The Most Basic Right of All

Obama Emanuel Holder Napolitano Pelosi Reid Boxer Schumer Feinstein Feingold would have denied this woman the right to own the shotgun that saved her life. Would have denied her the right to shoot and kill the intruder who threatened her. Would have suggested she wait and sit tight until the cops arrived. Would suggest a can of pepper spray would have been the better alternative. Would paint her as a paranoid gun weilding right wing whacko.

But listen to the call. She doesn't want to have to kill this man, or anyone. But she knows it's either her or him and is determined to survive. You can hear it in her voice as she's describing the man trying to get in, the threats he is shouting, actually breaking in and you can hear it after she fires the shots that end the attack, the sadness and horror at taking, at being forced to take, another life to save her own.

And that's what they don't understand, or rather, what they don't want you to understand. That we're not crazed individuals hoping waiting looking for the chance to shoot someone.

That Smith & Wesson .357 on your hip, the PPK by the computer, the Remington 870 leaning in the corner of the bedroom, the Winchester 30-30 carbine by the wall in the family room, are there to insure that, should it come to it, you live another day to hug your kids again, kiss your wife again. Not to re-enact the O.K. Corral first chance you get.

I've been there, dreaded what I might have to do but was fully ready to do it. Fortunately, I didn't have to pull the trigger.

This woman will have to live with this the rest of her life. And I hope she comes to understand she had no choice, she has no reason to feel guilty. She defended herself against someone who would have denied her the most basic right of all. Instead of ending up a statistic.

h/t In Mary's Image:

Dr Bulldog actually has the full story along with the full 32 minute audio of the call.

32 minutes waiting for the police to arrive.

A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.