Wednesday, December 08, 2004

Lessons Learned (?)

Are you sitting down? Good. Now take a deep breath before reading this story of what happened at the Fred's Gas Station in Medford last night.

MEDFORD -- A gasoline station attendant shot a would-be robber several times last night after pulling his own gun on two men attempting to hold up the Mystic Avenue station, police said.


So, in two days, we have two separate incidents involving would-be armed robbers finding themselves on the receiving end of legally-owned firearms in the hands of citizens willing and able to defend themselves. End result: two perforated bad guys (damn lucky to be drawing breath today) facing armed robbery charges, and two citizens unharmed and back at work.

What's not too like? Well, there's this bit:

Although it was unclear late last night whether charges would be filed against the attendant, whom police did not identify, police Lieutenant Paul Covino said the Fred's Gas attendant may have been justified in shooting at the two men.

"It looked like self-defense," he said last night. The gun was registered to the attendant, who was licensed to carry a firearm, police said.


No, Lieutenant, the attendant WAS justified in shooting at the two men, and it WAS self-defense. Remember Karen Smith? Now compare and contrast:

Subway clerk mourned as police release video of gunmen

TAMPA - As family and friends gather to remember the victim of a deadly robbery, police may have gotten a break in their search for the gunmen who walked into a sandwich shop and opened fire.

[snip]

The 22-year-old fashion student from Parma, Ohio was gunned down in a violent armed robbery at a Subway shop off West Hillsborough Avenue Saturday night; she died hours later.


Ohio man arrested in killing of store clerk

An Ohio man was arrested in West Virginia after abducting a convenience store clerk, shooting her 10 times and leaving her to die along a county road, police said yesterday.


And these two stories are just from the last week or so. Remember, just give them the money and do what they say. Yeah, right, be a good little victim - maybe you'll die quick. Tell that to the families of these young women.