By James England via concealednation.org
Just nine months after retiring from the New York Police Department, a 43-year-old woman was robbed at gunpoint while trying to get into her car in Newark, New Jersey. Thankfully, she was legally able to arm herself and used her gun to shoot both robbers.
According to NJ.com, both Tahje M. Hunt, 22, and Brian P. Moore, 27, were wounded in the shooting. The two men were evacuated to a nearby medical center and were treated for non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Both are in custody while an investigation takes place.
One of the suspects had a replica gun which law enforcement say was used to try to rob the former police officer. In New Jersey, using a replica gun in the commission of a violent felony is virtually the same as using a real one. In any case, it didn’t work.
Of course, if this woman hadn’t been a former NYPD officer, she likely wouldn’t have had the leeway to legally obtain and carry a handgun for daily use. Had the two suspects robbed nearly any other woman on the street that night, they likely would have been met with little to no resistance.
The good news — they chose poorly. There are two fewer thugs on the street now thanks to the fast work of a retired cop. Maybe some day New Jersey will open up their concealed carry program to more than just active duty and retired police officers. It would make places like Newark much less attractive for violent criminals looking to make a quick buck. Maybe some day, thugs like Hunt and Moore will be too afraid to ply their trade in Newark. Maybe some day pigs will fly.
Fortunately you don’t have to be a former police officer to carry every day in most other states. The decision to carry is your own. Do the right thing and protect yourself with a concealed carry permit and handgun — and carry that handgun every day. After all, it’s your right.