CNN: "Female Security Guard Hailed as Hero"... "saved 'hundreds of lives'"

www.cnn.com ^ | December 10, 2007 | CNN

[Luke Skyfreeper]

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (CNN) -- A Colorado Springs megachurch instituted security precautions after a shooting at a Denver area mission center earlier Sunday, saving "hundreds of lives" at the New Life Church, senior Pastor Brady Boyd said Monday.

A New Life parishioner acting as a security guard shot and killed a gunman who entered the church Sunday afternoon after he had gotten no more than 50 feet inside the building, Boyd said.

...

Boyd said the female security guard was a hero in preventing further bloodshed, rushing to confront the gunman just inside the church.

"She probably saved over a hundred lives," Boyd said of the guard, whom he said is not a law enforcement officer and used her personal weapon.

...

"Hundreds of lives were saved yesterday because of the plan that was put in place," said Boyd, who put the number of people on the church campus at the time as 7,000.

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

Then tell her she's a hero. The website for KKTV in the Springs has this page:

Share Your Thoughts and Condolences - You can leave comments, condolences and messages of support for the victims of the New Life Shootings by filling out the form below.

I'm assuming it would not be out of line to leave a message of condolence to the victims, along with a message of gratitude to the ex-police officer who saved countless other lives yesterday. No doubt the local TV station knows how to pass on the messages to the intended recipients, while still protecting their identities.

[Gritty]

Any suggestions?

Here's something which works like a charm. Nobody will know you're packing. I've been searching for the same reasons and just found this, which I really like.

The tiny Kel-Tecs conceal beautifully, too, for other situations - either on the belt or in a pocket. But I don't think I would have wanted to take one of them to this particular gunfight, or one like it, as a primary weapon. They are handy but (in my experience) with the short sight radius are accurate for about 10-15 yards, max, and not enough stopping power - especially for a guy outfitted like this one was.

[montag813]

I really don't understand this trend in this country to hail people as heroes for doing the job they were hired to do.

It is HUGE to celebrate a self-armed citizen who stops bloodshed. When the spaces are "gun free zones" (VT, Ohama Mall) and the gunmen go on a rampage, the media plays up the danger and evils of "guns" up the wazoo. This story is big because it SHOWS America what the alternative is when you permit ALL citizens to be armed everywhere--no Columbine, no Virginia Tech, no Omaha. No cops cowering behind trees waiting for the ammo to run out. You get JUSTICE.

[montag813]

According to what I've read, this guy had a rifle, was wearing a ballistic vest and tactical helmet, and his pockets were BULGING with tons of ammunition.

Where did she shoot him and how many shells did she get off?

[B4Ranch]

>Briefly.<

LOL

[knarf]

Too many replys to read all the way through ... you just happened to be at the end of page one ... but as I see it ...

and as I understand churches (if they're anything like mine) .. this woman was protecting her family.

[montag813]

I am not holding my breath to see this woman featured on CNN’s “Heroes” special, as she is neither a minority or politically correct activist.

[MayflowerMadam]

““Hundreds” may be an exaggeration,...”

Or it could be an understatement, considering that there were thousands in the congregation.

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

For instance, here's one posting out there:

Posted by: Terry Location: Englewood
My prayers go out to all involved, but most specifically to the security guard at New Life - what a task to execute to save others! As the truth unfolds about what happened, I trust that the security guard who ended the tragedy will find peace in their heart and life. I attended New Life and remembered seeing the guards around and thought "why do you need one in church?". I'm sure other large churches have plans in place like New Life did, but if they don't maybe this is a wakeup call for them. I will continue to pray for New Life, their security guard, the families affected and the community.

[woofie]

Good revised statement

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

~~~SheepDawg~~~BTTT!!...

[archy]

"Audie Murphy was just doing his job too."

Um...to be accurate, I think there was some wording in the citation about his actions being, "...above and beyond the call of duty."

To be precise:

MURPHY, AUDIE L.

CITATION:

2ND Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks and waves of infantry. 2ND Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to prepared positions in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him, to his right, one of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. 2ND Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2ND Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from 3 sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2ND Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as ten yards, only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. Second Lt. Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective.

Entered the military service from Texas.

Not bad for a dirt-poor kid from Texas who returned home at the end of World War II with every decoration for valor this country could bestow. He had participated in nine battle campaigns, including the assault landings at Sicily and Southern France and after more than two years overseas, most of it front line duty, Audie Murphy earned the title of "The most decorated combat soldier of World War II." before he was 21 years of age.

[shekkian]

An angel guided this brave woman’s hand to slay this evil monster. Two young and entirely innocent young women lost their lives to this vicious cretin. May he burn in hell.

In the fraction of a second for that woman's bullet to fly in his direction, I don't think he had time to repent of his evil ways.

[PsyOp]

“To be perfectly honest, if I had taken my gun to guard some folks that were expecting trouble, and trouble actually happened, I would not expect to be heralded as a hero. Guess it’s just me.”

And there you have the definition of the word. I doubt she expected to either.

As you said some of these words are bandied about so much that they lose their meaning.

But in becoming insensible to its over use we are in danger of not recognizing when it is deserved.

The odds were not is this woman’s favor. In fact, they were stacked heavily against her. A lot of people owe her their lives today. Of that there is no doubt.

“Real valor consists not in being insensible to danger, but in being prompt to confront and disarm it.” - Sir Walter Scott.

[B4Ranch]

You have to be 36 to run for prez.

[archy]

You want me to go attack something, swell. Let me get a couple of pals to take to the party. Didn't mean to cross the line Archy. Please accept my apologies for any offense given.

Hey, none taken, and no 'pologies necessary. But I've been a happy survivor of enough real-world troubles to go changing my firm convictions about how to take care of such situations.

Which may or may not be the *by the book* way, or *department policy* or the lawyer-approved method.

The local cops were a little bent out of shape at my ideas of the right equipment and way to do things in the event of a sniper situation hereabouts, too. It's just not their way of doing things.

[mad_as_he$$]

What would you call the Deputy Sheriff that turned and ran “to get help” at Columbine?

[bray]

Heard the 2 killed were YWAM missionaries.

Pray for W and Our Troops

[mad_as_he$$]

Amen. Columbine deserted by the ones sworn to protect those kids makes me sick.

[Dacus943]

"I really don't understand this trend in this country to hail people as heroes for doing the job they were hired to do."

JDITH...JustaBumbBlonde!

"this guy had a rifle, was wearing a ballistic vest and tactical helmet, and his pockets were BULGING with tons of ammunition."

What the heck is your definition of HERO? A well made sandwich!