Burglar Flees From Armed Home Owner

As reported, a Westville, FL resident called the police after hearing sounds of a break-in at his rural home.  The man hid in a closet, as the criminal entered the room.  The man then emerged from the closet, and told the criminal that he had a gun.  The ski-mask-wearing criminal then fled, using an S-10 pickup truck as his getaway vehicle.  A man matching the description of the criminal was later seen casing another house in the area.

As always, it is good to see that yet another citizen has defended themselves, rather than becoming a victim. That said, I would have preferred to read about a home owner who was able to detain the criminal until the police arrived, so that the criminal couldn’t go victimize another home.  However, just as I think it is wrong to second guess someone who has fired in self defense, I don’t think it would be proper to criticize someone who successfully defends themselves without firing a shot.

It is also worth noting that this self defense gun use ended without a shot being fired, as happens quite often.  However, the famous (and grossly inaccurate) anti gun myth that home owners are 43 times more likely to be killed by their own guns than to defend themselves against a criminal doesn’t count self defense cases such as this, since no shot was fired.  But such flaws in anti gun arguments should come as no surprise, given the misinformation, propaganda, and one sided “interviews” that tend to permeate gun rights discourse in this country.