“Abe Lincoln may have freed all men, but Sam Colt made them equal.” That’s the ad slogan Colt used after the Civil War to move their guns. By that time, Sam Colt was pushing up daisies; he died at the tender age of 47. I wonder if Sam felt any decline in his physical abilities before his demise. It would have made him [more] aware of the importance of a firearm as an self-defense equalizer for the elderly and infirm. Equally, I wonder what would have happened if the 71-year-old Charlotte woman in the following report [via heraldonline.com] had been armed against three teenage home invaders . . .
Multiple media outlets report that three teens were charged Monday with attempted murder, armed robbery, conspiracy, kidnapping, and breaking and entering. They are 14, 17 and 18 years old.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police say the attack occurred about 1 p.m. Sunday. Police say the trio broke into the home in northwest Charlotte and demanded money from the victim before leaving in her car, an olive-green 2005 Nissan Altima.
The victim was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. She was back at home recovering by Sunday night.
Police first arrested the 14-year-old juvenile. The other teens, a 17-year-old girl and 18-year-old male, were arrested later Monday.
According to Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and its corporate overlord Everytown for Gun Safety, the three teens qualify as “children.” If the 71-year-old homeowner had shot them in defense of her health, life and property, they would have been victims of “gun violence.”
Anyway, other reports reveal that the perps zip-tied the Vietnamese-born homeowner, pointed a gun at her head and left with cash and jewelry. She reckons she was targeted because her family owns a nail salon; the teens thought she had a lot of cash at home.
She was able to free herself with a knife she kept by the bed (for her evening apple). She couldn’t identify the teens because she wasn’t wearing her glasses. Two words occur: home carry. And three more: point and shoot. No doubt Sam would have approved. [h/t AW]
14 years old. Wow.
Sadly, these days that’s hardly even news.
Not sure about this one. The kids had at least one gun, too. My dad is 63, I don’t trust he’d be swift to operate with a home defense gun. Odds were probably worse for this poor lady.
You forgot to add “/sarc”…right?
A few months ago an armed home invader broke into a local elderly couple’s home, with a gun. The couple had basically zero experience with firearms, but managed to subdue the attacker with just one shot from a 9mm pistol.
Your hypothetical scenario is more suited to the likes of the feeble MDA than reality.
If you are referring to the episode I read about, the elderly man stated that it was the first time he had fired a gun in his life, and IIRC the perp died. And I am 68, you don’t want to try me out in my home.
I’m 63, you don’t want to try me anywhere CC is legal
It’s downright amazing what an adrenaline dump can accomplish.
Not sure about what? That she shouldn’t be allowed to make the decision to shoot, too old to defend herself, or what?
No problem, the police sprang into action and bravely took the miscreants into custody after they nearly killed her, so the system works.
I Don’t know your dad and can’t and won’t speculate on his physical capabilities. However, I can tell you I am 67 years, carry at home and that 14 year old wouldn’t have made it to 15.
You and I are the same age. I carry at home and I shoot straight. While I don’t believe that my home is at risk, I’m perfectly capable of assuring that if I’m wrong, I won’t be the one who suffers because of it.
She might want to look into a gun. And tougher home security so she doesn’t get caught so easily.
In addition to home carry, she might want to consider home wear of her glasses.
Disgusting. What ever happened to respecting one’s elders? It pisses me off every time I see a bunch of kids making fun of an older person. Today’s kids would rather stand there, laugh, and yell rude comments at the little old lady trying to cross the street instead of helping her. And 14 years old? Where the hell were that kid’s parents, besides failing miserably? I know that sometimes parents do all that they can to raise their kid right, and still fail. But when a kid goes bad, it’s still a failure, even if they did everything right.
Social commentary: witnessing several generations, I’d say respecting ones elders in the USA was never the Asian cultural aspect old codgers seem to think it was. Young punks have existed for decades, even centuries. Modern technology just allows us to scrutinize the effects. The older I get, the more I realize human sin, greed, and petty crime are an undeniable aspect of social interaction. Hence, I carry. We all carry. Profound, I know 😛 As a technical aside, I just took a defensive shotgun course with a keltec KSG and boy am I sold on the conclusive abilities of a 14+1 shotgun. Or two.
Progressive ideology has deified youth as well. “Question authority” has become code for “you know better because you’re young and passionate,” and its no wonder kids don’t respect their elders.
Wow 63 and you think that’s old? God help the 14 year old who messes with THIS OLD GUY IN HIS 60’S. NO MERCY.
Old enough to commit attempted murder, old enough to suffer the ultimate consequences.
Riiiight. Don’t forget, the little darling will be loose, with no record, in 4 years at the outside.
What, he’s gonna dig himself out of a grave in 4 years?
Indeed, they would’ve been “victims of gun violence,” just as had they jumped in front of a bus they’d have been “victims of inertial trauma.”
That said, defensive violence with a gun is a Good Thing.
So, TTAG does us an incredible service. We get daily updates on firearms news, 2A issues, gun reviews, etc. I especially enjoy the lively debates in the comments. Can we get a big hell yeah for the TTAG staff? Maybe it’s the Austin-distilled vodka talking, but goddamn do I love me some TTAG.
The names of the attackers:”Sylessa Ford, 17; Myron Bullock, 18; and a 14-year-old” (http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/12/29/5413154/police-charge-teen-with-attempted.html}
Sylessa and Myron, huh? Well, they name their kids funny in the Arab countries too, and the African ones, right? Their parents probably wanted them to feel at home somewhere besides where they live. In case their criminal records required they leave the country.
Its funny how this publication says the woman suffered only “minor injuries.”
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/12/30/5414335/three-teens-arrested-in-assault.html (Paragraph 2, sentence 1)
Minor injuries are like minor surgery. Minor being defined as that which happens to someone else.
If I read this correctly she did not spend the night in hospital, I don’t see how her injuries could be too bad.
The only way to stop “criminal” gun violence, is with “legal” gun violence. Or…..
The only way to stop “unjustified” criminal violence is with “justified” legal violence.
Don’t these deranged, anti-gun fascists, truly represent the violent criminal classes?
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