Defensive gun uses can serve two purposes: the first and most important is to preserve the lives of victims and would-be victims. The second is to get criminals off the streets.
This Monday in Dallas, two armed robbers jumped a man’s fence with the intent to rob the home. Fortunately, the would-be victim stood a chance against the two assailants because he had a gun. He shot at the suspects, hitting one in the abdomen, after which both men fled.
Later, the injured suspect was arrested when he showed up at a hospital for treatment. He’s expected to recover, and hopefully, a combination of questioning and review of the homeowner’s surveillance footage will lead to the arrest of the second suspect.
On that same day, another one-against-two burglary defense occurred at a home in Washington State. Though the cases aren’t related, they have similar takeaways. In the Washington incident, a man walked out of his home and saw his trailer hooked up to a stranger’s pickup truck. With a gun in one hand and his phone in the other, the man walked up to the truck. As he did so, two burglars emerged from his garage.
The homeowner ordered the two to freeze, firing one shot into the ground, and pointed his gun at one of the men. That man (later identified as 46-year-old Donald R. Brown) stayed and followed directions while his “friend” ran off. After Brown was arrested, deputies found property belonging to the homeowner in Brown’s truck and home. They also believe they know who the other burglar is and are looking for him.
Unarmed, each of these homeowners, outnumbered by their attackers, could have been seriously harmed or killed. In addition, the job of tracking down all four of these suspects would be significantly more difficult for police. Defensive gun uses aren’t only vital for defender’s, they also benefit to the entire community.