As reported, an auto sales company owner shot a burglar who police believe had been on a crime spree:
Police say that the 72 year old owner of Justice Auto Sales was asleep inside his Imperial, MO store when he awoke to the sound of an intruder, who entered the property through a hole in the barb-wire topped fence, tried to force open a door, and then finally broke a glass window to gain entry to the building. After a confrontation, the store owner is said to have fired his gun in self defense, striking the intruder and causing him to flee to the parking lot, where he fell dead from his wounds. Police believe that the intruder was behind a string of other break-ins and robberies, including one in which a gas station clerk was attacked.
A recurring theme that I hear in anti gun arguments is the mistaken idea that if a person is law abiding and doesn’t get involved with criminals, then they won’t really have to worry about being attacked by criminals. While some crime is certainly criminal-on-criminal as they try to steal each other’s drugs and drug profits, there is plenty of crime randomly directed at law abiding citizens. A few examples: This unarmed family had a random home invader come to their house, make them strip naked, rob them, and sexually assault their 10 year old daughter. This unarmed 85 year old woman had a home invading rapist randomly break into her home, rob her, and brutally rape her in multiple rooms of her house. These unarmed motorists and pedestrians were randomly targeted for robbery, kidnapping, and sexual assault. This elderly woman was raped and then set on fire after being randomly selected by a violent criminal. Crime can happen to anyone, even if they are the most law abiding, respected, and loved member of their community, and it is therefore wise to be capable of defending oneself against violent criminals.
Luckily for this man and his family, he was prepared to defend himself. As a result, he survived, and the town of Imperial, MO owes him a debt of gratitude, as there is now one fewer violent criminal on the streets.