No Such Thing

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 100 times.

“There is no such thing as a gun-free zone.”

They are only gun free until a murderer shows up with a gun. Then…all too often…the only thing that is gun free are good citizens who might otherwise be able to stop the killing.

But fortunately, when such a murderer decided to ignore the mythical force field of the gun free zone around Silver Rail Elementary School yesterday, a good citizen did as well. Though the incident is very fresh and details are still somewhat limited, early reports indicate that a bystander…believed to be the father of a student…saw the killer enter the school with a gun.

AP Photo/Joe Kline

Instead of obeying the impotent gun free zone around the school, he drew his concealed carry pistol and entered the building, shooting and killing the murderer. While it is tragic that he was not fast enough to prevent the murder of one adult and three children inside the school…he was faster than the police, and that speed almost certainly prevented further killings. Let us hope that in gun controlled Oregon that they don’t decide to prosecute the man (though you know they would if he was caught in the school with a gun any other day).

In his book, “First 30 Seconds,” retired Lieutenant Colonel Ed Monk writes,

“I do not care WHO counterattacks and stops the Active Shooter. I don’t care of the person is a cop or not a cop…I don’t care WHO stops the killer. I only care about how QUICKLY the killer is stopped. TIME & MATH.”

He couldn’t be more right, and if you care about this issue and haven’t read his book…you’ve got homework. Once a killer decides to ignore the ridiculous gun free zone sign and commit murder, prevention is no longer an option. The only choice we have at that point is whether it will be a gunfight or a massacre…and the faster it transitions from massacre to gunfight, the better.

A violent crime in progress requires a violent response, brought to bear as rapidly as possible. Speed is the answer. Not a stupid sign.