August 23rd 2000 A Day That Lives In Infamy(Gun Control Kills Children)

Through talk radio; through the Internet; by word of mouth, the story gathers momentum with each passing year.

Like the tale of the Boston Massacre in 1770, passed from patriot to patriot over tankards of ale, the Merced Pitchfork Murders live and burn in the hearts of millions of Americans.

On that terrible morning of August 23, 2000, fourteen-year-old Jessica Carpenter had been left in charge to look after her four siblings, Anna, 13; Vanessa, 11; Ashley, 9; and John, 7. Their father had left for work. Their mother had taken the car to get the brakes checked.

Jessica heard noises from the livingroom. Still half asleep, she rose from bed and walked to the kitchen. Then she froze. There was a man in the livingroom. A strange man. He was stark naked.

Jessica fled back to her bedroom and locked the door. Someone knocked. Then he knocked again. And again. Jessica picked up the phone, but heard no dial tone. The intruder had taken the receiver off the hook.

That’s when Jessica thought of her father’s gun. Mr. Carpenter had taught Jessica and the other children to shoot. Jessica had passed her hunter safety course and received her certificate at age 12. She knew that her Dad always kept a .357 Magnum in his bedroom.

In deference to California’s safe storage laws, however, Mr. Carpenter kept the pistol high up on a closet shelf, unloaded and out of reach of the children. Even if she could somehow get to the other end of the house to retrieve it, Jessica knew she would have to climb up on something to reach the gun, scramble around for the bullets and then load them. The man would be on her before she had a chance.

So Jessica climbed out the window to get help.

Too Late

I never heard of this story. So sad.

I have my 45 caliber H&K beside my as I watched the video. Almost never while at home is there not a firearm within reach. Before I retired I mentioned that fact to some of my co-workers. They were amazed. I told them that a locked firearm is useless.

When one of my daughters visited recently she was given a 357 magnum full loaded for her bedroom while visiting. All my overnight guests have their own firearms while visiting.

I obey all firearms laws for off property. While on my own property self-defense is the only guide.

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