convenience store or fast-food restaurant clerk submits to an armed robber, saying "Well, it's just $20 from the cash drawer," he never knows if this particular criminal might suddenly decide to leave no witnesses.

I agree with all of your post, but this part is especially relevant. These punk holdup gouls have no hesitation to injure and/or killtheir victims. It happens often that a home-invasion turns into a severe beating for no reason whatever. Clerks have been shot down AFTER turning over the money.

The Mayor is 100% correct and the "take-no-action" whiners are totally wrong.

[Psalm 73]

More guns - less crime, sounds like a no-brainer to me.
BTW - LOVE Montgomery, and thanks to all the residents who are so friendly to out-of-towners,
(even ones with a Yankee accent like me).

[Billthedrill]

“If they’ve got a gun, they can take whatever they want,” Pierson said. “I might even make them a sandwich.”

Of course, if what they want is your life they can take that too, hmm, Mr. Pierson?

[AnnaZ]

Wendale Pierson, assistant manager of Subway Sandwiches and Salads at 64 Dalraida Road, a store that was robbed last month, laughed and shook his head when told about the mayor's suggestion. He said it is unreasonable to expect an employee earning little more than minimum wage to risk his life by getting into an armed confrontation with a robber.

"If they've got a gun, they can take whatever they want," Pierson said. "I might even make them a sandwich."

Good grief!!! If I was a thief, guess where I'd be going for lunch.

[Drew68]

If there’s $20 in the cash drawer, it’s not worth it.

Bulls**t

Plenty of people have been shot dead for $20 or less.

[Atsilvquodi]

$20 may mean a lot to one person and nothing to another. that's not really the point.

the point is that people's rights have been taken away. Rights that are explicitly garanteed by the constitution of the United States and her ammendments. We the people have stood by while our government has taken these rights from us. Now we are in an ever more dangerous world where at any moment another act of terror could kill thousands or millions of us. Perhaps our greatest right is that of life. but to have "life" we must have freedom and the right to protect ourselves and our families. It's not $20, it's a right to live, a right to prosper, and a right to survive.

[phasma proeliator]

ping

[SandfleaCSC]

I'd like to spit some Beech-Nut in that dude's eye
And shoot him with my ole .45....

[Orangedog]

Teri Richman, senior vice president of research for the NACS, said studies show that a store employee who tries to resist a robbery attempt using a firearm or other weapon is 49 times more likely to be injured or killed than one who is passive.

...and this kijd of attitude makes another armed robbery at that location a certainty. It's this policy of being passive that has created this problem. I don't expect anyone employed at a mini mart to take a chance in fighting for whatever is in the cash register, but they should at the very least be ALLOWED to have a weapon to defend themselves in the event that the criminal decides to waste everyone in the store for a cheap thrill or to get rid of witnesses. If the national mini mart chains don't want to allow this, then they should have to have the cashier secured behind bullet proof glass and an armored door.

[Drammach]

Lots of criminals get really "ticked off" when there's only $20 in the till.
They're more likely to shoot You if You don't have enough to satisfy them.

Personally, I'd rather take my chances and shoot the S.O.B.

[phasma proeliator]

"This big dog will fight
When you rattle his cage
And you'll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A
'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass
It's the American way

- Toby Keith "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue"

[Djarum]

This is an editorial misplaced in the news section. The author couldn't find even one opinion in support of the mayor? Unlikely.