The National Rifle Association’s mantra on gun violence is that the only way to stop a “bad guy with a gun” is to put more guns into the hands of “good guys.”
It’s a bogus argument, given the infrequency of good guys responding in times of peril. However, this week, a good guy with a gun did so and I want to offer a shout-out to the young man who took out the shooter at an Indiana shopping mall.
His name is Elisjsha Dicken, a 22-year-old from Seymour, Ind., who was shopping at the mall with his girlfriend when a lunatic opened fire. The gunman killed three people before Dicken shot him to death.
While Dicken is being hailed as a hero by police and bystanders who watched it happen, I want to caution against relying too heavily on these kinds of circumstances. I would hope that more “good guys with guns” would deter shooters from opening fire in the manner we have seen in all too many cases. Tragically, they don’t.
As Fox News reported: Dickenâs attorney, Guy A. Relford, said his client acted heroically in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“He is a true American hero who saved countless lives during a horrific event that could have been so much worse if not for Eli’s courage, preparedness and willingness to protect others,” Relford said.
Yes, he is a hero. I salute him for acting with cool, calm dispatch.
Let’s not put too much faith in these kinds of incidents repeating themselves. Let’s face it, we hear too few of these reports already even as more citizens are packing heat while shopping at the mall.
I applaud this âgood guysâ actions that day.
Donât let that distract us from the fact that the shooter had no criminal record had purchased the AR15 type weapon legally and recently.
Ban AR15 type weapons.