by Frank Sharpe
Fortress Defense Consultants
It was reported Monday, Nov 4, by wmfz.com, that two armed robbery suspects were shot and killed by a citizen CCW holder while fleeing the scene of their crime. Details are somewhat sketchy, however, the story seems to be that the robbers fled the store and ran directly into the path of a customer on his way in. That citizen commanded them to stop, a scuffle ensued and the felons drew their guns. The CCW holder responded by drawing his gun and shooting both attackers dead. A third party to the robbery – a getaway driver – has been arrested and charged with murder, as is the norm when a death occurs during the commission of your felony.
The choice of the citizen to get involved is something that should be studied, but the police are being tight lipped about the details and we simply don’t have enough information to make any call. What we do have information about is the reaction of the perpetrator’s friends and family to their deaths.
In a video report, wmfz.com interviews the slain felon’s family members, who seem to be from an alternate reality. I’ll give you a few of the quotes in italics, followed by my comments.
– “He hung out with the wrong crowd”
NO! Your brother WAS THE WRONG CROWD.
– “He’s not no thug…”
Oh yes he was! The second he put on a mask and committed armed robbery. [And nice double negative, by the way.]
– “He’s not a bad person. He’s a good boy. He really was.”
His actions indicate otherwise.
– “He [the citizen CCW holder] took the law in his own hands.”
NO, he did NOT. He defended his own life from two felons who threatened it. Which, is perfectly within the bounds of the law.
– “How about people just start running around here policing the city on their own? How much worse is it gonna get?”
Said the man with the neck tattoo. Did you get that in prison, or is it representative of the street gang you’re a member of?
– According to Medina, William was “no big hard criminal” and was rather a family-man who loved his young daughter.
Right. Because a “good parent” commits armed robbery and gets themselves killed. Who’s responsible for his orphaned daughter now?
I remember a time when it was possible to disgrace the family name. When one’s actions could result in embarrassment and shame for friends and loved ones. When you could be ostracized and “cast out” for unforgivable behavior. But apparently the game has changed. It would now appear that when you decide to secure weapons and ski masks, plan and execute a robbery, point guns at innocent people and threaten lives, and then die because of your criminal acts, it’s the fault of the person you attempted to murder.
The criminal is now the victim, and the victim the criminal.
Yes, this is endemic of the entire societal state of America, but psycho analyzing our national psyche is not what I’m trying to do here. My point is this: The day you are involved in a defensive shooting expect no one to thank you. In fact, most everyone – the police, your friends, your family, your neighbors, the media, the blogs and especially the VCA’s family and lawyers – will accuse you of all manner of misdoing. You will be dragged through the mire and your carcass will be picked over by vultures. Plan on it and prepare for it – expect the worst and you won’t be disappointed.
Disheartening? Perhaps. On the other hand, the alternative is death or grave bodily injury, and allowing that in no way fulfills the responsibilities you have towards your own loved ones.
We all have a right to life, as long as we live it in a non-criminal manner. We also have a duty to stay alive for those in our care. A lesson these criminals families obviously failed to teach them.
“The search for someone to blame is always successful” – Robert Half
“Take your life in your own hands and what happens? A terrible thing: no one is to blame.” – Erica Jong
Fortress Defense Consultants
www.fortressdefense.com
Screencaps from WMFZ reports.
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