Mind Over Blather: guns

AAAAUUUUGGGGHHHHHHH! I'm an idiot who's going to die now because I don't have a gun!

I want this picture up here so it will be ingrained in my mind. How I'd love to run into this rabid piece of black shit. Well, in all honesty, I'd really prefer my cousin run into him. He's a much better shot, is very experienced at eliminating varmints and would not lose one wink of sleep over it. I, on the other hand, would be quite shaken - satisfied, but shaken. The experience of blowing a man away would reverberate around in my head and I'd probably lose some sleep. I would not want to be inconvenienced that way.

Here are some articles about this bipedal terror who remains at large in my area. The composite picture of him, shown below, was just released yesterday.

11 Apr 2007

Frisco police say the man who broke into a woman's apartment could be responsible for as many as 18 other similar crimes in the Metroplex over the last two years.

Schepps Dairy is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and grand jury indictment of the suspect.

"This guy has proven himself to be a brutal attacker," said Frisco police Sgt. Gina McFarlin.

In Tuesday's attack, he used a sawed-off shotgun to force his way in through a sliding glass door on a first floor apartment.

He demanded the victim's purse, tied her up, sexually assaulted her, and then stabbed her.

"He has absolutely no remorse," said McFarlin. "It seems he left her for dead. At one point he checked her pulse to see if she was alive."

Police say she played dead, and when he moved into another room, she tried to make a run for it and he stabbed her again. The attacker finally left the apartment with the woman's ATM card, which he was recorded using in Southlake. However, his face was not visible.

A suspect fitting the same description is wanted for a number of violent attacks in Plano.

In November 2005, a woman was sexually assaulted and robbed gunpoint. In December 2006 it happened again, at another apartment complex.

In June 2005, a man was found dead in his apartment, from a gunshot wound to the leg.

Just a few months later in November 2005, a suspect demanded money from two men in an apartment, then forced them to withdraw money from an ATM.

The goal for police is to get the suspect before anyone else is hurt, or worse.

**************
23 Aug 2007

Frisco and Plano police have banded together to stop a serial rapist and home invader who has attacked at least 20 North Texas women in the last two years.

The latest happened in April, when a Frisco woman was sexually assaulted and stabbed several times. The victim survived and eventually was able to provide police with more details.

On Thursday they released a composite computerized sketch of the man who is in his 20s or 30s, standing about 6 feet tall and weighing about 200 pounds. Officers issued that sketch along with a Home Invasion Tipline: 972-941-2148.

According to America's Most Wanted, these are the crimes this man is connected with over the last two years:

May 20, 2005- Tonti Lakeside Apartments, Dallas
May 23, 2005- Courtyard at Knox Park Apts., Dallas
May 25, 2005- Riverchase, Coppell
May 26, 2005- Renaissance Park Apartments, Dallas
May 27, 2005- Marquis at Waterview, Richardson
May 27, 2005- Renaissance Apartments, Dallas
May 27, 2005- Churchill on the Park, Dallas
June 1, 2005- The Gables Apartments, Garland
June 2, 2005- Avendale on Preston, Plano
June 3, 2005- Sweetwater Ranch, Richardson
June 6, 2005- Jefferson Place Apartments, Irving
June 10, 2005- Wimberly Apartments, Dallas
June 14, 2005- Carlyle Apartments, Dallas
November 3, 2005- Camden Farmers Market, Dallas
November 7, 2005- La Costa Apartments, Plano
November 8, 2005- Waters Edge in Legacy, Plano
May 15, 2006- 14400 Montfort Drive, Dallas
May 17, 2006- 1121 Beachview, Dallas
April 10, 2007- 9400 Wade Blvd. Frisco

If you have any information about these crimes, call the Home Invasion Tipline: 972-941-2148.

**************
He is known for entering through a sliding door, and is said to target women on the ground floor who leave their lights on. He then forces his way into the apartment with a shotgun, ties up the victim, and takes her money, ATM card and code.

The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 6 feet 2 inches, who sometimes wears a bandanna around his face.

One of those victims on that list lived directly across the street from my friend's condo. Her place is a two-story, with a sliding glass door on the ground floor. He could just as easily have targeted her.

If one, JUST ONE, of those women had owned a gun, this monster would very likely have been stopped dead in his tracks. But every single one of them owned a TELEPHONE! You know - our lifeline - that indispensable weapon on which most people rely to guard their very lives. A lot of freaking good it did them!

But, but if we had tougher gun laws this black bastard wouldn't have a gun! YES, HE WOULD! His sawed-off shotgun is not legal, it's not registered, and there's no single law or a million laws that will prevent him from getting his murderous hands on one!

If, after the nightmare these people endured in their own homes at the hands of one predator, every single one of them, their families and friends don't become a gun owner and pro-gun advocate, then they're not only victims, they are also enablers.

You know, if one were to view 911 as a weapon against crime prevention, the statistics would probably prove that it creates more victims than guns do. 911 doesn't prevent crimes, it allows crimes to happen. People who rely on 911 for their safety are not only setting themselves up to be victimized, but are also almost insuring the criminal will go on to victimize another person.

Let's see how effective this 911-type "weapon" would be for the criminal. He comes in, no gun, no weapon of any kind, no threat at all to you. He gets his cellphone out and calls his fellow criminals to hurry over with their guns so they can commit the crime against you. And then he just sits there and waits. Yeah, that's how ridiculous it is for you to use 911 as your weapon of choice against crime.

View Archived Comments

Archived Comments

Giraffe ~

Now that is a very good post.

Just something that occurred to me: It seems awfully stupid to try to run afoul of murder charges in Texas. They will deal with you. Why isn't he scared of the death penalty?

Aug 24, 2007 20:03

Taylor ~

Well, when you're stupid and a violent criminal, you're not going to stop to consider the wisdom of committing a particular crime.

BTW, Texas just had its 400th execution since reinstating the death penalty in 1976. Oh, and the EU is not happy about it. The global power urged Gov. Perry to halt all executions in the state of Texas, and to consider introducing a moratorium on death sentences in Texas.

Perry declined, saying he would wait until the NAU asks him... :)

Aug 25, 2007 03:52

Spacebunny ~

Because the death penalty is no more of deterent than jail time, nor should it be in my opinion. It's simply a punishment that fits the crime (not that I don't have issues with the gov't killing people for any reason but sometimes it is definitely necessary).

As far as the nongun owners being enablers. Sorry no, they're just stupid.

Aug 25, 2007 06:23

Taylor ~

Exactly, neither jail nor any type of punishment is a deterrent to the criminal who has committed a crime - obviously, since they already committed the crime! It would be hard to know how many crimes are prevented from fear of capture and punishment.

It's like when I was telling a liberal acquaintance about a scary night at the lake, and how mad I was that we didn't have a gun on us. He goes, "Well, you lived to tell about it without needing a gun, didn't you." Idiot. If I had been killed, I'd not be around to say how not having a gun cost me my life. And I told him in very similar words.

Sorry no, they're just stupid.

I covered that in the first line of this post. Of course, they're stupid, but their stupidity is enabling not only crimes against themselves, but allowing the criminal to continue. Every woman on that list enabled this guy to get his next victim.

Aug 25, 2007 06:49

Difster ~

He really just needs to die. Slow and painfully would be good but I'd settle for quick and efficient.

Taylor, you might lose a little sleep over it but it would be a mighty privilege if you had the chance to rid the earth of that worm.

Aug 26, 2007 09:00

Taylor ~

Cousin was over last night and he was giving me tips. He asked, where's your gun! I go, it's right here next to me on the chair. OK. Good girl. Now, let me see how you would shoot. No, don't close your eye. Aim for the stomach. We were going over scenarios... Like if I see him walk up to the back sliding doors. He said don't worry about shooting through glass. Just shoot. Don't get distracted by glass and stuff shattering. Keep your eye on him. He's not just going to stand there and let you shoot him...

I don't expect to he'll come around here, but it's always good to be prepared.

Aug 26, 2007 14:40

Spacebunny ~

Still, it's always good to practice and be prepared.

BTW, I see Argentines won the world tango championship, sort of.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070826/ap_en_ot/dance_tango;_ylt=AuCMK.KSAZM065SXrrVAshes0NUE

Aug 26, 2007 19:39

Taylor ~

Yeah, Cousin wants to take me to the shooting range. It's been a while since we were out at our aunt's place and had some target practice. I've never shot with this .38 before.

I honestly don't know how I'd manage if faced with having to shoot a person. I know I could pull the trigger, but just how much shaking I'd be doing it another question.

Argentines won the world tango championship

I'd be shocked if we did not win it. Argentina invented the Tango! What a measly prize. My gosh but she's got some giant eyelashes perched on her eyelids.

Aug 26, 2007 20:09

Spacebunny ~

I just found it amusing that it was a pair of Japanese that won it for them ;)

Aug 26, 2007 20:56

Taylor ~

SB, are you trying to mess with my already feeble mind?

From what I'm reading, I see that an Argentine couple won first place, a Chilean couple, second place, and a Japanese couple living in Argentina, third place.

Aug 27, 2007 02:50

Spacebunny ~

No, it's probably my mind. I've been sick all week.

Aug 27, 2007 05:03

Taylor ~

I can understand that all too well, SB. Get better soon.

Aug 27, 2007 06:08

AJW308 ~

Let's see how effective this 911-type "weapon" would be for the criminal...

Excellent point, Taylor.

Dialing 911 doesn't help people like you or me, but it does help the police do their job. It's just to bad that their job is documenting a crime after it's been committed.

Go to the range and shoot the gun. Get used to it.

Just the fact that you are armed and willing to defend yourself will deter lots of predators who are looking for an easy target.

Aug 27, 2007 19:33

Difster ~

Taylor, there are people who panic and can't think in a crisis. I suspect you're not one of them. You'd shake and shudder for a while AFTER though which is just fine as long as the job gets done.

Aug 28, 2007 03:53

Taylor ~

Just the fact that you are armed and willing to defend yourself will deter lots of predators who are looking for an easy target.

How would a predator know I'm armed and dangerous?

Speaking of crimes, I have an excellent way of instantly knowing all is well inside my home whenever I pull into my driveway. I will see my kitty sitting at the window waiting for me or when I walk in, sleeping calmly on a chair. If someone was in there at the time, those two kitties would be nowhere in sight, freaked out and hiding under a bed. My furry security alarm system!

Aug 28, 2007 07:36

Taylor ~

there are people who panic and can't think in a crisis

I can't be sure about how I'd react in a crisis situation I've never faced before. There is no way to tell. This is something that I'd just as well never know.

Fortunately, there have not been too many crises in my life. The few times, I think I was calm and focused, although I did freeze one time. There have been incidents involving the dreaded antenna'd, winged beast from hell. If you want to see panic, just put a cockroach near my person. Of course, those are not crises, just cockroachphobia.

Aug 28, 2007 09:04

AJW308 ~

How would a predator know I'm armed and dangerous?

It's called situational awareness.

Your ability to look about and tell if all is well or not will keep you safe.

Often times, women will sense a threat and make eye contact with the threat and he'll go away just because she now knows what he looks like.

Spacebunny once told of a time she was in a parking lot/deck and a threatening guy was obviously following her and she had left her glock at home and was alone. She was scared and the guy seemed to know and enjoy it. By the time she got into her SUV she realized that she had a few thousands pounds of weapon at her hands and her whole frame of mind changed.

She went from being a pending victim to having the means and intention of defending herself. The guy realized this instantly and was gone.

The thing that changed the momentum was her frame of mind. The guy saw this and was gone.

Aug 28, 2007 19:41

Difster ~

I used to walk through downtown Minneapolis alone late at night.

I am by no means an intimidating person. I was still pretty lean back in those days, maybe 165 or 170. My advantage was that I was just out of the Marine Corps. My bearing was such that when I walked down the street, my shoulders were back, I was aware of my surroundings and I wasn't acting afraid of being attacked. In the process, I saw more than one shady character shrink back in to the shadows.

Aug 28, 2007 20:09

Taylor ~

I think I'm pretty good at that too.

One night late, I was driving home and was too low on gas to get home so I stopped for gas. There was nobody around. Out of nowhere, from behind the gas station building, comes this black guy walking slowly towards me. I'm standing there pumping gas. I look him straight in the eye and put my hand in my purse, very deliberately, and position it in there like I'm holding a gun - all the time looking at him. He stopped, turned around, and went back where he came from.

I was totally bluffing as I had no gun at all. I have no idea how it occurred to me to do this, but it worked. I got the heck out of there asap.

Aug 28, 2007 20:11

Taylor ~

And this other time I was walking back to my room in a casino in Vegas. It was a big casino, with lots of people. I don't remember which one. Anyway, as I'm making my way around through the thing, I notice that this man is following me. I'm getting closer to the elevator area and there are hardly any people. I'm thinking there's no way I'm going to get into an elevator and let this guy slip in there with me.

I turned a corner, took a few steps, stopped and turned around. When the guy comes around the corner, he almost runs into me. You should have seen the look on his face! It was very amusing.

I proceeded to tell him off. He was apologetic, quite charming and said he simply wanted to invite me to go with him to one of the big shows. I declined and made my way upstairs to sleep. I hate Vegas. But I think I handled it rather well.

Aug 28, 2007 20:29

AJW308 ~

One of the rules of self protection is that if you think you are in danger, you probably are. It's the people who wish they lived in paradise and pretend it's so that make up the majority of victims.

And the beauty of guns is that the mere threat or possibility of a person defending themselves with one will deter the predator.

Aug 30, 2007 17:54

Erik ~

Taylor,

There are two things needed to make sure you will act properly when that crisis comes up. Training and forethought.

You need to decide what it is you will do and you need to make the decision, now, that you will use deadly force should the situation call for it. I think that is the most important element because if you have already made the decision you will not falter because you don't know what you should do.

Second, train with that firearm. Some will talk smack about a lowly .38 but remember that it was the standard police round for decades. It obviously has some merit. (go with +p or +p+ loads if the gun will take it) Get comfortable drawing it and get good enough to keep all your bullets in a fist sized space. The closer the better of course, but a fist sized area is great when aiming at the torso (that is where I differ with Cousin. Aim at the chest, not stomach. But maybe that is what he meant)

And finally, don't forget the rule, two to the chest, one to the head.

Sep 01, 2007 09:13

Taylor ~

Thanks for the info, Erik.

Yes, training and forethought will go a long way towards one not acting like a complete idiot prior to an unecessary and untimely death.

I have no problem with a .38 and besides, that's all I'm left with. Someone made me an offer on the .45 and 12-gauge that I couldn't turn down. It was sad seeing Juliana and Morticia go, but they went to a good home - a Texan with a big ranch. They'll be happy there and get some use, unlike here with me.

But, I've never fired the .38. Its loaded with +P hollow points but only 5! That's almost like being unarmed when compared to the 15-round magazine in the Para or the Remington 12-gauge!

I would certainly need to make every shot count. Cousin's advice to aim for the stomach is to compensate for my inexperience, knowing I'd probably pull up a bit when shooting. He said the goal is the chest and head, but better a little low than over his head. He said I need to shoot once and watch the guy, shoot again, watch and so forth. I can't afford to go nuts, wildly shoot off all the bullets bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, and the guy still be on his feet.

Sep 01, 2007 14:45

Taylor ~

It's the people who wish they lived in paradise and pretend it's so that make up the majority of victims.

That doesn't bother me so much as them insisting no one else have arms either, making us all potential victims. Their view of life as Disneyland screws the rest of us who live in reality. These are the same people who are against capital punishment, pro-abortion, pro-homos, anti-God, i.e., brainless, soulless liberals.

They need, want and expect this world to be paradise - having no hope for the real one.

Sep 01, 2007 15:05

Erik ~

Taylor,

I too have only 5 shots. And it is rather unrealistic to say you will reload a revolver in a firefight, as desirable as that would be.

If there is only one assailant I would just doubletap and then watch, assuming of course that you are capable of hitting a man's chest from 15 feet. As for waiting, Dont wait much. Various police departments have found that a man can close 15 feet and deliver a fatal knife wound in under 1 second. This really doesn't leave you with much time to think or observe between shots.

Other things to consider: A wound makes a person go into shock, which causes them to not feel other wounds. A doubletap gets the second bullet in before shock sets in. This is also the reason that you NEVER shoot for arms or legs.

The size and motion of the assailant. A medium sized man at rest may noticeably move when being shot. A large man, especially in motion, may not move enough to know the damage, especially at night.

And it is sad to know that Morticia has moved in with another family, but on the plus side when I get my shotgun I can name her in honor of yours.

Sep 01, 2007 22:46

Erik ~

Wow, I left that statement unfinished. I am not saying you said or implied ANYTHING about reloading. I was lamenting my (and yours) 5 shot capacity.

I brought it up because I share the same problem, but I am still completely committed to the initial doubletap despite that leaving me with just 3 precious bullets. The only time I would change that is if facing numerous assailants and that is something that will simply have to be decided at that time. Taking down the leader of the group has a serious demoralizing effect and may break a groups willingness to fight. therefore it may just be prudent to "waste" bullets on him to ensure he goes down.

Who knows. I sincerely hope to never know just how I will react in such a situation.

Sep 01, 2007 22:51

Taylor ~

All good things to consider, Erik. Thanks. And like you, I hope to never have to put any of this into practice.

It's good to know that the Morticia name will carry on. I will eventually get another 12 gauge and pistol but for now the .38 will have to do. I shall call him Smitty - it's a Smith & Wesson and smites. Revolvers are masculine, pistols are feminine.

Sep 01, 2007 23:48

Roci ~

THe point of 911 is to document the crime and help deal with its aftermath (summoning ambulances and coroners). The only way to prevent the crime is to prevent the criminal at the point of entry. Armed police are not capable to doing that. 911 is not fast enough.

Just ot be fair, we really don't know how many of those victims owned guns but could not get to them in time. There is still something to be said about getting the drop on someone.

Sep 07, 2007 20:17

Taylor ~

Yes, I did consider the possibility that some of the victims could have been taken by surprise and unable to get to their guns. But given today's anti-gun culture, I'd wager that not many did. And the fact that guns can be expensive to purchase, these women who are living in apartments, are less likely to spend their disposable income on a gun. Clothing is so much more fun to buy, you know...

Sep 07, 2007 21:33

Erik ~

Clothing is so much more fun to buy, you know...

What?!? Are you off your rocker? Nothing is more fun than going and buying a new gun! Well, okay, as far as making purchases go. Well, maybe there might be a one or two transactions that are better but I have never made such transactions, so buying a gun is waaay better than buying clothes.

Unless the clothing is lingerie perhaps...

I'll shut up now.

Sep 08, 2007 06:21

Taylor ~

I am off my rocker, totally, but not with respect to shopping. I wasn't talking about me there, just women in general - of which I've never been one - a typical woman, that is.

Now, you, Mr Erik, sound very much like a typical man... :)

Sep 08, 2007 17:26

Roci ~

I don't like shopping for guns. But for practical reasons, I can't own all of them. I have to narrow my choices down and select only a special few. Thus...shopping.

I live out in the country. If we had a wild animal out here killing livestock with come regularity, my neighbors and I would get together and hunt it down. If it proved elusive, we would set traps, baiting it with its favorite prey in places we knew it was liekly to return to.

It is a shame city people hate their nieghbors so much that they would rather let them die then help each other out.

Sep 13, 2007 16:55

Orlok ~

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehah! it nice to be legal for once.

Oct 30, 2007 15:29

Bolting it down? What a moron.

And since when is ANY crime victim liable for further crimes committed by that same perp?

What if the criminal stole my money and used it to buy a gun? Does that make be liable for his further crimes?

Nov 01, 2007 17:44

Bolting down a gun - I don't even know what that entails.

I remember once in New Orleans we had our car valet-parked at a hotel. The guy driving put his gun in the trunk. When we left later that night, the gun was gone. He called the police and reported it. That night is a bit fuzzy but I do recall having had a very good time. There was not the slightest reason to believe he could be held liable for any crimes committed with that gun.

Good point, Roci. So, if your car is stolen and then someone get runs over by it, you could be held liable, right? Yeah, that makes perfect sense - if you're an idiot.

Nov 01, 2007 23:50

Mind Over Blather

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Who'd A Thunk It

Friday, August 24, 2007

911, What Is Your Emergency...?