A Good Guy With A Gun

On July 17, a shooter at the Greenwood Park Mall in Greenwood, Indiana, killed 3 people and injured 2 others.  Greenwood is a suburb of Indianapolis.  The shooting stopped when a 22 year old who was legally carrying, shot and killed the shooter.  Said the city's police chief:  "A good Samaritan with a handgun" killed the shooter.  The city's Mayor added:  "On behalf of the City of Greenwood, I am grateful for his (referring to the Good Samaritan) quick action and heroism in this situation." 

As my friend, the retired police officer, has advised me, when a good guy with a gun (whether a cop or a citizen) takes aim at a shooter, it gives people time to run and escape from danger.  It also results in the cop or civilian putting themselves in harms way, because the shooter will turn his attention to the person shooting at him and fire back.  As my friend explained, when a cop does that, it is his or her job.  But as far as I am concerned, when a civilian does it, it is an act of bravery.

But not everyone was happy with the "good guy" being referred to as a "Good Samaritan."  Said one commentator who took offense:  "The term 'Good Samaritan' came from a Bible passage of a man from Samaria who stopped on the side of the road to help a man who was injured.  I cannot believe we live in a world where the term can equally apply to someone killing someone...My G-d."  Maybe someone can explain this to me.  Aiding an injured man is good, but saving lives is no good?

Last year, the New York Times reported on CDC findings that in the US, there are anywhere from 60,000 to 2.5 million defensive gun uses each year.

Meanwhile, on July 12, the Austin American-Statesman reported on the release of the 77 minute video from Uvalde, Texas.  The paper said that the video "shows in excruciating detail dozens of sworn officers, local, state and federal - heavily armed, clad in body armor, with helmets, some with protective shields - walking back and forth in the hallway, some leaving the camera frame and then reappearing, others training their weapons toward the classroom, talking, making cellphone calls, sending texts and looking at floor plans, but not entering or attempting to enter the classrooms." 

Dozens of officers in Uvalde compared to a single 22 year old in Greenwood.  Something to ponder.