You are being pinged because of your interest in every-day citizens using firearms to save life and limb.
Add me! / Remove me
Visit the Armed Citizen Archives!
For daily doses of armed citizenry, visit GunDefense.net!
Happy Friday night everyone!
Posted on 03/28/2008 6:16:12 PM PDT by DaveLoneRanger
Des Moines police say a pizza deliveryman, who shot a would-be robber, has a valid gun permit. Sergeant Vince Valdez says the incident unfolded last night on the city's south side. The pizza deliveryman, identified as 38-year-old James Spiers, was confronted by a man with a gun as he entered an apartment building.
Valdez says Spiers has legal authority to carry a concealed weapon and used his gun to defend himself. The suspect in the case, 19-year-old Kenneth Jimmerson, is accused of placing a gun to Spiers' head and robbing him of cash.
"But, Mr. Spiers reacted quickly, grabbed the gun hand of the suspect and was able to pull his own gun out at the same time and fire some shots," Valdez said. Jimmerson was hit twice by the gunfire. At that point, Spiers called police.
Jimmerson, who's charged with first-degree robbery, is listed in serious condition at a Des Moines hospital. Spiers does not face charges in the case, but has been suspended from his job at Pizza Hut. The restaurant prohibits it's employees from carrying weapons.
Valdez says a gun isn't a tool of the trade for a pizza delivery person, but in this case, it may have saved Spiers' life. Jimmerson's girlfriend, 18-year-old Melanie Stout, is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery. Valdez says Stout placed the order for the pizza.
By the way, we've set up so the site routs through the domain name GunDefense.net. So please, everybody, tell all your friends about gundefense.net. If you ever get into a debate with someone about guns, tell them about (or take them to) gundefense.net!
PizzaHut fired the guy? If I were a pizza restaurateur, I’d hire the guy in a heartbeat. And I’d advertise: “We’re packin’!”
Police complain “quit doing our jobs, next thing you know cities will have automated ticketing systems and we’ll be out of work!”
Only problem with that: you remember the joke about 'call police, ambulance, and pizza, and see who arrives first'? What happens when people who are being robbed decide their best bet is to call for pizza?
I guess Pizza Nut would rather see its employees dead than armed. Dominoes, here I come!
Such a lovely society we’ve become when pizza delivery guys doing their job to scrape up some honest buck$ have to face deviant dangerous thugs nationwide. Any creep caught stealing or similar should have ALL his assets seized and later forced to repay victims 3 fold what they stole and death penalty for murder.
gundefense.net bump
Typical. Pizza Hut suspends the guy for defending his life. Dude, you’re a hero and you’re alive. Good job. F Pizza Hut.
Did the thug have a gun permit? I can’t find it anywhere in the article. I’m sure it’s just an oversight. Morons.....
That's fine. Write him up for breaking a rule. But the guy is driving around with pizza money all night and he has every right to defend himself. He was carrying legally, and the end result was a benefit to society.
Pizza Hut will be hearing from me on this. He should be the employee of the year.
Dominoes would fire the guy too. It’s the insurance companies that DICTATE policy. The liability premiums are much higher even if they will write your business, unless you enforce a written policy against armed staff.
To heck with that lousy job delivering pizza .... the company obviously would rather an employee be killed than a lawsuit by the thug who was robbing him. Time to quit the PIzza Hut habit. Who needs to support that company.
Pizza Hut makes lousy policy, and guess what lousy pizza.
Ya want some extra cheese on that punk !......:o)
REMEMBER, CITIZENS: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A GOVERNMENT ISSUED PERMIT, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DEFEND YOURSELF!!!!
Then "Pizza's gonna send out for YOU!"
The pizza guy is very lucky he was just fired and that he wasn’t arrested and charged. That’s just the way things are today.
I don't even know where to start with this one
If a company cannot guarantee the safety of its employees, and it won't allow its employees to guarantee their own safety while on the job...
What's that called again???
Answer: Invitation for employees to get mugged while working.
Sounds kind of like Clinton's policy for foreign aid deliveries...
There are currently FIVE HUNDRED NINETY-NINE members on the armed citizen list. Some are no longer active, some, like our friend GrandEagle, have “fallen asleep.” But if even two hundred of us wrote to Pizza Hut about this, it might mean something. I will set the example and write to them. Here’s the link:
http://www.pizzahut.com/contactus/contactlanding.aspx
Please, don’t insult their pizza or anything. Just tell them Mr. Spiers had the right and authority to carry legally, and to protect his life, and Pizza Hut should not discourage that. And I’m sure it will help if you tell them you’re switching to Domino’s/Papa Johns/Little Caeser’s!
Pizza Hut set conditions of employment, the driver agreed. he broke the contract and was fired.
Pizza Hut’s policy is stupid. The driver was correct in disobeying the terms of employment and must suffer the consequences. He’s still alive and can get another job. With this incident on his resume it should be easy for him to find one. Like others here have already mentioned, I’d hire him in a minute.
Did he ask “What do you want on your tombstone?” Oh wait, wrong pizza...
Don’t be surprized if the perp’s family hires a lawyer and sues pizza hut and the delivery man.
Pizza delivery folks should be ISSUED firearms by their employers.
If I was hiring in that town, and needed a man who could take care of himself -— I’d be looking this guy up.
“Pizza Hut’s policy is stupid. The driver was correct in disobeying the terms of employment and must suffer the consequences. He’s still alive and can get another job. With this incident on his resume it should be easy for him to find one. Like others here have already mentioned, I’d hire him in a minute.”
McCain voter eh? No one can take away your right to self defense.
Companies are usually forced to set up rules like this by their insurance companies. What's needed are laws at the state level preventing suits from being filed by anyone for self-defense actions by employees.
Ok, isn’t this great. You can’t shoot someone to save your life unless you have permit to do something the constitution gives you the right to do anyway, I.E.:carry a firearm. What a bunch of a**hats.
Sorry...feeling a bit snarky tonight. Just seemed like you were playing both sides...|;^)
Here’s what I wrote:
I am writing regarding the suspension of James Spiers, an employee in Des Moines, Iowa. His suspension follows his lawful use of a firearm to defend himself against a life-threatening situation. He is licensed by the state to carry the weapon defensively, and can reasonably expect to encounter threats in a job such as his. In accordance with a respect for the right to defense of life, and with state laws, I feel Pizza Hut is obligated to revisit its policy on weapon carry. Perhaps a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy would be best, or only allow individuals with the proper credentials to carry, just as the state does. In any event, it is shameful and disrespectful to suspend or fire a person for defending his life.
Please add me to you armed citizen ping list, Dave. Currently I'm only armed with one fist of iron and another of steel, but they have served me well, but I'm thinking of expanding my arsenal.
Pizza Hut has a bad policy and the author has a bad editor. But I fixed it for him. The intended victim may have lost his job, but he kept something much more important...his life.
Can and do. Whether anyone should be able to is another matter. I live in Illinois, I know.
Your remark about "McCain voter", doesn't even rate a comment, it also falls into the category of stupid.
“What kind of morons suspend the man for defending himself?’
They got to or every perp that gets a belly full of lead will sue for 20 million.
Don’t worry about it. It’s a game they all play because they have to.
You forgot the disclaimer...Not applicable in Alaska or Vermont.
“Your local Mom and Pop shops have much better pizza.’
And also known for their strict adherence to food safety principles.
(Most mom and pops wouldn’t know the difference between salamonella and a salmon salad.)
Sounds more like Admiral Yamamoto after Pearl Harbor.
You have mail and my apology.
Those that force disarmament of others should bear the legal consequences when the others are injured because of the disarmers actions.
Those that force disarmament of others should bear the legal consequences when the others are injured because of the disarmers actions.
Here's what I wrote:
You stupid f&%#@ng morons!!!What piece of Sh#%t wrote your asinine life threatening policy!! What were you A$$holes thinking!! I guess you all drink you're own urine in the morning to replace the brain fluid in your leaking heads!
I could go on....but I gotta go and heat up some Pizza Bites in the microwave.
Here's what I wrote:
You stupid f&%#@ng morons!!!What piece of Sh#%t wrote your asinine life threatening policy!! What were you A$$holes thinking!! I guess you all drink you're own urine in the morning to replace the brain fluid in your leaking heads!
I could go on....but I gotta go and heat up some Pizza Bites in the microwave.
In today’s society, this criminal already has a lawyer willing to sue Pizza Hut (and it’s deep pockets) for the injury suffered.
No, it’s not just, but you know it’s true. And it will go to court if they don’t settle first.
Every time a pizza delivery man defends himself in this way, it makes would-be pizza delivery robbers more circumspect about robbing pizza delivery men. The company should reward the guy.
Polk County is a difficult place to get a carry permit. Iowa is a “may issue” state. The pizza guy would have had to apply and be investigated by the sheriff and would have to have more than “carry money” as a reason to carry. Permits are issued for one year and must be renewed to keep the right to carry. Usually, your life has to be threatened to get a carry permit in Iowa...
"Sounds more like Admiral Yamamoto after Pearl Harbor".
You are correct!! Did you not see the question mark?
The point is, unfortunatly, we as a Country, do not have what it takes to fight our present enemy...no resolve>
I've been in this forum for about two years now and you are the first to comment on my tag line...
In that case, I hope the outcry from angry (former) consumers will be strong enough offset the idiotic "Thou shalt be a victim" policy dictated by insurance writers. I know it's not likely to happen so long as the courts continue to turn gutless thugs into multi-millionaires the minute they cry injury, but having their delivery people gunned down on the street is not exactly good for business either.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.