Posted on 01/04/2012 7:47:24 AM PST by marktwain
Twice in the past week, victims have defended themselves during attempted crimes with gunfire.
In the latest incident, a masked man walked into an Oceanfront 7-Eleven early Tuesday morning, flashed a gun and demanded money, according to a police news release. The clerk, who was working with his son, responded by walking to the register and pulling out his own gun.
When the would-be robber made an aggressive gesture, the clerk fired, striking the man, who fled from the store at 3908 Atlantic Ave., according to the release.
About a half-hour later, around 1:30 a.m., a man suffering from a gunshot wound reported to a local emergency room, and officers linked him to the attempted robbery, police said.
Police charged Blake Christian Richardson, 18, of the 1100 block of Bay Colony Drive, with attempted armed robbery, abduction, wearing a mask in public and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. He remained Tuesday without bond in the Virginia Beach Correctional Center, according to the Sheriff's Office website.
On Thursday, a College Park man shot a teen he confronted wandering uninvited in his home after hearing glass break.
Medics took the injured teen to a hospital, and officers later charged him with breaking and entering and destruction of property.
Police did not release his name.
Neither the homeowner nor the clerk is facing criminal charges, an outcome which, according to a Virginian-Pilot review early last year of such cases, is typical in self-defense situations.
7-Eleven prohibits carrying firearms into its stores and instructs employees against confronting robbers, company spokeswoman Margaret Chabris said. However, owners of franchises, such as the store held up Tuesday, are free to set their own rules, she said.
"We've talked about safety and that there shouldn't be a weapon in the store because you never know what could happen," Chabris said. "Thank God it turned out well. The employee was OK, and the robber was arrested."
Police also have said they discourage residents from confronting armed individuals, instructing them to leave if possible or to comply with their demands and then call 911.
“...discourage residents from confronting armed individuals...”
How about armed homeowners discouraging armed intruders?
“...man shot a teen he confronted wandering uninvited in his home after hearing glass break”
I hardly call that ‘univited wandering’. Why don’t they call it what it is? He broke into the house.
Interesting charge.
I remember in the mid-70’s walking in to a party store somewhere on Detroit’s west side and an older black guy was sitting in the corner next to the door with a shot gun. That store probably never became a crime statistic.
An armed security guy is a good investment.
A show of force such as that guy probably made the criminal element think twice.
We have lots of security cameras and other technology nowadays. But as we see with flash mobs and hold-ups happening, it’s like the criminal element is not deterred by those. Perhaps the only thing to deter them is someone who is armed and ready to take action if things happen.
In the ‘90s I worked at a 7-11 in VA beach. I was tired of people stealing, so when an “Amish” youth walked in with no shirts, no shoes and grabbed all the beer out of the cooler he could carry and ran for the door, I jumped over the counter and relieved him of some, then leapt on the back of the get-away car as it tried to drive out and punched the rear window hard enough to spider web it (I was a pretty good no-holds barred fighter, so don’t try this at home, you’ll break your hand). Cops happened to be driving by, so I flagged them down, for vehicle description, I just said, “go, go, that way fast, the one with a punched out rear window!!!” lol. They caught them five minutes later, I I.D.’d them and since both were careerists, they wound up doing time (car was stolen, btw). The story spread around, and we never got robbed again while I worked there (though I did ALMOST get fired; management changed their mind a week after telling me I was going to be fired). Moral: don’t mess with VA Beach 7-11’s...
Cool story.
That store probably never became a crime statistic.
A man with a shot gun.
The store owner was smart. All the cameras, alarms, drop safes and all the other electronic gadgets do not make 1/100 the impression that a man with a gun makes to would be criminals.
As my dad always said K.I.S.S. ( Keep It Simple Stupid )
Yet here on FR usually there are 5 or more stories EVERY DAY about armed citizens protecting themselves and these are only part of the stories that make the news.
Freerepublic is part of the new media.
Every month, Armed Citizen is the first column I read when I get my NRA magazine. I love good news and good results.
It is lukewarm "members" of the NRA who only take The American Rifleman for the technical articles and the pictures of pretty guns.
Others are ex-members who were only members for a year or two 10, 15 or 20 years ago. They say the NRA is encouraging people to take the law into their own hands. When I ask "you would not use a firearm to protect your family?" They usually say well yes, BUT I don't go looking for trouble. (duh)
Many of these same people use the excuse "the NRA is always asking for money" for not being a member. Pro gun lawsuits and lobbing do not take money, lots of it?
I don't call them freeloaders, but that is exactly who they are. They want someone else to protect their rights, but don't want their name on a list (NRA member), never contact their elected officials, never write a letter to the editor, never talk to a business owner who display a sign "No Guns Allowed", never recruited a new member. They want someone else to carry the load for them. I am sure you have heard all these reasons (excuses) and more.
It takes time to reason with these people. Some times I win, sometimes I lose, but I try to never burn bridges. Plant a seed and perhaps someday they (ex-members, members or nonmembers) will see the light.
I know who you mean. They are a bit rarer in Arizona, but we call them “golfers with guns”. The people that I am talking about also tend to want to be sure that the “wrong” people do not have guns.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.