The debate over what kind of gun is best for home defense — pistol, rifle, or shotgun — is almost as fiercely fought as the caliber (9mm vs. .45) or platform (GLOCK vs. 1911) wars. But whatever your choice may be, there’s no denying that a scattergun can be absolutely devastating when defending the homefront against an attacker.
That’s exactly what a New Orleans man discovered the hard way when he attacked his girlfriend.
From nola.com . . .
The violent confrontation began Sunday night when (Miguel) Ramirez and his girlfriend were involved in a “physical altercation” somewhere in New Orleans, according to (Capt. Jason) Rivarde. No details were available Thursday about that incident.
After the fight, the couple went to her grandparents’ home on 15th Street in Bridge City about 11:30 p.m. to pick up their three young children, according to Rivarde. The woman went into the house to get the kids, who are under the age of 5.
The woman told her grandfather about the altercation and asked him to contact authorities for help.
But before he could call 911, Ramirez stormed into the house and began beating the grandfather, authorities said. The grandfather suffered a broken nose, severe swelling around his eyes and bruising on his face.
That’s when the abuser of women and old men dragged his girlfriend out of the house. That was also when the 66-year-old man grabbed ol’ Betsy.
“The grandfather, fearing that (Ramirez) is going to harm his granddaughter, gets his shotgun and fires one time,” Rivarde said.
Grandad didn’t realized that he’d hit the attacker who drove off with the woman. But Ramirez showed up at a local hospital not much later complaining of an acute case of lead poisoning in his crotch and upper thigh.
Rivard’s been charged with home invasion, second-degree battery, simple kidnapping and domestic abuse-child endangerment, so he’ll have time to nurse his wounds during his stay at the graybar hotel. And it’s just another one of hundreds of thousands — maybe millions — of defensive gun uses that take place in this country every year.
While Mr. Ramirez is living at the Parish’s expense, his girlfriend might want to be sure that she has the means to deter an attack when he’s eventually released.