--- Begin Message ---
Richard - Offline
As I said to Terri, you had a good outcome but the choice was also yours to
make. I can also say I had good outcomes in two such situations but I
elected to carry until I felt was the immediate danger had passed. No one
was hurt but certainly there was nervous moments anticipating a situation
when it would be necessary to respond with force.
Paul Double
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 12:19 AM
To: "Paul Double"; "On Line Democracy"
Subject: RE: [Winona] Conceal and Carry
While a supervisor with the Ill. Dept. of Mental Health in Chicago, I was in
the unfortunate position of firing an employee (a long, protracted ordeal in
the state system). He was a very angry man and threatened my life publicly
several times. This was no idle threat as I and every one else knew and
was proven a year later when this man shot his wife and killed himself
(reported in the Chicago Defender, 1983-84, interview with me regarding
Homer Bowen). Anyway, the point being, I considered very seriously getting
a gun. I had a wife and two small children at the time, the State
graciously allowed me the freedom to deal with this myself and, covering a
long period of time (6+ months), the police were hardly willing to provide
more than a few "drive bys". I decided not to get a gun and to do
everything I could not to provoke the man ("come on sucker"). As I have
already revealed, it worked out OK for me and my family. Obviously, it
happened that I took the right course in hindsight. The real question here
is: what if he had come after me? Best case--BEST CASE--I would have shot
him! My feeling is that, since he would have picked the time and place
without my knowledge, a worst case scenario would have been much more
likely.
Richard N. Cocker
Winona
"Paul Double" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>[Winona Online Democracy]
>
>Terri
>
>Both
>
>While the examples you experienced had good outcomes for you that is not
>often the case. I and many others would rather be proactive and self
>assured by being afforded the comfort of knowing we could intervene in our
>own behalf with an equalizer should a hostile situation occur.
>
>Paul Double
>
>Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2003 7:51 PM
>
>Are you speculating, or have people in these situations actually told you
>they wanted to be able to carry firearms or other weapons for protection?
>
>I have belonged to several of the categories you mentioned: I worked at a
>convenience store that had been previously robbed at gunpoint and closed it
>alone at midnight, then walked home, also alone. One night, while I was
>cleaning in the back room after closing, the owner's son came into the
>store, using his key. He scared me half to death, but fortunately, I did
>not have a gun and no one was hurt.
>
>As a young college student, I often walked home from the library or from
>work, very late at night, alone and felt as safe doing so at 2 am as I did
>at 9 pm. I paid attention and felt no need for a weapon.
>
>I have traveled on country roads and interstate highways alone with my
>children and also with my disabled mother, during the day and at night. I
>have had breakdowns, flat tires, etc. miles from home. I never wanted a
>weapon, but a cell phone would have been nice.
>
>I have been threatened and attacked (not by strangers, but by a family
>member and by male acquaintenances) yet managed to successfully defend
>myself against much larger assailants, without the use of weapons. I have
>always been grateful that no weapons were around because someone would have
>been hurt much more seriously. Maybe me, maybe my attacker.
>
>In the early '60's, my grandparents were held up at gunpoint in their
>farmhouse. Afterwards, they installed a large light, common now at farm
>houses, and got a big dog, but no gun. It wasn't that they didn't believe
>in guns, but they didn't feel a need, and had grandchildren around.
>
>In the mid seventies, my uncle was held up at gun point in his farm house,
>using his own guns, by the way. My uncle had grown up with guns, was an
>expert shot, was in excellent physical shape, and was a WWII vet. He tried
>to defend himself and my aunt with a gun, was disarmed, shot at(they
>missed), and tied up, but thankfully otherwise unhurt. The thieves were
>after his guns, the only things they took.
>
>I grew up in a home with hunting guns, rifles and shotguns and we all knew
>where they were kept and where the ammo was. I even helped my dad load
>shells. It has never occured to me that guns or knives or pepper spray
>would make me any safer. It has occured to me, many, many times, that not
>having weapons around made me and my family and anyone who came into our
>home safer.
>
>I know that I do not speak for every woman, but I will say that I
personally
>
>feel much less safe knowing that many more people feel they must carry
>weapons to defend themselves, particularly since some make no bones about
me
>
>and my family being so much collateral damage if one of their shots goes
>astray while defending themselves from a threat.
>
>Terri Hyle
>
>>Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 17:42:56 -0500
>>"the type of person that may feel the need to carry"
>>
>>People working second shift, especially women.
>>Anyone working in a Convenience store off an interstate highway.
>>Someone walking home late a night alone on their way from work or
>recreation.
>>A women traveling alone or with children on a highway in a rural road late
>>at night.
>>A foreman who fired an employee who threatened them and/or their family on
>>the way out the door.
>>A person who is physically threatened by a spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend
or
>>the suitor of a mutual friend.
>>Someone who works in an area, like Chicago's Cabrini Green.
>>
>>Paul Double
>
>
>
>
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