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WASHINGTON — There is growing evidence that armed citizens can prevent mass shootings, despite what the mainstream media may promote as conventional wisdom.
Legal gun owners have prevented tragedies all over the country, law professor and Washington Post writer Eugene Volokh discovered. His list was published last year but has received renewed attention thanks to radio host Dana Loesch, who brought up the subject during a recent interview on Fox News and then tweeted out a series of news stories.
Using the lists by both Volokh and Loesch, and Off The Grid News’ own research, following are seven instances in which mass shootings were stopped by lawful gun owners.
1. Aaron Guyton was able to save both innocent bystanders and the shooter himself with a gun. On March 25, 2012, Jesse Gates kicked open the door at the South Side Free Will Baptist Church in Boiling Springs, South Carolina, during services. Gates had a shotgun in his hands. Guyton, who had a concealed weapons permit, pulled a gun. That action enabled worshippers and Pastor Henry Guyton to tackle and disarm Gates.
2. An unidentified Uber driver was able to stop Everardo Custodio, who was firing into a crowd of people on North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago in April 2015, The Chicago Tribune reported. The driver stopped his car, pulled out a pistol and fired several shots, injuring Custodio. No other injuries were reported and no charges were made against the driver when police learned he had a concealed carry permit.
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3. An unidentified man saved the lives of several people inside the Farah Barber Shop in West Philadelphia, Pa., by shooting a 40-year-old gunman on March 22, 2015, police told NBC 10. Several people, including children, were inside the shop when the man took out a gun and opened fire. Fortunately, a passer-by pulled out his gun, ran into the shop and shot the gunman before he could kill anyone.
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“The person who responded was a legal gun permit carrier,” Philadelphia Police Captain Frank Llewellyn told NBC 10. “He responded and I guess he saved a lot of people in there.”
4. Psychologist Dr. Lee Silverman may have saved many lives at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Pa., because he brought a gun to work in July 2014. Silverman was working at his desk when he saw mental patient Richard Plotts shoot caseworker Barbara Hunt in the face. Silverman pulled out his gun and shot Plotts. Silverman might have saved many lives — including his own. Police found 39 bullets in Plotts’ pockets and they think he intended to use them.
“If the doctor did not have a firearm, (and) the doctor did not utilize the firearm, he’d be dead today, and I believe that other people in that facility would also be dead,” said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan.
5. Nick Meli may have saved hundreds of lives at the Clackamas Mall outside of Portland, Ore., on Dec. 11, 2012. Jacob Taylor Roberts came into the mall wearing a hockey mask and firing a stolen AR-15. Meli, who had a concealed carry permit, pulled out a Glock 22 pistol and aimed it at Roberts. That caused Roberts to take cover and then kill himself. Meli’s action likely saved many lives; police found 128 rounds of ammunition on his body.
6. An armed likely prevented a shooting rampage at Bonnie’s Food and Spirits, a bar in Plymouth, Pa., in September 2012. William Allabaugh shot a man in the head after being asked to leave the establishment. Mark Kytor stopped Allabaugh by drawing his gun and shooting him. Kytor may have saved many lives because police found an extra clip of ammunition in Allabaugh’s pants, The Citizens Voice reported.
7. A customer at a Conyers, Ga., liquor store in May, 2015, shot a suspect who already had killed two people, preventing the gunman from killing even more people. The customer was Todd C. Scott, 44. “I believe that if Mr. Scott did not return fire at the suspect then more of those customers would have hit by a gun,” said Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett. “It didn’t appear that he cared who he shot or where he was shooting until someone was shooting back at him. So in my opinion he saved other lives in that store.”
So, yes, guns can save lives and armed citizens can prevent mass shootings.
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