Many people will claim that there is never a “Good Guy With A Gun” to save the day in an Active Shooter Situation. While simply untrue, there is a point to be made here: 94% of Active Shooter Events take place in so-called “Gun Free Zones”. This means that law abiding citizens are rarely able to carry near the incident. We'll look at several cases today where the citizens had to go to their car to get their gun.
We took a dive into the 2000-2018 FBI stats on “Active Shooter” cases and we found at least 47 cases that were stopped in part or in whole by citizens, some with guns, and some without. Some of these are off-duty law enforcement, but these people certainly qualify as “Good Guys With Guns” and they were not there because of a 911 call. Again, most people will not carry a firearm in a gun free zone, but off-duty LEOs may feel more free to do so than most because of their ID, training, and position. Many were un-armed and were injured or certainly risked it all to wrestle the attacker down with their bare hands. Some didn't make it, but saved countless others. Let me ask you a question: Which is more evil: The gunman, or disarming the people who now provide the gunman easy targets?
We could philosophize on the merits of a good guy or we could just tell you there stories:
Story 1: In the early morning of April 23, 2001 before any children had been picked up for school in San Jose, California, CP went to the Bus Barn where she had worked for the better part of a decade, and began murdering her co-workers. She successfully killed a driver-trainer and wounded three other ladies, before Gregory Allan Lee, another driver, caught her attention and ultimately restrained CP until the police could arrive, saving an untold number of lives.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-apr-24-mn-54869-story.html
Story 2: Near lunch time on July 28th, 2003, a disgruntled employee, RB, of the Kanawha School Board attempted to set his supervisor ablaze with a bucket of gasoline 10 minutes into the school board's meeting. After his match failed to light, RB resorted to his rifle, but was restrained by onlookers before he could inflict fatal wounds. These onlookers had to restrain RB without the aid of a firearm as they were at a School Board Meeting. One lady suffered gunshot trauma to the gut.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/school-board-meeting-attacked/
Story 3: After a long and hard night of seething jealousy, a jilted man, AC, arrived at his estranged wife's place of work the morning of July 28th 2003 with a handgun. He killed the owner of Gold-Leaf Nursery and one of his wife's co-workers after he had ended his wife's life. AC had a hard time figuring out which man was his wife's lover, and never had the chance to do so. Before AC could reload, two employees jumped AC and subdued him.
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2003-09-24-0309230677-story.html
Story 4: After suffering from alleged bullying by Seth Bartell at their school, JM brought a .22 caliber pistol to Rocori High School and fired on Seth twice, one of these missing and striking another boy, Aaron Rollins. After escaping momentarily, Bartell was shot in the forehead by JM, who went on as if to continue the shooting spree. Mark Johnson, a PE Teacher, confronted JM who raised his gun to shoot Johnson. Johnson literally raised his hands and said “No”, and JM surrendered.
https://murderpedia.org/male.M/m/mclaughlin-jason.htm
Story 5: At roughly 10:30 AM JR walked into Columbia High School with a rage and pain he wanted to spread carrying a 12 gauge shotgun and the ammo to do it. Thankfully, JR only got two shots off, only managing to wound one of his teachers in the leg before an Assistant Principal could tackle JR and subdue him.Police and SWAT arrived several minutes later.
Story 6: February 13th, 2005, a quiet Sunday morning at the Hudson Valley Mall was interrupted by a black clad 24 year old RB. Despite shooting a 20 year old Army Recruiter in the knee and a 56 year old man in the hand, RB managed to miss everyone else and was eventually tackled by employees.
https://www.recordonline.com/story/news/2005/02/14/gunman-goes-on-rampage-at/51136353007/
Story 7: On the afternoon of November 8, 2005 KB was called into the administrator's office of Campbell County Comprehensive High School for yet another weapon infraction. This time however, it was a .22 caliber that KB had brought to school. Upon being confronted, KB shot and killed an assistant principal and shot two other faculty. He was restrained by students and teachers until police took him away. He was later released from prison only to be in and out of prison with some charges including domestic abuse and allegedly killing his girlfriend's toddler. He is at large as of 2019 due to multiple miscarriages of justice.
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9970713
Story 8: Before the bell rang at 9:00 AM at Pine Middle School, Jencie Fagan heard a student yell at JN and JN fire 3 rounds into two 14 year old girls who survived. Fagan had the courage to confront JN and demand that he put the gun down and wait for authorities. JN heeded Fagan's prompting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Middle_School_shooting
Story 9: Angered by the disciplinary actions meted out by Principal Klang at Weston Highschool, EH walked into school at 8:00 AM on September 29th, 2006 and aimed a shotgun at the Social Studies teacher. A janitorial staff member jumped EH and wrestled the shotgun out of EH's hands. Upon seeing the staff member struggling with the student, Principle Klang attempted to help the struggling janitor restrain EH. EH, however also had a .22 caliber pistol with which he shot Principle Klang multiple times. Although Klang and other staff were able to restrain EH, Klang died several hours later from the wounds to his head, torso, and leg.
https://nthfmemorial.org/swept-the-gun-away-john-alfred-klang/
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15060698
Story 10: On July 27, 2008 at The Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, a shooter opened fire on the congregation killing 2 wounding 7, before the congregants could tackle the shooter DA. According to the manifesto DA wrote, he intended to shoot congregants until he was shot by police. God had other plans.
10 Stories of Good Guys with a Gun
Story 11: On March 5, 2001, at 9:20 a.m., Off-Duty San Diego PD Officer Bob Clarke was enrolling his teenage daughter in her new High School Santana High. Upon hearing the commotion, Clarke ran into the highschool where he found and apprehended CW, the active shooter who had murdered two of his fellow students and injured 13 more. Clarke was joined by three other officers on his way into the building, but once again, this is a matter of good guys on scene with guns who were not part of the 911 response. This was also on a school property.
https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/03/05/Cops-kept-Santana-shooter-cornered/7880983768400/
https://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=132072&page=1
Story 12: In the afternoon of January 16th, 2002 PO, a 43 year old male, entered the Appalachian School of Law in Gundy, Virginia. PO had just been suspended for poor academic performance so he had come back to shoot Dean L Sutin, the one he blamed for his pain. Faculty member Thomas F. Blackwell was also present and therefore was also shot fatally. Former school employee and now student Angela Denis Dales, 33 was the last fatal victim. While three other students were shot, no one else died that day due to the quick action of other Criminal Law students, two of whom had been already serving in law enforcement. One of the three, Michael Gross, ran out of the building during the firing to dawn his bullet proof vest and his service pistol before coming back to subdue PO.
https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/17/us/3-slain-at-law-school-student-is-held.html
Story 13: On September 23rd, 2017 Caleb Engle gets a divinely appointed chastisement for backsliding concerning church attendance, so on the 24th Caleb Engle attended services at Burnette Chapel in Nashville. ES was attending the chapel that day to “kill at least 10 white people” in revenge for the “Charleston Shooting”. Upon confronting ES, Caleb Engle suffered several injuries, including a dislocated shoulder, broken nose, and a gash to his forehead, ES suffers a gunshot wound from ES's weapon. Caleb Engles then retrieves a firearm from his father's, James Engles, truck. The men then wait for EMS and Police.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnette_Chapel_shooting
Story 14:On May 25, 2008 a nice night at the “Player's Bar and Grill” was interrupted by EV who had some sort of gang related beef with the Torres Brothers. A concealed carrier from Reno shot EV after EV had murdered Jose and Margarito Torres as well as having injured two other patrons. Just another night at the bar, right?
https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/three-dead-in-shooting-at-winnemucca-bar/
Story 15: On November 17, 2017 before quitting time at Schlenker Automotive, a mentally deranged man, RB, walks in and without notice kills one of the employees, motorcylce and hunting enthusiast Rodger Smith, and paralyzes, David Cordero with a shot damaging his spine. Don Smith and Nathan Taylor, co-workers of Cordero and Smith, were legal concealed carriers and put two bullets into RB, who they held, alive, for police. RB had never been at that shot and knew none of the employees or customers involved.
https://www.wesh.com/article/suspected-shooter-incompetent-to-stand-trial-in-rockledge/28500235#
Story 16: One peaceful evening at Louie's Lakeside Eatery was interrupted for Juan Carlos Nazario and Bryan Wilttle who had to retrieve their firearms from the trunks of their cars to defend themselves from AT. AT entered the eatery from the front door wearing eye and ear protection and no other noted motivation. Nazario and Wittle fired on AT, killing him, saving an unknown amount of lives, but forever leaving AT's motivations a mystery. Only 4 people were injured, one of which was a broken arm from finding cover.
https://okcfox.com/news/local/oklahoma-city-police-identify-suspected-louies-restaurant-shooter
Story 17: On Evening in a Kroger in Kentucky, GB carried out a racially motivated shooting of a black man and a black woman. Both died. The carnage ended when two legally armed citizens engaged GB and GB fled the scene, only to later be captured by police. GB had a history of Domestic Violence and Mental Health History.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/kroger-shooter-sentenced-life-prison-hate-crime-murders
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Jeffersontown_shooting
Story 18: Late on April 19, 2015 John Hendricks, an Uber Driver lawfully carrying, saw EC firing into a crowd of people. Our driver put 6 rounds into EC and prevented any further loss of human life. EC lived until 2019 where more of his antics apparently earned him several more holes, albeit fatal this time.
Story 19: In a more recent story a Good Gal with a gun was at a graduation party about to turn lethal on May 25th, 2022 and the results were perfect. After 10PM DB produced an AR-15 and opened fire, but our “Good Gal” drew on DB and neutralized the threat who was DOA when the police arrived. We could find no motive published as of writing this.
Story 20: At 11:30 AM on November 5, 2017, Steven Willeford had been taking a nap. He had a rough week ahead of him and had skipped church that day. However his daughter woke him up asking him if he had heard gun fire. Willeford grabbed his AR-15 and ran out the door without his shoes when his daughter spotted a man across the way in black tactical gear outside of the Baptist Church. Almost like a western, Willeford called out the shooter, who had murdered 26 people and wounded 22 others from the street. At this moment the shooter turned and left the building. Willeford confronted and shot the shooter, who then fled in a car only to later commit suicide rather than bleed out or be taken.
https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/stephen-willeford-sutherland-springs-mass-murder/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephen-willeford-sutherland-springs-nra-convention-today-2018-05-04/
Verses on self defense:
1. Exodus 22:2-3 “If a thief is caught in the act of breaking into a house and is struck and killed in the process, the person who killed the thief is not guilty of murder. But if it happens in daylight, the one who killed the thief is guilty of murder.”
2. Luke 11:21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own mansion, his property is safe.”
3. Isaiah 49:25 “Who can snatch the plunder of war from the hands of a warrior? Who can demand that a tyrant let his captives go?”
4. Luke 22:35-37 “Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler's bag, or an extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?” “No,” they replied. “But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler's bag. And if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels. Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.”
5. Luke 22:38-39 “Look, Lord,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.” “That's enough,” he said. Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives.”
6. Matthew 5:38-39 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
7. Romans 12:17 “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
8. 1 Peter 3:9 “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
9. Proverbs 24:29 “Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.”
10. Psalm 144:1 “Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle.”
11. Psalm 18:34 “He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.”
6. Psalm 82:4 “Rescue weak and needy people. Help them escape the power of wicked people.”
17. Proverbs 24:11 “Rescue captives condemned to death, and spare those staggering toward their slaughter.”
18. 1 Timothy 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
19. Romans 13:1-7 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God's appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation, for it is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God's servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience. For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants devoted to governing. Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.”
20. Nehemiah 4:16-18 “From that day forward, half of my men were doing the work and half of them were taking up spears, shields, bows, and body armor. Now the officers were behind all the people of Judah who were rebuilding the wall. Those who were carrying loads did so by keeping one hand on the work and the other on their weapon. The builders to a man had their swords strapped to their sides while they were building. But the trumpeter remained with me.”
Trust in the Lord and not your weapon.
21. Psalm 44:5-7 “Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us.”
22. 1 Samuel 17:47 “And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD's battle, and he will give you to us!”