So here goes, I don't like to comingle my worlds, but this fits perfectly with what I'm dealing with in real life at the moment. I own a small town bar in rural Montana, and on the 17th of February we had a gun incident where thereby but for the quick thinking of the bartender and a couple of patrons the incident would have been the next tragedy in the crazy line that plagues America. Since it is still pending legal actions, I can only furnish the established facts.
There was a disagreement about the ownership of a coat. The disagreement carried out into the street where fisticuffs arose. After the fight, the apparent loser went to his car and brandished an AR15 (it's an assault rifle) and pointed it at least two people. The bartender herded people inside the bar, locked the door, and had people take cover in the casino. The gunman came to the door tried the door, walked away, came back tried the door again and then drove off.
The police were called while the gunman lurked about the premises. Being rural Montana the sheriff didn't arrive till forty-five minutes later, with no backup. In the mean time, the bar was unlocked, other people came in and everybody went about their business awaiting the cops. The guy comes back. This time unarmed, walks in and orders a beer. He was 'detained' by the customers while another quick thinking customer went to the guys car and 'recovered' the weapon. When the lone sheriff deputy arrived and arrested the gunman, he discovered there was one in the chamber and a thirty-round clip.
Now this is where the ridiculousness of the American justice system comes into play. The guy was given 75k bail, which he made the next afternoon. DUI offenders spend more time in lock up than a potential mass-murderer.
That's not the end of the story. Last Monday guess who makes a brief appearance in a security camera? You got it, the gunman. He was checking the location of the cameras in broad daylight. He then went to a local bar/restaurant and proceeded to get drunk. That a witness to the original crime worked there, may or may not have been a 'coincidence.' You be the judge. The guy was arrested again for violating the conditions of bail, was held for two day and given bail of $150k, which he met. He's out again. The bottom line, we're protected by the bulletproof paper of restraining orders and release conditions.
Being that time and distance is a huge issue, do you think some people who feel threatened will be packing? Legislation is all well and good, but in some parts of the world, it is after-the-fact. For me, I'll take my chances doing what I have to do and let the chips fall where they may.
http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/montana-m...r/31387150
There was a disagreement about the ownership of a coat. The disagreement carried out into the street where fisticuffs arose. After the fight, the apparent loser went to his car and brandished an AR15 (it's an assault rifle) and pointed it at least two people. The bartender herded people inside the bar, locked the door, and had people take cover in the casino. The gunman came to the door tried the door, walked away, came back tried the door again and then drove off.
The police were called while the gunman lurked about the premises. Being rural Montana the sheriff didn't arrive till forty-five minutes later, with no backup. In the mean time, the bar was unlocked, other people came in and everybody went about their business awaiting the cops. The guy comes back. This time unarmed, walks in and orders a beer. He was 'detained' by the customers while another quick thinking customer went to the guys car and 'recovered' the weapon. When the lone sheriff deputy arrived and arrested the gunman, he discovered there was one in the chamber and a thirty-round clip.
Now this is where the ridiculousness of the American justice system comes into play. The guy was given 75k bail, which he made the next afternoon. DUI offenders spend more time in lock up than a potential mass-murderer.
That's not the end of the story. Last Monday guess who makes a brief appearance in a security camera? You got it, the gunman. He was checking the location of the cameras in broad daylight. He then went to a local bar/restaurant and proceeded to get drunk. That a witness to the original crime worked there, may or may not have been a 'coincidence.' You be the judge. The guy was arrested again for violating the conditions of bail, was held for two day and given bail of $150k, which he met. He's out again. The bottom line, we're protected by the bulletproof paper of restraining orders and release conditions.
Being that time and distance is a huge issue, do you think some people who feel threatened will be packing? Legislation is all well and good, but in some parts of the world, it is after-the-fact. For me, I'll take my chances doing what I have to do and let the chips fall where they may.
http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/montana-m...r/31387150
“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”
Epicurus
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”
Epicurus
