Some concealed carriers are often faced with a dilemma. The internal struggle sounds something like: “I’m just making a quick run to the pharmacy. Surely, I don’t need to take my gun with me just to do that.”
A recent case of armed self-defense in Florida proves the fallacy of such thinking. In fact, if 28-year-old Jamie Taylor had subscribed to that way of thinking, he’d likely be dead today. Which proves the point: If you’re going to carry a concealed handgun for self-defense, make sure you have it with you everywhere you go.
In Taylor’s situation, his shooting and killing another man at a Florida Walgreens is now being considered a case of armed self-defense.
The shooting occurred at a Walgreens in Miramar, Florida, on February 3, when Taylor shot and killed 27-year-old Anthony Souvenir inside the store. After carefully reviewing the case, the Broward State Attorney’s Office has now determined that Taylor acted in lawful self-defense under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.
According to police reports, Taylor said he was just shopping when Souvenir, who was a stranger to him, got aggressive with him over what Taylor described as a perceived slight involving Souvenir’s girlfriend.
“He walked by me and said something, then came all the way back to the front of the store and told me, ‘I’m gonna show you,’” Taylor told investigators. “That’s when he pulled a gun, and I shot to protect myself.”
Security footage from inside the store reportedly corroborated Taylor’s account. Additionally, a store cashier confirmed that both men acknowledged being armed during the confrontation. Taylor fired two shots, while Souvenir fired one during the encounter.
Taylor has a valid concealed carry permit and has no criminal record. Souvenir, according to Taylor’s attorney, could not legally carry a firearm in the state because of his criminal past.
“This was a justifiable homicide,” the attorney, Andrew Rier, stated. “Jamie did not want this. But if he hadn’t defended himself, he wouldn’t be here.”
Taylor was originally charged with manslaughter. But after reviewing the case, prosecutors determined that those charges should be dropped.
Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law states: “A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force, if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.”
As for Taylor, he is now trying to put the entire ordeal behind him.
“I’m just thankful I get to be with my daughter,” he said during a press conference. “I’m sorry for the loss, and I pray for their family, but I had no choice. It was kill or be killed.”
Taylor should have ask for the bullet to keep as a souvenir.
I see what you did there!
An example of a criminal not obeying laws: “Taylor has a valid concealed carry permit and has no criminal record. Souvenir, according to Taylor’s attorney, could not legally carry a firearm in the state because of his criminal past.”
An example of a good guy and the main reason to carry: ““I’m just thankful I get to be with my daughter,” he said during a press conference. “I’m sorry for the loss, and I pray for their family, but I had no choice. It was kill or be killed.”
Do criminals seem to be impulsive types who dial up to 11 on any perceived slight as a deadly threat to their self-proclaimed status?
I just wish they would exercise their machismo on each other and leave non-criminals out of it.
And I’ll check hourly to see how long it takes for the post to be visible. Intern, if you minimize the Minesweeper screen, the clock will pause and resume when restored.
Just a shark bump
The criminal was coming up with a nonsense slight to test for receptivity to be a victim.
Most likely it was the felon’s brilliant plan to surprise the victim and cashier at same time.
They believe they can “fear you” into respecting them. Mostly sub human pond scum not worthy of note or respect.
You know, most here can read…
An interesting take away from this is that many people do skip carrying for a quick errand. This is why everyone should have more than one handgun and method of carry. There’s a S&W 442 in a pocket holster on my lamp table with other things that I consider necessary. It goes in my R/F while my wallet goes in my L/R at same time. Galco butt pack is stuffed with a 19X, reload, etc. if I feel I need more and won’t be far from the truck. I don’t wear it. I just sling it over my shoulder on the way out the door then buckle it to the armrest in a way that is secure in a crash and not visible. Full belt rigs. Choice depends on where I’m going and what I’m doing. Controlled burn at the farm is going to be different from a Saturday evening in Tallahassee, or a road trip.
When first licensed I bought the firearm I wanted. It’s replacement cost now is over $1200 and so I’m packin’ cheap & lightweight 9’s for any errand and a nicer Sig for heavy clothes days. 9:00PM at night & we need a gallon of milk, I’m carrying. Walkin’ the dog on the trail, I’m carrying. People go off, you never know where. Chances are, I’ll never encounter them but, well it’s a bigger BUT, it can happen. Why come up short?
An interesting take away from this is that many people do skip carrying for a quick errand. This is why everyone should have more than one handgun and method of carry. There’s a S&W 442 in a pocket holster on my lamp table with other things that I consider necessary. It goes in my R/F while my wallet goes in my L/R at same time. Galco butt pack is stuffed with a 19X, reload, etc. if I feel I need more and won’t be far from the truck. I don’t wear it. I just sling it over my shoulder on the way out the door then buckle it to the armrest in a way that is secure in a crash and not visible. Full belt rigs. Choice depends on where I’m going and what I’m doing. Controlled burn at the farm is going to be different from a Saturday evening in Tallahassee, or a road trip.
You are correct, sir.
I normally carry my Smith & Wesson M&P40 on my hip when I leave home. (Actually, I wear it as soon as I wake up and dress for the day.) On the exceedingly rare occasion (heavy emphasis on “exceedingly rare”) that I do not have my M&P40 on my hip when I leave home, I carry at least one Ruger LCP in my pocket along with a spare magazine. I carry it with Extreme Penetrator bullets which are supposed to create impressive wound channels in attackers.
While an LCP in my pocket is far less than optimal for self-defense, I am very light on my feet and very fast–that combination gives me a decent chance if someone attacks me.
Forever if Taylor attracts the attention of the lamestream media, for any reason, their intro will be “who was once charged with a gun crime of manslaughter” though “charges were dropped”.
Living in Massachusetts it cost me a great deal of time and money to get an LTC, lots of time and wad of money.
But in practice I carry it very infrequently.
There are reasons. First there are many places here that are posted against carrying a weapon of any kind. I think the anti-gunners must have carried out a campaign to get so many stores and restaurants to post no guns decals. Many legal guns get into the hands of criminals when they are stolen out of the trunk or glove box of a legal user who was forced to remove it from their person and leave it in the car.
Then there is the danger of driving too near a school, or courthouse.
Finally there was the successful effort to have a persons LTC status attached to the police vehicle database so that every time the cops run your plates, for any reason, your License to Carry status comes up flashing (red or yellow, I don’t remember). Which makes driving to the corner store an adventure.
So my weapon is only of some use if I am involved in a home invasion or burglary. Unless I’m swatted, then it could get me killed.
Why are you “sorry for the loss”? There’s no reason to be. The guy tried to kill you.
Calisse Tabarnac,
Human life is precious–even the lives of scumbag attackers–thus it is sad even when a scumbag attacker dies from righteous self-defense.
No, they are not! Remember, this one self identified, by his own actions, as a lethal, feral, predator. If he had not been put down this time he would have gone on to prey on others, sure as sunrise. His death is not a loss, it’s a victory for decency!
thanks uncommon. Some folks here don’t know what happens after you shoot and kill someone, even when justified.
We see a few weirdos in the business I work at and I am armed 24/7!
I always have a pocket pistol in my drawer. It’s a Taurus 602 Poly 357 and can be placed in any pocket of any pants I own. So in cases like this one, It’s still very convenient to just drop the little revolver in my pocket. If I have a little more time, I carry a 1911 Commander with the 357 as a backup.
“. . . .but I had no choice. It was kill or be killed.”
There is always a choice.
WooHoo!
Another one bites the dust.
The conduct of the deceased sounds very ghetto. Ws the dead mans girlfriend appopriately impressed?