stanc Wrote:We do not know what would have happened if the CCW had not drawn his weapon.
I think we can at least agree it would have been a situation of deprivation of liberty with explicit or implied threats of violence. In hindsight we also know the perp had no moral self-restraint. These parishioners had previously agreed they were not going to be intimidated or threatened and defending themselves with equal force is their strategy. They were exercising their right to self defense and dignity. A tragic result when exercising a human right does not make exercising it, wrong. What the perp did was wrong. In hindsight was it the right decision? We still don't know what he would have done if they were unarmed, and that includes you. Suggesting they should have done this or that is moot.
stanc Wrote:From what I'm seeing about the story, the CCW may actually have triggered the shooting. The act of drawing his pistol escalated the situation and made him a threat to the gunman, whose original intent may have been robbery or intimidation, not murder.
Yes, it might have ended without tragedy if the first victim had not gone for his gun. Or it might have been a calculated bloodbath like the recent Christchurch mosque shooting (where all the victims were unarmed). Which one?
If, as you imply the congregation brought it on themselves by attending church with firearms then what guarantees of safety can you give if they were unarmed? Any equivocation or lack of certainty, or hope in your answer is likely to be unacceptable to those who are actually in the firing line. If nobody except the perp knows what he will do, or not do with his gun you can't blame the victims for assuming the worst and/or exercising their right to self-defense.
Stop blaming the victims to suit an anti-gun narrative - Regardless of how a victim reacts, they are never to blame.
Stan,
On a related matter, I don't appreciate your anti-gun rhetoric on this forum. You have gone to some effort over the years to conceal it but it leaks out and in this discussion is obvious.