It’s amazing what kinds of things the national media — in their haste to generalize a narrative and create a “moral imperative” that seems always to redound to the implementation of some policy on their political wishlist — leaves out of their reporting.
But that’s for our own good. Because we can’t be expected to understand the moral of any story if it isn’t shaped for us and presented unencumbered by messy, competing facts that might just ruin what is otherwise a perfect little gem of truthiness. KGW, Portland:
Nick Meli is emotionally drained. The 22-year-old was at Clackamas Town Center with a friend and her baby when a masked man opened fire.
“I heard three shots and turned and looked at Casey and said, ‘are you serious?,'” he said.
The friend and baby hit the floor. Meli, who has a concealed carry permit, positioned himself behind a pillar.
“He was working on his rifle,” said Meli. “He kept pulling the charging handle and hitting the side.”
The break in gunfire allowed Meli to pull out his own gun, but he never took his eyes off the shooter.
“As I was going down to pull, I saw someone in the back of the Charlotte move, and I knew if I fired and missed, I could hit them,” he said.
Meli took cover inside a nearby store. He never pulled the trigger. He stands by that decision.
“I’m not beating myself up cause I didn’t shoot him,” said Meli. “I know after he saw me, I think the last shot he fired was the one he used on himself.”
[my emphases]
I mentioned this to my wife this morning, and though she keeps up on national news with fidelity, she hadn’t heard that the mall shooter was confronted by an armed concealed carry holder. And that’s because such a detail detracts from the left’s larger narrative about the dangers of the “gun culture.”
But here’s the actual takeaway, which countermands the narrative the left wishes to push: the concealed carry owner acted responsibly, holding his shot to protect bystanders who may have been in the line of fire; and the fact that the attacker, who was using a stolen gun (quick! Congress needs to pass a law banning theft!), saw the concealed carry owner armed and training a gun on him in a “gun-free zone,” may have precipitated his decision to finish off his suicide “mission” without trying for any more human targets: his plan was always to kill others than himself, and to kill himself he was going to have to beat the concealed carry owner to it. “Only” two died. While the potential for carnage was far far greater.
Did a responsible gun owner prevent a number of additional deaths? Hard to know for certain. But the facts are the facts.
And yet here’s a perverse twist to an already perverse story: the attacker isn’t the only criminal in this scenario. The mall is itself a gun-free zone, and should law enforcement wish to do so, they can prosecute Meli and revoke his carry permit for carrying illegally in a zone where firearms are disallowed. Though that same restriction shockingly didn’t faze the attacker, who may or may not have been thwarted by the criminal behavior of a concealed carry permit holder.
That’s the society we now live in.
Up is down. Black is white. Earl and Cornbread? Are actually me.
(h/t JohninFirestone)
are you serious?
I love that
No way. I cannot believe that an armed individual put a stop to a criminal/psychopath’s killing spree. That is really unbelievable. But, I do hope he was fined for having a gun in a “no gun” zone. The state MUST protect us all! All kidding aside, that is a fantastic story.
grandma used to love to go to Luby’s and we went a lot even though mom was not put on this earth to eat at Luby’s
but dad always had his gun handy and me I always got the fish and some mashed potatoes and some chockit pudding
this was before we knew about carbs
I don’t know WA law, but generally a No Guns sign on private property (the mall) only carries legal weight in that the property owner can ask you to leave.
Know what kills me? Our government, the government of and for United States citizens, fucking GIVES guns to Mexicans, Libyans, and Syrians, and then the same assholes (I’m looking at you Senator and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Feinstein) desperately want to take away OUR guns.
Yeah, I guess the punishment will depend on the local ordinances. Thanks for making that point.
LBascom says December 17, 2012 at 11:12 am
yup. that’s the part that makes you wanna move to Mexico and build your own compound. For what’s coming next.
Jeff, while it normally is a trespass offense for carrying a gun into a business with signs posted, if the incident creates contact with the cops, it’s quite possible for the citizen to lose their permit. In most States, citizens with a CCW have to be very careful about any sort of run-in with the law.
True, Blake. That’s why my cop neighbor who I don’t get on well with tried to twice to jam me up with the cops. Luckily, the local PD are all big on concealed carry, and they don’t much like State Troopers trying to play them.
Jeff, it’s sad, really, because in order to get a CCW, one has to prove one is a responsible, law abiding citizen.
Yet, those in positions of authority tend to think of CCW holders as criminals.
Just so we’re all on the same page here, Clackamas is in Oregon, not Washington.
If buttercups buzz’d after the bee
If boats were on land, churches on sea
If ponies rode men and if grass ate the cows
And cats should be chased into holes by the mouse
If the mamas sold their babies
To the Gypsies for half a crown
If summer were spring
And the other way ’round
Then all the world would be upside down!
Bob, you need to post that in the Going on the Offensive thread…
Armed, Off-Duty Cop Prevents Mass Shooting In San Antonio
Of course, that was quite some time ago. Almost 24 hours!
So. Let me guess: Mr. Meli has now been banned from that Shopping Mall and charges are being considered against him.
Right?
It would be soooo typical.
I think I will, LB.
Gee, where’s slippy? Actual facts are like Kryptonite to a slippy.
[…] for the criminal and buying time for others to escape. (And here’s some more about that armed civilian at the Clackamas […]