LA: 40 Shots Required to stop Determined Attacker

Sometimes, 7 shots are not enough.  10 Shots are not enough.  20 shots are not enough, 30 shots are not enough.  In the case related below, 40 shots were required to defeat a determined attacker.

Most predators retreat in the face of resistance.  If a predator faces armed resistance very many times, they will be killed or wounded.  In nature, that makes for a short life.  But there are motives for aggression other than predation.  Defending territory and competing for mates are two of them, often intertwined.  Those conflicts are engaged in with fierce dedication.  Without territory or mates,  a predator does not pass on its genes.  A missed predatory opportunity is just one of many.  Available territory and mates are limited.

It is not surprising that domestic attacks may be pursued with irrational dedication.   They are subject to deep seated drives that are not easily dismissed.  Nearly everyone can tell you how surprised and amazed they were at how strong and irrational jealousy was, when they experienced it.  Some go 'over the edge'.

It can take a lot of shots to stop a determined attacker.   Read some of the accounts of what Medal of Honor awardees endure and keep on fighting.  The human body can take an amazing amount of punishment and maintain some fighting ability.  In addition, it is hard to make aimed shots at someone who is shooting at you.  Many shots are fired at small moving targets, at places where you think your shots may penetrate and be effective, or as ways to pressure the attacker to take cover. 

That is what seems to have happened in this case in Louisiana.  The attacker was determined, but even determined, suicidal attackers, are subject to the laws of physics.

In this domestic defense case, the defender fired 40 shots, and the wounded attacker finally committed suicide.  From theadvocate.com:

Stephanie Averett heard him yell he was “bleeding out” and said Johnson told him they would get him help if he would stop shooting. But the gunfire resumed.

Eventually, deputies arriving on the scene directed Johnson and Stephanie Averett out through a window. By the time some of those deputies made it inside the house, Sidney Averett had shot himself and was pronounced dead at the scene. A semi-automatic handgun and a revolver were found near his body. Another bloody handgun was found in his car, the report states.

Investigators believe he fired about 20 rounds. Johnson shot 40 from his service pistol. 

 David Johnson's pistol would be considered an 'assault weapon' in numerous pieces of proposed legislation.   If someone tells you that domestic defenders never 'need' more than 7, or 10, or 20, or 30 rounds, tell them about this case.


 ©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch

CA: Aftermath of Robbery Attempt; 2 Dead, 2 Life Sentences, 2 in Prison for Years

The robbery attempt occurred in June of 2011.  The store owner killed two suspects, the other two robbers fled, and two more were connected to the crime with phone records.

The men entered the store with the plan to rob the premises. Avery was armed and pulled out a gun and attacked the store manager, named in court documents as John Doe.

During the attack, Avery pointed the weapon at Doe’s head and chest. The store’s owner was able to shoot Avery and Brown three times each. Avery and Brown were declared dead at the scene. Clark fled.

A day before the botched robbery, Hunter and Paschall stole a car to be used in the heist. Paschall was a getaway driver to help his co-conspirators flee. Hunter also drove a rented car to be used in the robbery and getaway.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case.

During the investigation, Hunter, Clark and Paschall were linked to the crime through DNA hits. Hunter and Paschall were also linked to the crime through phone records. Hunter and Paschall were arrested by the Sheriff’s Department about three months after the robbery attempt.

More Here

NC: Woman Drives off Invader with Gunfire

The loud noise turned out to be a man kicking through her door.

The woman called 911 and confronted the intruder.

“I got my handgun and walked around the corner to see this person entering into my home. I asked, ‘Why are you trying to break into my home?’” she said.

She said when he didn’t respond, she pulled the trigger and fired six shots. The shots missed the man and pierced the wall. He ran from her house.

“I feel had I not had a weapon, I could have easily been on the news as someone who was killed; raped,” she said.



More Here

IN: Armed Daughter shoots one of three; Glad she Followed Father's Advice

"I always come home late at night, but since I went to the grocery store last night, it was even later," she said. "He is the one that grabbed at me and when he did, I just reached and turned around and shot and they ran."

One of Crystal's bullets struck one of her three attackers.

Her father wanted his only daughter to be licensed to carry so she could protect herself.

"Honestly, I mostly carry it because my dad wanted me to. Now I'm glad I listened," Crystal said.

Metro police located and arrested robbery suspect 18-year-old Deon Smith who suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder. The other men reportedly escaped through a hole in a fence.

"I never thought anything like this in my life would happen," Crystal said.

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MS: Property Owner shoots Two of Three

According to the Star-Herald story, later in the day, the property owner called back to tell authorities the suspects in the earlier incident had returned. The property owner fired shoots at the three suspects (two males and one female).

The two males were hit and suffered non-life threatening injuries. One of the injured were taken to Montfort Jones Memorial Hospital in Kosciusko while the other injured suspect was flown to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

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AR: 80-Year-Old Defends Home, Wounds Self, Kills Suspect

According to Miller County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Wesley Penny at approximately 7:50 P.M., a home invasion was reported at a residence on McClure Road. A white male suspect, identified as Garrett Heath Halbert, entered the residence through the front door where he attacked the 80 year old home owner. During the physical altercation, the home owner shot the suspect.

Radio traffic indicated the homeowner accidentally shot himself in the arm during the altercation.
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AL: Domestic - Officer Shoots Former Boyfriend who Broke Door

According to a press release sent to News 5, the officer's former boyfriend arrived at her home around 1:00am and forcefully attempted to get in. While police officers were en route to the scene, the ex-boyfriend broke down the door and got inside.

As stated in the press release, the off-duty officer -- stated as this case's victim -- fired several shots at her ex-boyfriend, with one bullet injuring his leg.

 More Here

TN: Man Shoots Dogs to Protect Rabbits

Spalding says he woke up to a commotion in his yard and saw the two dogs attacking his rabbit pen. He says he yelled at the dogs to get them to stop, but they ignored him. He says one of the dogs then growled at him when he approached the pen, so he shot at the dogs a couple of times to run them off.

“I’m sorry that I killed a neighbors dog, but I’m not sorry I protected my animals,” said Spalding.

No charges will be filed in the case as officials say no laws were violated.

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Gun Turn In 'Buy Back': Homemade Shotguns for Cash

In an unnamed gun 'buy back' that is reported to have occurred in June of 2014, These four homemade slam fire shotguns were turned in for cash.  The piece of pipe that acts as a barrel slides in the front.   It is much like the slam fire shotguns that were developed and used in guerrilla fighting in the Philippines in WWII.  From countercurrentnews.com:

The self-described “gun rights activist,” who we are not naming, brought in a duffel bag full of home made, “slam-fire” shotguns (all of legal length). He was paid $50 for each of these improvised guns. This low ball price shows just how unrealistic it is for anyone but criminals to turn guns in to the police when they have these buy back programs.

Maybe an alert reader can ID the gun turn in where this occurred.   There was a turn in event in New York in June of 2014, but I do not know if that is the same as this one.  Still, $200 for a couple of hours of work and $30 worth of pipe is a worthwhile project.

Across the country, communities, police departments and churches are sponsoring gun turn-ins to get "guns off the street". At many of these events, private buyers are showing up, offering cash for the more valuable guns. These private additions to the public turn-in are effective, no doubt, in getting more guns off the street, because they add to the resources that are available to those who want to get rid of guns for something of value, be it a grocery card or a number of twenty dollar bills.

You can help make the turn-in in your area more effective by standing on the curb with your "Cash for Guns" sign, or at a folding table, willing to offer more than the gift card for firearms that are more valuable. It would be best if numerous private parties were available, as more good guns could then be transferred into responsible hands.

This action serves many useful purposes. It stretches the turn-in budget so that more guns can be taken off the street. It helps keep fearful widows from being defrauded of most of the market value of the gun they are turning in. It prevents valuable assets from being destroyed by bureaucratic inflexibility. It is a win-win-win situation. The ideal situation for those organizing the turn in would be to allow private buyers to purchase the valuable guns, while having the organizers take the cheap guns "off the streets". As these events are ideologically driven, that seems unlikely, but it might be worth an attempt at outreach. All parties would benefit.

Private buyers dispel the pernicious message that guns are bad and should be destroyed.

Link to potential legal risk of buying a gun at one of these events

Link to article with numerous examples of private sales at gun turn in events

Link to an article about private buyers at Detroit event

Link to Phoenix Article: pictures of private buyers


©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch

Update: an alert reader on Freerepublic informed us that the turn in 'buy back' happened in Fredericksburg VA.  They included a link to fredericksburg.today.

Mike Vanderboegh: Denial by Chris Cox at NRA Meeting (video)

You will note that the video was shot by your intrepid correspondent.  It was definitely an "ambush" interview, taken at a moment of opportunity.  I did not capture everything I wanted, but if I was going to take a cut, this is the cut that I would have taken.

From Sipsey Street Irregulars:

Chris Cox: "I categorically deny everything that you wrote with regards to that. It's complete bullshit." WE STAND BY OUR STORY.

After days of seeking comment from NRA representatives on David Codrea's breaking story and my follow-up, I had given up getting any official reaction. However, yesterday afternoon on the way out of the NRA national meeting display floor on my way to the car, Dean Weingarten (who blogs at Gun Watch) and I ran into Chris Cox and his entourage.

I approached him, shook his hand, introduced myself, and asked him for comment on my story. He ceased smiling when he realized who I was, dropped my hand like a hot rock, flushed red in the face, and said: "I categorically deny everything that you wrote with regards to that. It's complete bullshit." I replied, "We stand by our story, and if you feel we have libeled you, you are welcome to sue me." He then turned and stalked off. He was extremely angry.

The whole thing happened totally unexpectedly, like a meeting engagement in deep jungle, and unfortunately as I leaped in and gave him no warning to begin filming, Dean had some trouble getting the camera into play. Thus we missed getting a video record of the preamble and then the camera cuts off just as I said "We stand by our story." However, the operative words of Mr. Cox were captured on this snippet below.

(Video courtesy of Dean Weingarten.)

Thus, we now have an official response from NRA. However, I repeat here what I told him then: WE STAND BY OUR STORY.

Although there was no need, I ran his reaction past some of the sources we used for the story. All of them who I was able to contact were solid in their conviction of the truth of their part of the story. In turn, I have absolute confidence in their veracity. I wouldn't have written the story if I didn't. Yet Chris Cox's categorical denial of "everything" that I wrote must be noted. It IS the official reaction we were seeking.

Of course David and I have heard such categorical denials and ad hominem attacks before to stories of ours, most notably in the wake of our first work on Fast and Furious. One friend commented to me, "Well, that tells us one thing. Whatever the deal was, it's blown up now. Cox wouldn't deny it otherwise."

We have been plain that there is much that is not yet known about the deal. Perhaps it came as a surprise to Cox personally. Perhaps Cox wasn't in the loop. It seems unlikely to me, but is within the realm of possibility. Of course, for a leader and public persona in a very responsible position such as Cox that would hardly help. If he knew and agreed to the deal, he's incompetent and stupid for having done it. If he didn't know, he's incompetent and ignorant about affairs in his own legislative shop.

More Here

WI: Armed Husband stops Crime Spree

Criminals normally commit many crimes before they are caught.  If these crimes occur in a short amount of time, we call it a crime spree.  One of the ways these crime sprees are cut short is that the criminals encounter an armed citizen.  It happened in Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday, the 10th  of April, 2015.  From channel3000.com:

MADISON, Wis. -
Police said two men were arrested after a string of violent home invasions Friday on Madison's west side.

A number of people were victimized, starting with a 90 year old woman, then a 22 year old noticed a burglary in progress at her home and car, and avoided the criminals by running to a neighbor's house.   Then the duo made a mistake in the victim selection process.  From  the article:

Police responding to the Gladstone address took Harrison into custody at the home. Police said the husband at the home confronted the burglars with a firearm. Scott reportedly fled in the vehicle. Harrison and the homeowner got into a brief struggle, which is when the homeowner's gun discharged. No one was injured. Harrison dropped his handgun and the homeowner detained Harrison until police arrived.

How many additional crimes were prevented is impossible to say.

 ©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch

AL: Armed Homeowner holds Suspect for police

Etowah County, Ala._ Officials say a Gadsden man tried to get away with stealing from a home in Etowah County, but his departure plans were cut short by a homeowner with a gun.

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TX: Clerk fires at Thief

A man walked into the JK Food Mart at Carroll and SPID and tried to buy two cartons of cigarettes with a credit that was denied. The clerk told police the man then grabbed the cigarettes and ran outside.

Earlier reports said the suspect told the store owner he had a gun, but that information isn't in a follow-up brief from CCPD.

As the suspect was getting into a waiting car, the owner fired three shots. None of the bullets hit the robber or the driver. But the robber took off running down Carroll Lane.

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AR: Charges Dropped against Tatto Shop Owner in death of Homeless Woman

According to an arrest report, Pawlak was shot by DeCarlo after she threw rocks through his front store windows.

Little Rock Police arrested DeCarlo for second-degree murder, but prosecutors now say they're dropping the case.

"I don't know how it's ever, ever okay to shoot a defenseless person," Reddin said. 

Off camera, DeCarlo said Wednesday he fired the shots believing someone was trying to break in. He says he didn't know Pawlak and never saw who was outside his window that night.

More Here

Significant Picture Placement at the NRA Meeting?

My war was the Cold War.  I spent a good chunk of my career helping to develop weapons to counter the communist threat.  A chunk of our intelligence effort was spent attempting to determine what was going on inside of the Soviet Union, who might succeed who in the leadership, and what it might mean.

Watching the NRA and trying to determine what is happening in its internal politics is much like that.  There are the public pronouncements, that tell us some of what happened, after the fact.  While the NRA elections can have a significant effect on select races for the board of directors, the control of the organization has never been in doubt since the late 1990's.

Wayne LaPierre has led the organization since 1991.  That is 24 years.  He has been extremely successful.  While maintaining control of the organization in spite of a membership revolt led by Neal Knox, LaPierre learned from the experience.   He brought the organization more in line with the political desires of the members, who wanted less compromise, and more offense in the protection of the second amendment.

During Wayne's tenure, second amendment supporters have expanded legal concealed carry to all 50 states and most territories.  The Heller case, originally opposed by the NRA, earned its support.   The McDonald decision followed, and  many give the NRA, significant credit for supporting that win with an amicus brief.

I am hearing rumors that Wayne may be considering retirement.  He has done very well with the NRA.  He is nationally known, and loved by more people than he is despised by.    The question is: who will succeed him in the executive vice president spot?  That spot is the chief executive officer (CEO) position in the NRA.  The president's post is largely ceremonial.  That is why the above picture is significant.  Chris Cox is a clear up and coming presence in the NRA.  He is heard from more and more, and many believe that he will be Wayne LaPierre's successor.   The prominent poster showing Chris Cox behind LaPierre, and ahead of Charlton Heston, is exactly the sort of thing a Soviet watcher would attach significance to.

Will Chris Cox be the next executive vice president of the NRA?  No one knows for sure.  But that is the way to bet.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch

Open Carry at the NRA Annual Meeting in Nashville, 2015

There have been  a number of stories written claiming that functional guns are not allowed at the NRA annual meeting in  Nashville.  The New York Times ran  an article, and National Review ran  an  article debunking the claims in the New York Times.  Charles C. W. Cooke does a good job of debunking.   But pictures do a better job.   I noticed some people openly carrying arms inside the media room at the NRA meeting.  Glocks seemed to be favored, but I also saw a 1911 and a J frame Smith & Wesson revolver.  I asked for and took these photographs of three media people openly carrying in fifteen minutes.

The other two open carriers in the fifteen minute interval carried Glocks as well.

I thought the Cold Steel push dagger was a nice touch on the belt.   The carrier said that he was convinced by a Massad Ayoob article.  Notice the folding knife in the back pocket.

I know that there were at least a couple of concealed carriers in the room, because I was confided in by confidential sources.  After all, concealed is concealed.

It is likely that some of the open carried guns in the media room were concealed on the floor of the convention.  The media room is restricted to people in the media, so people are a little more relaxed among their peers.  The NRA has been on the forefront of recognizing the new media.  Two years ago, the number of new media people at the NRA meeting surpassed  those of the old media.

I saw a lot of familiar faces from the Shot Show, and from the Gun Rights Policy Conference.  If you are able to attend one of these events, I highly recommend them.

Update:  More open carry pictures from the media room.

 1911 type.

Kahr.

Glock with peep sight.

Off side.

As the days went on, jackets came off and people were a bit more casual about bending over, and "printing.  I saw a number of people who were clearly carrying concealed... for the most part.

I estimate that about 20 percent of the people in the media room were armed.


©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch

KY: Surrender has to be Unambiguous to be Effective

In this case in Kentucky, the robber had a fake gun.  When the victim pulled his own gun, the robber resorted to a gesture that indicated he did not want a gun fight.  But the realistic fake gun was still in his hand.

The clerk fired, the robber dropped the fake gun and fled.  His accomplices dropped him off at a closed Urgent Care, but bystanders called an ambulance and he survived, barely. 

Link to video

William Sexton's Accomplices

Police Chief Rick Sanders joins a growing list of police and Sheriffs who have praised armed defenders.  From wlky.com:

Sanders said the clerks move was risky, but paid off.

"In this case, I think the clerk did everything right and fortunately he survived," Sander said.

In the above closeup, it is easy to see that the item is a fake 1911 Colt.  It is not so easy to see it from a few feet, in a dynamic situation, when it is pointed in your direction.   As Chief Sanders noted, you have to assume that the threat is real. 

It turned out that the four suspects involved in the attempted robbery all admitted to being involved.  They all said that they were heroin addicts who were attempting to obtain their next fix.  It is possible that a forced period, off of the drug, in jail or prison, will save them from an overdose.   The wounded robber, William Brandon Sexton, was lucky to survive the shooting:

The clerk shot Sexton once, hitting him in the hand and chest. He lost at least one finger and bullet fragments penetrated his heart and lungs.

The article does not say what ammunition the clerk was using.  It was likely a very aggressive hollowpoint, or perhaps a prefragmented round such as a Glaser safety slug.  A full metal jacketed bullet would not have fragmented so quickly.

If faced with an opponent who holds a weapon, you cannot assume that their gestures or words of surrender are genuine.

Notice that even though Sexton was shot in the hand and the chest, he had plenty of active time to retreat out the door and make it into the getaway car.  The Clerk showed considerable (and justifiable) restraint by not continuing to fire after the first shot forced Sexton to drop the fake gun. 

People who are shot often continue their actions for many seconds before they are disabled.

The common wisdom is that defenders should continue to fire until the opponent is no longer a threat.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch

OK: 70-Year-Old in Gunfight, Vehicle Chase with Suspect

The chase began after officials said a 70-year-old man came home to find his back door kicked in and a man in the home.


The homeowner then got in his truck to chase the suspect. Officials said the two exchanged gunfire and rammed each other's vehicles.

The homeowner eventually stopped and three Pottawatomie County deputies picked up the chase.
More Here

IA: Armed Citizen Stops Dog Attack

Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals says a person whose name has not yet been released shot the dog after it went after the woman and two other people several times on Monday.

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FL: 2A Rights During Emergency Bill goes to Governor Scott

Florida second amendment supporters have been attempting to push a gun law reform that eliminate the current requirement that most gun owners leave their firearms at home during mandatory evacuations, potentially making them vulnerable to looters.   From the bill, SB 290:

(2) Except as provided in subsection (3), a person who is 22 not licensed under s. 790.06 and who carries a concealed firearm
23 on or about his or her person commits a felony of the third
24 degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s.
25 775.084.
26 (3) This section does not apply to: a person licensed to 27 carry a concealed weapon or a concealed firearm pursuant to the 28 provisions of s. 790.06. 29 (a) A person who carries a concealed weapon, or a person 30 who may lawfully possess a firearm and who carries a concealed 31 firearm, on or about his or her person while in the act of 32 evacuating during a mandatory evacuation order issued during a 33 state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to chapter 34 252 or declared by a local authority pursuant to chapter 870.

Last year the measure was torpedoed in the Senate by the Sheriff's association.  This year it has passed both the Senate, 29 to 10, and the House 86 to 26.   Both votes are comfortably veto proof, but politicians are often loathe to override a governor of the same party.   The bill should be on Governor Scott's desk shortly.  From miamiherald.com:   

A measure that would allow people without concealed-weapons permits to pocket their legally owned guns during a declared emergency is now headed to the governor.

I haven't found any indication that Governor Scott will sign or veto the bill.   It is a relatively modest reform.   When the legislature is in session, the Governor has seven days to veto or sign a bill.   If the legislature adjourns, sine die, he has fifteen days.  The legislature has the option to override a veto if it happens while the legislature is in session, or if it has adjourned, it has the opportunity to override the veto in the next session.  If the Governor does not veto the bill, and does not sign it, it becomes law.  From the Florida Constitution:

(a) Every bill passed by the legislature shall be presented to the governor for approval and shall become a law if the governor approves and signs it, or fails to veto it within seven consecutive days after presentation. If during that period or on the seventh day the legislature adjourns sine die or takes a recess of more than thirty days, the governor shall have fifteen consecutive days from the date of presentation to act on the bill. In all cases except general appropriation bills, the veto shall extend to the entire bill. The governor may veto any specific appropriation in a general appropriation bill, but may not veto any qualification or restriction without also vetoing the appropriation to which it relates.

It appears that SB 290 has not yet been presented to Governor Scott, so the time periods have not yet started.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch 

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article17998625.html#storylink=cpy