Liberty's Blog

Killing Zones

24-year-old Mathew Murray was feeling persecuted, He was told he didn't have enough of God's love to be a Christian missionary. To prove he had what it takes he decides to go out and take out a few Christians and go out in a blaze of Glory. Maybe he was thinking the church people would be sheep ready to be herded to slaughter. He should be able to march in and mow them down securing his name into history. One brave lady stood in is way and stopped what otherwise could have been a scene of complete carnage. Cal Thomas does a great job of putting this all into perspective.

It is Assam and not the shooter who received — and deserves — most of the media attention and praise. Calm and collected at a news conference, Assam detailed her movements and decision-making after hearing shots in the parking lot outside the church. She was especially attentive to possible danger after learning of the earlier shooting during which two people were killed at the YWAM facility several miles away. After hearing shots in the church parking lot, Assam said she walked about 100 yards through a hallway, hid herself and when Murray walked in, emerged from hiding and confronted him. “I was just asking God, bottom line, this is all you,” she said. “It was so loud. … It was scary. But God was with me. I asked him to be with me. And he never left my side.”

Assam is a former Minneapolis police officer who is licensed to carry a concealed weapon. She said she had been praying about what to do with her life and had volunteered to help with security at the 10,000-member church. She said, “I wasn’t going to wait for him to do other damage. I knew what I had to do.”

Jeanne Assam is a true hero, there are many people alive today because of her clearness of thought and courageous actions. There are some political heros also, those who made it possible for folks like Ms. Assam to legally carry a concealed weapon. There are states where its very difficult for folks like Ms. Assam to legally carry. Some places don't allow carry into a place of worship.

Killers — ones with mental disorders, or terrorists — look for places with large gatherings to amplify their acts. That’s why in recent years they have selected targets ranging from the World Trade Center, to Columbine High School, to shopping malls and now a megachurch. On the rare occasions when an armed person has been on the scene before police arrive, such acts have been stopped before further damage could be done. When no armed person has been present, by the time the police show up the killing is usually over and the gunman has shot himself.

The point is that gun laws will not deter criminals with evil intent and police can’t be everywhere they’re needed. But killers can be stopped by law-abiding citizens with guns. As the Supreme Court considers its ruling on whether the strict gun laws in the District of Columbia are constitutional, it might remember Jeanne Assam and her courageous, proper and for now legal response to a lawless act. Though four were killed at the two locations and several others wounded, many more owe their lives to Assam, who should be the new poster woman for those who wish to preserve the right to keep and bear arms.

Well said, Cal.
Ed Morissey summarized it so well,

After the Virginia Tech shooting, people asked whether a CCL holder could have made a difference once the shooting started. Jeanne Assam answered that question on Sunday.

Labels: Guns, Politics

posted by Liberty @ 1:53 PM