It was just Monday that we highlighted a lawsuit filed by a Colorado couple who want to be able to carry their concealed weapons when they pick up their mail. The federal guvmint doesn’t allow that, of course, because what could possibly happen at a post office? While no one is getting their hopes up, a Denver federal judge has let the their suit go forward. It’s timely, too, because just Thursday, in Montgomery, AL, an unidentified individual shot up a gun-free postal facility…
From wsfa.com:
A gunman fired multiple shots inside the main Montgomery post office, located just off Taylor Road on Winton Blount Boulevard, before officers took him into custody.
Sgt. Donna Mackey, a spokeswoman for the police department, said no injuries were reported in the shooting which started around 6:30pm.
The building was closed to the public at the time, but workers were present inside the mail processing portion of the facility.
The shooter – who the police say was carrying “several pistols” – wasn’t identified in the story so it isn’t known yet for sure if he’s a postal employee. Not that anyone else ever seems to actually go postal in a post office. But here’s the fun part:
(Police Chief Kevin) Murphy credited the quick response from several units for probably saving lives. He said the officers were on holiday patrol at a nearby shopping center and were on scene within 10 minutes.
Got that? If your personal stars are ever misaligned to the extent that you happen to be buying stamps in the capital of Alabama when Newman finally snaps and starts spraying lead around the building, you’re pretty much on your own for a good ten minutes. And that’s only during the holiday season, apparently. God only knows what passes for a fast response the rest of the year in Montgomery.
Not that it would have been much better anywhere else you go. Cops can’t be everywhere any time you need ’em. When seconds count…well, you know the rest.
So we’re sorry to break this to you, Chief Murphy. It wasn’t the Speedy Gonzalez-like response of your holiday-patrolling units that prevented the worst from happening in the…ten…long…minutes…it took for your officers to make the scene. No, it was some thankfully crappy shooting on the part of Mr. Active Shooter that kept the place from being blood-splattered. I wouldn’t break my arm patting myself on the back if I were you.
[h/t Brian Gibson]