Mass Shootings That Weren’t (Defensive use of guns…) by Tom Reynolds
Criminal use of guns usually makes the headlines. Defensive use of guns…not so much, as that would justify gun ownership.
The left-wing media concentrates on incidents when guns are used in mass shootings. What about defensive use of guns that stopped likely mass public shootings? John Lott has produced a list of concealed handgun permit holders that stopped likely mass shootings, since 2014. It’s a long list that the main stream media has somehow managed to overlook.
It is not a list of all defensive gun uses but only those that stopped a likely mass shooting. It’s probably not all of these incidents since the media doesn’t cover them very well.
For more detail on all of these incidents, go to the link at the end of this post.
Greenwood, Indiana, July 17, 2022
A heavily armed man had murdered three people and wounded three others when a 22-year-old man legally carrying the gun fatally shot him.
Charleston, West Virginia, May 25, 2022
A man started firing an “AR-15 style firearm” into a crowd. A woman, who was legally carrying a gun, shot and killed him.
South Fulton, Georgia, May 3, 2022
A teenager fired his gun at multiple people. Two men responded by firing back and killing the shooter.
Phenix City, AL, April 13, 2022
After a dispute from earlier in the day, two men returned. One got out of his vehicle and shot at four people. One of the intended victims with a concealed handgun permit, returned fire, striking both suspects.
Portland, OR, February 19, 2022
A homeowner shot multiple people at a demonstration, killing one woman and injuring several others. A demonstrator, who is licensed to conceal carry a firearm, shot the homeowner.
South Central, Nebraska, October 22, 2021
A fired employee returned to the facility and killed two employees and injured another before another employee shot and killed the gunman.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, October 17, 2021
A shooting between two teenagers ended when a concealed handgun permit holder intervened, shooting one of the participants.
Syracuse, NY, August 31, 2021
A property manager saved several lives when he used a legally possessed handgun to fatally wound a man who had opened fire on a crowd.
San Antonio, TX, August 11, 2021
A woman who crashed into a parked car and then began shooting indiscriminately as people came out of their homes. An armed resident shot the woman to death.
Fort Meyers, Florida, July 22, 2021
A convicted felon, with an illegally possessed gun, fired multiple shots into a crowd before a bystander confronted the attacker. The felon stopped attacking and “threw his gun in a parking lot.”
Chicago, Illinois, July 4th, 2021
Three people standing in an alley were shot before a witness with a concealed carry license shot at the gunman
Arvada, Colorado, June 21, 2021
A good Samaritan fatally shot a gunman who had just killed a police officer. The Samaritan was mistakenly killed by responding officers.
Fort Smith, Arkansas, May 15, 2021
A man shot an elderly woman in her apartment and then began shooting at people in neighboring apartments. A man used a rifle, not a concealed handgun, to stop the attack.
Metairie, Louisiana, February 20, 2021
After murdering two people and wounding others, armed employees and customers, all with concealed handgun permits, returned fire and eliminated the threat.
Weslaco, Texas, August 17, 2020
A man with an AK47 was planning to shoot people at a Walmart. A customer and security guard held the man at gunpoint and the man put down the gun. The man had another gun on him, which he pulled on police, who returned fire and killed him.
Dallas, Texas, July 25, 2020,
Three men were shot and a woman was hit by shrapnel when someone opened fire outside a sports bar. He was confronted by armed patrons and they exchanged gunfire. The shooter fled.
Brownsburg, Indiana, July 16, 2020,)
A 22-year-old man attacked two cemetery workers, killing one. He shot a third man who was legally armed and shot back, fatally wounding the attacker.
Hummels Wharf, PA, July 11, 2020
A man killed his ex-wife and another man in the parking lot of a restaurant. A restaurant customer, who is licensed to carry a firearm, shot and wounded the shooter.
Louisville, KY, June 27, 2020
A man shot a handgun into a park crowd. Several bystanders returned fire, shooting the assailant in the leg.
Kwethluk, Alaska, May 16, 2020
Aa 19-year-old man, broke into the village public safety building dressed for combat. He staged rifles inside, and activated the fire alert system and shot at responding officers. A resident armed with a rifle, was able to get the shooter to drop his weapon.
Tulsa, Oklahoma, March 27, 2020
A woman started firing at a group of people who were standing in a parking lot. An armed citizen shot and killed the assailant.
Near Fort Worth, Texas, December 29, 2019.
Three people, including the shooter, were shot in an attack in a church. The attacker died after being shot by two of the parishioners. Four other parishioners also drew their permitted concealed handguns.
Duncan, Oklahoma, November 18, 2019
A gunman murdered two people in a vehicle before a bystander with a gun confronted him, causing the gunman to turn the gun on himself.
Newnan, Georgia, August 13, 2019
A gunman intended to shoot up a bar when an off-duty employee took a small caliber rifle from his SUV and shouted at the gunman, who opened fire, hitting the employee. The gunman fled but was later arrested.
Colonial Heights, Tennessee, February 13, 2019
A shooting at a dentist office in Colonial Heights, Tennessee was stopped by a concealed handgun permit holder. After the killer fatally shot his wife, he turned his gun on other people in the office. A patient shot the killer and kept him covered until police arrived.
Birmingham, Alabama, October 27, 2018
A masked man entered a McDonald’s restaurant and immediately started firing his gun. A concealed handgun permit holder returned firing killing the attacker.
Louisville, Kentucky, Wednesday, October 24, 2018
A white racist murdered two blacks in a Krogers but a white bystander with a concealed carry permit engaged the murderer. Multiple rounds were fired and no one was injured. The murderer fled the scene and was later taken into custody.
Titusville, Florida, August 4, 2018
A gunman opened fire at a park full of kids. The gunman was confronted by a citizen with a concealed weapons permit. The gunman pointed the firearm at the concerned citizen who shot the gunman.
Tumwater, Washington, June 18, 2018
An attacker carjacked a vehicle, drove to Walmart, stole ammunition and continued shooting at people. He unsuccessfully tried to carjack another vehicle, seriously wounding the driver before two armed customers shot him dead.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Thursday, May 24, 2018
A man shot at people from outside the front door of a restaurant. An off-duty security guard and another man who was legally open carrying a gun shot and killed the attacker.
San Antonio, Texas, December 7, 2017
A man with a gun was about to start shooting a father’s children as the children were walking out of a restroom. The father shot and killed the attacker.
Rockledge, Florida, November 17, 2017
A man killed one person and severely wounded another in a parking lot and then continued shooting inside a car repair shop. Two other workers, both concealed weapons permit holders, engaged in a shootout that left the suspect wounded.
First Baptist Church of Sutherland Spring, Texas, November 5, 2017
A former NRA instructor, who lives next door to the Church where 26 churchgoers were being murdered, grabbed his AR-15-style rifle after hearing the gunfire and went over to investigate. He shot the murderer in the leg and torso before the murderer fled the scene, but was later arrested.
Clearlake Oaks, California, October 23, 2017
A shooter killed one person and wounded seven in a rampage that started in a neighborhood and continued to two gas stations and a church. A gas station vendor exchanged fire and a concealed carry church usher eventually held the murderer at gunpoint until police arrived.
Arlington, Texas, May 3, 2017
A man, who had already killed one person, was shooting at the front door of a restaurant as customers were fleeing. A concealed carry customer, who was dining with his wife, shot and killed the murderer.
Townville Elementary School, September 28, 2016
A 14 years old boy killed his father and then began shooting at a school playground. One student was skilled and three were wounded. A volunteer firefighter, who possessed a valid firearms permit, restrained the shooter until law enforcement officers arrived.
Lyman, South Carolina, June 30, 2016
A man started shot three people in a nightclub. Permitted concealed handguns were allowed in bars in South Carolina and a permit holder was able to shoot back, wounding the shooter in the leg and stopping him.
Winton, Ohio, Sunday, July 26, 2015
A shooter fired at four different people. A legal concealed carry holder returned fire. No one was hit and the shooter withdrew.
Conyers, Georgia, Sunday, May 31, 2015
A man came into a liquor store firing a handgun, killing two people. A customer fired back at the murderer. The assailant fled but later died.
New Holland, Wisconsin, May 5th, 2015
A man pulled up to the crowded fire station parking lot full of children and firefighters and began firing in the air and at his vehicle. He also pointed the firearm at individual firefighters. Two firefighters who have concealed weapons permits pulled their guns on the gunman who ultimately complied and was disarmed.
Chicago, Illinois, April 19, 2015
An Uber driver with a concealed carry permit pulled a gun and opened fire on a man he saw firing a pistol into a group of people. The shooting stopped when the assailant was wounded several times.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 22, 2015
A man in a barber shop was arguing and took out his gun and opened fire on customers and barbers. Another man outside heard the gunfire, ran into the shop, took out his own gun and opened fire, striking the assailant in the chest.
Darby, Pennsylvania, July 25, 2014
A convicted felon killed a caseworker during a regularly scheduled appointment. The doctor had his own gun and returned fire, hitting the murderer three times and critically wounding him.
Chicago, Illinois, July 7, 2014
A man fired on a group of people leaving a party, only to be shot himself by one of the victims, a military service member with a concealed carry permit.
Portland, Oregon, January 11, 2014,
A man was ejected from a nightclub, but he returned 30 minutes later with a gun and shot a bouncer and two others. A second bouncer, a concealed handgun permit holder, fatally shot the assailant.
UPDATED: Compiling Cases where concealed handgun permit holders have stopped likely mass public shootings (crimeresearch.org)
