This past week, a Father was gunned down in the outside area of a Miami Beach Restaurant. The victim placed himself between the killer and his 1 year old son.
Early accounts claim that the killler was under the influence of “mushrooms”, came into the restaurant waving a pistol, pointing it at the infant. The Father shielded the child only to be shot multiple times. In a video captured by a cellphone video, a bystander is seated nearby and the killer is shown shortly after the shooting.
A sad story. I am speechless. How can a person do this? I pray for this family. This person destroyed the life of a family. My heart aches hearing this story. I would have done the same thing that father did, take a bullet for my child. It just makes me angry. God is merciful but in this situation…….
I read this and saved the article. We read and watch select videos in the classes I teach. Agreed, always live in Condition Yellow, always carry your EDC and be trained with it.
Lastly, there should be a law against drug addicts from owning a gun… wait… the 4473 asks if you’re addicted to drugs, you can’t buy or posses a gun if so… ummm, hummm, Maybe a law against shooting dads in restaurants, that should do it. (sar)
My wife and I were just discussing this story. For me, it firmly cements the mindset that I will carry everywhere and at all times. I live in a remote, sleepy little community. I confess that in times past, I left the house unarmed once in a while. Never again.
Such a complete tragedy that could have been avoided, minimized or stopped completely. Watching the video from the Miami Herald, the perp walked up the side street and actually fired one round before making it to the outdoor cafe area. That one shot would and should have alerted a nearby permit holder to move into Condition Orange/Red.
When O was 12 my older brother made “tea”. I drank 2 full glasses of it. I guess I liked it. SHROOM TEA! I tripped out and walked all over the neighborhood. Lucky my dad drove up and saw how out of my head I was and rushed me to the hospital. Lung story short my brother finally confessed and the docs were able to save me. One time deal.
I told y’all that to say that not all drugged up people are addicts. Reserve judgement for later. Maybe he was. I didn’t read or watch everything.
Secondly, I apologize to nobody for not always carrying. Good for you if you do. My job is not 24/7/360 (W. Days in a year ) protector or Master of the Universe. I resigned from that roll along with every other church member in 2004. The preacher made us stand and resign.
I’ll add more later. Just received and urgent message from the boss, my wife.
I agree. I no longer offer excuses why I should not carry.
Also, those who take video of incidents like this are sometimes maligned but without that piece of evidence, we won’t have anything to learn from.
If you happen to be unarmed when —it happens, get in a safe spot but observe and when possible, record the incident.
When I heard about this I was shocked, then it occurred to me, some of the homeless around here are pretty much absent most of the time. I doubt they even know I’m there. Drugs do crazy things to people, in this case it was more than crazy.
“Greater love hath no man than a mother cat dying to save her kittens.” (Robert A, Heinlein)
I always carry outside, so I do not need to make any changes in my behavior in regard to this story, except possibly to avoid places infected with blue-state mentality as much as possible.
Rick Atchley gave a sermon one day back in 2004. He was talking about how we have to yield to God’s will and he made a humorous analogy to all of us trying to be Masters of the Universe (Heman). He told all of us to stand and say “I renounce myself as Master of the Universe”. It was very meaningful to me at that time because I received a Dtop Loss and was ordered for deployment to Iraq. My father-in-law died and a congregation we previously manipulated us in a very evil way. Long story short, in late 2006 I converted to Catholicism with my wife and children. That’s a different story.
If I may paraphrase Jeff Cooper (USMC, Lt. Col, ret; if you’re unfamiliar, read everything he has written): The criminal, whether adjudicated or aspiring, has no fear of law enforcement, of the courts, or of prison. The criminal fears the armed citizen. If violent crime is to be curbed, it is up to the armed citizen then and there.
Every year, there are somewhere between 600 thousand and 2 million incidents of criminal violence that were thwarted by a lawfully armed citizen. And in many instances, thwarted merely by the presentation of a firearm by the lawfully armed citizen.
Become armed – meaning become thoroughly trained, thoroughly practiced, and prepared mentally, emotionally, and legally. And once armed, it is yourself who is the weapon. Carry and be ready always.
Legally means not only carrying legally, but know & understand the law and how the courts have interpreted it (case law). That’s equally important as training with your firearm!
True. Being prepared legally is included in being armed. One CCW class is not close to good enough. There is much from Massad Ayoob on that topic on Youtube. More from Cooper: something to the effect of owning a piano doesn’t make you a musician any more than owning a gun makes you armed.