Posted on 10/02/2013 7:43:07 AM PDT by Kip Russell
A Tennessee fencing coach thwarted a robbery when he chased of two goons with his sword, according to a report.
Franco Scaramuzza pulled into a Nashville shopping center last week and saw two goons pepper spray a couple and then take off with the woman's purse, local WSMV-TV reported.
"The first thing that went through my head is somebody should do something, and that's when I got really upset and disappointed with myself, because I realized I had the opportunity to do something," Scaramuzza said.
"And I didn't want to be a hypocrite who just tweeted about it."
The brave swordsman, who had just finished practice and was still in his fencing duds, grabbed his weapon from the backseat and charged toward the robbers.
"I charged towards them, holding my épée (sword) up high, and, you know, yelling at them," he told the station.
"I kept yelling throughout the entire thing. They completely panicked and dropped everything they stole and really took off."
Cops caught up to the suspects, Michael Butt and Zachary Johnson, a short while later.
Both were charged with robbery and were being held on $50,000 bond apiece.
Scaramuzza, who works as an art director, credited his fencing training for honing his crime-fighting skills.
"You have to overcome your own fears," he told WSMV-TV.
Thanks for the PING. Good story. Lucky for him, the little pukes didn’t have a gun. Still, a gutsy thing to do. Kudos to our intrepid swordsman.
Roger that. I’ve always been a believer in bringing guns to gun fights, as you know... But that said... Depending on the exact situation, at very close quarters a sword could give you at least even odds. Maybe even an advantage at times.
I hope the knife rights movement grows. We’ve got to do something about all these stupid knife laws all over. Especially about automatics and assisted openers. How a knife -opens- is simply a silly basis for restriction.
I’ve asked knowledgeable people for years now... Police... Prosecutors... Attorneys... Nobody can tell me why these laws exist. There seems to be no particular reason beyond the sheer inertia that such knives have always been illegal. My hunch is that lots of these laws got passed by frightened city councils after somebody watched West Side Story. It’s that simple... There’s no real reason other than somebody saw a movie with a switchblade in it... And got scared.
There is a dynamic that happens that I call “fad” legislation.
Something and or someone makes the public aware of a false “danger”, be it switchblades, blowguns, or nun-chucks. Most of the public have no real knowledge of it or its capabilities. A demagogue somewhere sees an opportunity to build their reputation, and because there is no organized opposition, gets a law passed.
Other opportunistic legislators want recognition too, they see it worked somewhere else, the media fans the flames, and it spreads like wild fire across the country.
These laws make no rational sense, but they hang on the books for ages, until rational opposition arises.
“Fad” legislation is a good description. I think you’re exactly right. Something just seems like a good idea to some yokel that wants his name on a new law... And rules get made without any actual need behind them.
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