Posted on 12/10/2007 5:17:49 PM PST by kellynla
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Jeanne Assam appeared before the news media for the first time Monday and said she "did not think for a minute to run away" when a gunman entered the New Life Church in Colorado Springs and started shooting.
There was applause as Assam went before reporters and TV cameras saying "God guided me and protected me."
New Life's Senior Pastor Brady Boyd called Assam "a real hero" because Murray "had enough ammunition on him to cause a lot of damage." When asked by a reporter if she felt like a hero, Assam said, "I was given the assignment to end this before it go too much worse."
"I give credit to God," she said.
Assam described how the gunman, Matthew Murray, entered the east entrance of the church firing his gun.
"There was chaos," Assam said, as parishioners ran away.
"I saw him coming through the doors" and took cover, Assam said. "I came out of cover and identified myself and engaged him and took him down."
"God was with me," Assam said. "I didn't think for a minute to run away."
Assam worked as a police officer in downtown Minneapolis during the 1990s and is licensed to carry a weapon. She attends one of the morning services and then volunteers as a guard during another service.
The victims killed in the Colorado Springs shooting were identified Monday as sisters Stephanie Works, 18, and Rachael Works, 16. Their father, David Works, 51, suffered two gunshot wounds -- one to the abdomen and one to the groin -- and was listed in fair condition on Monday. They were shot in the parking lot as they were getting into their van.
"Our concern is for our family that lost two teenage daughters. Our hearts are grieving," said Brady Boyd. "You can imagine, as parents, losing two children while coming to church, just showing up for a worship service, not bothering anyone."
Boyd said Assam was the one who suggested the church beef up its security Sunday following the Arvada shooting, which it did. The pastor credited the security plan and the extra security for preventing further bloodshed.
Boyd said there are 15 to 20 security people at the church. All are volunteers but the only ones armed are those who are licensed to carry weapons.
About 7,000 people were on the church campus at the time of the shooting, said Boyd.
From Powerline.com
It is perhaps worth noting that the toll in Sunday’s shootings exceeded the combined total in all “hate crimes” against Muslims in the six years since September 11.
:)...the article said that Miss Assam had just finished three days of fasting. She was prepared in more ways than just gun experience.
powerlineblog.com
UPDATE: According to an eyewitness, Larry Bourbonnais, quoted in the Denver Post, two male security guards with guns drawn refused to return fire and also refused to give their pistols to church members willing to shoot the assassin.
UPDATE: The Colorado Springs police force responded very quickly, but still it took two minutes for the first officers to reach the scene, by which time it was all over. Most departments stress tactics that call for the first responders to wait for overwhelming force before attempting to enter an active shooting scene. If this is true in Colorado Springs, it could very easily have taken police officers 30 minutes or longer to subdue the shooter.
There is no substitute for necessary (and courageous!) action by those whose lives are actually at risk.
UPDATE: The shooter left behind substantial evidence that his was a hate crime directed against Christians.
Thank you for your service to our country. May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you.
Psalm 46 - “God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea, Though its waters rage and foam and mountains totter at its surging. The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. Selah!”
“UPDATE: According to an eyewitness, Larry Bourbonnais, quoted in the Denver Post, two male security guards with guns drawn refused to return fire and also refused to give their pistols to church members willing to shoot the assassin.”
Disgusting IF true...
Thank God for a brave woman...
I would want my children to have the skill, presence of mind and good judgement to do what she did.
Well, that goes without saying, but it doesn’t hurt to ask for God’s help as well.
Breath control, sight picture, a good squeeze, and the confidence to face down an armed opponent; to face death from someone armed with more powerful weapons.
Believing, really knowing, God is on your side can only help in cases like that.
There may even be a bible story about that, now let me think...
Leave it to Larry King...he asked her if she felt proud of what she’d done..
they must have a lot of soy in their diet.
Thanks but I’m no “hero”
I’m just a Marine who did his job;
like the millions who preceded, served with and followed me.
“All paid some; some paid all”
Semper Fi,
Kelly
Being “just a Marine who did is job” IS being a Hero.
Further, you did it when it was a seemingly-thankless job.
If their attitude is that they're just there for the look of the thing, they're worse than useless.
At least there was one private citizen who was willing to step up and take care of business. God bless her and keep her!
“GOD provides more evidence of his existence...”
Tell that to the dead people.
Don't have to.
They now know better than anyone.
Just as you will when your day comes.
Imagine being afraid or unwilling to step up to the plate and do your job, and have to have a mere woman do it for you!
Even if (especially if) they keep their jobs, they are NEVER going to hear the end of this. They will have to change their names and move to Outer Mongolia.
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