Richard
and Joan had been worried about crime near their neighborhood, and they
were fortunate enough to live in a gun-friendly state with a "must-issue"
law for concealed-carry permits. Richard had been in the Army for a while
and he knew how to shoot. He bought a handgun and he got a permit to carry
it in public. He also joined a local gun club and practiced with it. He
always wore proper hearing protection and followed all the safety rules,
so his experience on the pistol range was a safe and enjoyable one.
He didn't have time to draw his pistol when the mugger shoved him to the ground. He hadn't been hurt badly, though, and adrenaline surged through his body when he realized that he and his wife were in genuine danger. He drew the pistol and released the safety.
As Joan ran for the house to call the police, the mugger went after her, grabbed her, and prepared to throw her onto the sidewalk. Then he heard, "Stop or I'll shoot!" (Richard actually had the gun pointed into the air, because his wife was close to the mugger.) The mugger released Joan and turned to face the new threat. Yes, the old man really had a gun.
Based on statistics* provided by Masaad Ayoob's The
Truth About Self-Protection, the story ends as follows:
| 96 percent |
A would-be mugger picked the wrong victims when he attacked Richard and Joan. Although the mugger threw him to the ground before he could draw his pistol, Richard got it out in time to protect his wife of fifty years. The suspect surrendered, and police took him into custody. They are charging him with assault and attempted robbery, and they expect to link him to a rash of similar crimes that occurred nearby. or A would-be mugger picked the wrong victims when he attacked Richard and Joan. Although the mugger threw him to the ground before he could draw his pistol, Richard got it out in time to protect his wife of fifty years. The suspect fled the scene. Although he was not captured, police believe the presence of a handgun helped the couple avoid serious injury. |
| 3 percent
|
A would-be mugger picked the wrong victims when he attacked
Richard and Joan. Although the mugger threw him to the ground before he
could draw his pistol, Richard got it out in time to protect his wife of
fifty years. Although he ordered the suspect to stop, the man rushed him
with the words, "You ain't gonna use that on me, Pops."
|
| 1 percent |
A would-be mugger picked the wrong victims when he attacked
Richard and Joan. Although the mugger threw him to the ground before he
could draw his pistol, Richard got it out in time to protect his wife of
fifty years. Although he ordered the suspect to stop, the man rushed him
with the words, "You ain't gonna use that on me, Pops."
|
*From police instructor Massad Ayoob's, The Truth About Self Protection, page 327. "For every one shooting thirteen to fifteen criminals are deterred or driven off just by the sight of the gun, and this fully accomplishes what the homeowner bought the gun for in the first place. When you also consider the fact that only about one out of four people who are shot actually dies, you realize that for every home intruder shot dead by the resident, there are ninety-nine others who don't get killed, but who give up their assaults."
