Massachusetts Gun Laws Turn Store Full of Customers into Cowering Targets*

Worcester (MA) Telegram and Gazette (owned by New York Times Publishing) ^ | 12/16/03 | Williamson

[mvpel]

"Gawd" was the least of my reaction. I personally concluded that that police chief is likely destined for the First Round of the Seventh Circle right downstream from the rapist, as a tyrant, boiling in blood up to his eyebrows.

In other words, I was outraged.

[.38sw]

The police chief is not only a tyrant, he is an arrogant fool. He belongs in the First Round of the Seventh Circle, as you said. Anyone who would deny a woman the right to protect herself from a rapist belongs there. As a resident of California, I am unable to get a carry permit, but I cam and do carry a nice little folder. It's not much, but it's better than nothing.

[Dead Corpse]

Where were the police?

Maybe I haven't been paying attention, but I've never heard of a donut shop getting robbed.

[claudiustg]

I've lived in Mass. They've passed so many gun laws and been subjected to so much propaganda that the majority of people react with horror to guns. They've developed an exaggerated fear and awe of firearms. Mass is more like England than a part of the US.

[zip]

You nailed it (pun intended).

[SCDogPapa]

but I've never heard of a donut shop getting robbed.

Of course not,,,it's full of cops.

[zip]

Everyone has had bad experiences at some store at some time but that doesn't excuse it. I retired from state gov't 5 years ago with experience with managing up to 120 employees so I know a little about mgt. At the Jefferson City Lowes, any employee acting that way would be dragged through hot coals, or have finger nails ripped out (figuretively speaking). Elbucko, have you discussed this with the store manager. I know it would bring results at most of our stores. Give it a try.

[Sergio]

You've heard the cliche, "It's always in the last place you look." If you found it the first place you looked, ou will have found it in the last place you looked, as there is no reason to continue searching for something that you have already found.

You need to look at the cliche, "It's always the quiet ones that snap" in the same manner. It's always the quiet ones!

The ones that are loud, foul mouthed, drunk, disorderly, anti-social, and make a habit of waving a weapon around, are already in jail.

The average person is, well, average, like the vast majority of us. We know that we wouldn't go out and start shooting people so it shocks us when someone so similar to us does.

Prayers go out to all involved.

Sergio

[from occupied ga]

Darn, beat me to it, but there is a world of difference between "may issue" and "shall issue" NYC is a "may issue" jurisdiction, and no one except a few celebrities get a carry permit there.

[from occupied ga]

I've lived in Mass.

My sincere condolances

They've passed so many gun laws and been subjected to so much propaganda that the majority of people react with horror to guns.

Exactly. There is a reason that fat Teddy keeps getting re-elected. The reason being that he accurately reflects the viewpoint of the majority of the electorate, freedom hating, government, loving, tax sucking marxists who are too cowardly to accept responsibility for their own well being and envious of those who do.

[hobbes1]

2 16 oz. Estwing Claw hammers.



The first to get his attention with a solid toss.


The Second to open a hole in his skull.

[Shooter 2.5]

[m1-lightning]

LOL! Well, I'll still give some respect to cops. There was one that called in on the radio show in Peoria that said he supported CCW because he admitted that police couldn't be on every street corner and can't drive the speed of light.

[ninenot]

If the story is accurate, by the way, there's not a damned thing an ARMED citizen could have done unless they happened to be standing right next to the action.

The guy shot 2 people and left.

So if YOU were at the cash register, armed, exactly what would you have done? Shot the perp in the back? In his truck?

This kind of thing happens all the time, and will continue to happen regardless of CCW in any State.

[ibheath]

bump for later

ps, Great Graphic!

[tx4guns]

Your point is a valid one. Here in TX, if the perp is attempting to flee, and poses no immediate threat to inflict bodily harm on you or others, you cannot use deadly force to stop him. You could order him to drop the weapon, but I'm sure this happened so fast, nobody had a chance to do anything. He was probably out the door before people could react. Now if you draw on him to defend yourself and he raises the gun towards you, he's fair game. The guys who got shot probably didn't have time to defend themselves, even if they did have a gun. If the shots were fired at very close range, some kind of martial arts would have come in handy, but it sounds like this guy unloaded on them (8 shots fired). A CCW holder more than likely would not have prevented these guys from getting shot. The only thing CCW would have done to prevent this is to be a deterrent to a criminal. Unfortunately most of the time, the criminal is not thinking about himself, and has no regard for the consequences. Like I said, CCW can act as a deterrent, but it's never going to stop the crazies from doing stupid acts.

[IonInsights]

I lived in Massachusetts, just a few miles down to road from that Lowe's. I had a class A CCW that allowed large capacity magazines. I took an NRA course, applied to (and got fingerprinted by) the Police Department, and got my license in about 6 weeks. Simple.

[cpst12]

1. Why do you have a CCW? Are you in law enforcement or some special case?

Just because I wanted one, and no, I am not in law enforcement.

2. Massacusetts is not a "shall issue" state. How easy is it for the average law-abiding citizen to get a permit?

Can't answer for anyone but myself...went down, filled out application, got pictures taken and voila. Guess it may help to live in the still rural part of the state (Western mass). I am sure it is not as easy everywhere; perhaps I falsely assume that it still possible *most* towns if you are "clean."


3. How many people do you know have a CCW, other than law enforcement types?

I never ask anyone, so I don't know.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Yeah no kidding, you should see what I did to my left index finger with my 20oz ripping hammer, almost took the end of my finger off with it when I was framing. A couple stiches later and its all good.

[Saundra Duffy]

And there's nothing we can do but count on it.

Nothing we can do?!! Arm yourselves!!