Newspaper carrier kills gunman at Birmingham store

Birmingham News ^ | 10/08/02 | AP

[DETAILER]

The "home defender" type 12 ga. shotgun is a good investment too.

[Sloth]

"He ran toward me and I shot him twice more," said Harper. "After five he fell down. But then he got up again."

Wow. Too low a caliber, or a perp on PCP?

[laker_dad]

That's on my list too... Of course it will be for "duck hunting" :)

[DETAILER]

That's on my list too... Of course it will be for "duck hunting" :)

That's what my 12 ga. is for - if they don't "duck" really fast, they get instant lead poisoning.

Seriously, 12 ga. and/or .44 at home, .44 everywhere else.

[Old Professer]

Harper, who has delivered newspapers for 22 years, took a nap after the events subsided, then got up to finish his route after sunrise.

Just another, "Hit the ball, drag George" day.

[Old Professer]

He got rid of 4 perps over the last six years.

They should let him deduct, say, 10% of what he saved the state from his property or other state taxes. I mean 4 perps X ($10,000 per trial, $30,000 for incarceration) = $160,000 in savings, at least.

Reread the article, the store clerk shot three robbers on three separate occasions prior to the newspaper carrier shooting this guy. That makes four total but only one for Harper.

[cinFLA]

Chew more gum. A person doesn't resort to armed robbery because he uses drugs, he resorts to armed robbery to buy drugs that are very expensive as a result of their illegality.

Legalizing drugs would not reduce crime. There would be MORE dope-heads that would need money to get the drugs. Unless you are advocating that the government give out drugs free to all, you basis is wrong.

[cinFLA]

It's either disingenuousness or lack of thought that leads someone to blame the consequence on the cause.

Dope-heads don't care. They will kill for a hit whatever the cost.

[Chemist_Geek]

I'd like to get a hand gun when I can come up with some extra cash. If anyone finds out what caliber this guy was using, let me know... I will buy something bigger!

Get the largest caliber handgun you feel comfortable with, and are reasonably accurate with. Then practice regularly! If one isn't comfortable, one won't practice, and that is dangerous.

Visit MCRGO for much more firearms information, especially the message boards, and Michigan political information.

[white trash redneck]

To paraphrase Col. Jeff Cooper, any caliber that starts with a "4" makes a big enough hole: 40 S&W (and its big brother the 10 mm), 41 mag, 44 spl, 44 mag, 45 acp, 45 LC, not to mention some of the monsters like .454 Casull and .480 Ruger.

[Jeff Head]

High on a kite or not, I want to have something that literally "knocks him off his feet".

Whether he knows he's been hit or not, whether he feels the pain or not will be a secondary consideration when he is laying flat on his back in a pool of his own blood, unable to rise again.

That's why I have the .44 mag.

[Jeff Head]

S&W, long prior to their more recent antics.

[aruanan]

Legalizing drugs would not reduce crime. There would be MORE dope-heads that would need money to get the drugs. Unless you are advocating that the government give out drugs free to all, you basis is wrong

Previously, the highest murder rate in U.S. history was during the last year of Prohibition. It, like current murder rates, was tied directly to the prohibition of an illegal drug; back then it was alcohol. It was Prohibition that created the economic incentives for a flourishing black market in the manufacture and sale of a drug that people wanted. When Prohibition ended, the crime rate dropped as well. There wasn't a period during which the entire country suddenly started using the drug simply because it was then cheaper and legal.

I'm arguing from past history. You're arguing contra history. Yours is the weak argument and typical of the same type of wishful thinking that led to Prohibition (and the anti-gun movement and the anti-capitalism movement and the anti-industrial/technology movement and the anti-tobacco movement*):

(to the sound of violins playing Tomorrow)

If we can only make the substance/object/activity illegal and load on so many penalties that people are either unable or afraid to avail themselves of this substance/object/activity, then we will bring to an end all of the social ills related to the substance/object/activity and usher in a healthy, happy, and safe society of vigorous, young people clear of eye and strong of limb marching bravely together into a wondrous future undimmed by human tear. Sniff! Whaddya mean my actions could have negative effects? That's impossible because my motives are pure! If only one life is saved then it'll all be worth it.

*the current one as well as the others over the centuries--though the current one has not, as yet, started advocating property forfeiture, the death penalty, and mutilation as have previous anti-tobacco (and anti-capitalism) movements.

[cinFLA]

You are obviously ignoring the totality of the effect of narcotics on people. To equate alcohol and crack cocaine is not logical.

[cinFLA]

It's either disingenuousness or lack of thought that leads someone to blame the consequence on the cause.

This is probably the most illogical statement I have ever read. Please reread it CAREFULLY!

[DETAILER]

Whether he knows he's been hit or not, whether he feels the pain or not will be a secondary consideration when he is laying flat on his back in a pool of his own blood, unable to rise again.

A good point. If his spine is blown in half he won't be a problem again.

[e_castillo]

A person doesn't resort to armed robbery because he uses drugs, he resorts to armed robbery to buy drugs that are very expensive as a result of their illegality.

Can you define very expensive? I think it would be better to state that crime would be reduced. Even drugies can define expensive but I doubt that it would meet any normal persons criteria.