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Stay Safe Street Tip #43

Gift Certficiates, Student Experience & Brutal Largo Murder

Good morning Folks. Jane and I hope that all had an enjoyable and safe Thanksgiving. The holidays are fast approaching and, if you are like me, the proper gifts become a major concern (as well as staying out of the dadgum malls guys)! Please be advised that I may be able to assist. I offer a complete line of classes and products that are perfect for the holidays as well as any other special occasion. The gift certificate itself will be customized and in an appropriate envelope. A sample gift certificate is either available at Knight Shooting Sports or will be faxed to you upon request. Certificates may be ordered and paid for by telephone and then mailed to you. Please contact me if interested at 727-535-9151 or cell 727-515-1317.

Classes include:
       a. Concealed Weapon Permit (CWP) package -- $110.00 (18 years or older)
       b. Self Defense Firing class -- $65.00 (18 years or older)
       c. Tactical Handgun class -- $85.00 (18 years or older)
       d. Junior & Basic Shooter class -- $65.00 (8 years or older)
       e. Stay Safe Streets Seminar -- $100.00 minimum with $5.00 for students 11+
       f. Body & Sole Spa/Firing combinations -- cost based on specific package requested
             Note: Class fees do not include firearms, ammunition and eye & ear protection but may be added to the package.  The CWP package does not include the $117.00 application fee required by the state of Florida.

Services include:     
       a. Home & Business Security Surveys -- $250.00 (includes a written report & photos) or $60.00 (walk through)
       b. Guardian Alarm Systems -- $695.00 for the basic system (enhancements at additional expense)
       c. Mylar Glass Gard -- cost based on area to be protected from storm & wind damage as well as dynamic entry
       d. Security Lighting -- cost based on level of protection & services required
       e. Locks & Safes -- cost based on level of protection & services required

Well, Folks, Jane and I wish you all Happy Holidays and see you at Knight Shooting Sports.   Norm & Jane
PS -- Ladies please mark your calendars for the LOK meeting 12/11/02!

Josh sent me a reference to an excellent site in regard to the burgeoning ID theft problem. Remember that just last week they uncovered a ring involving 30,000 possible stolen identities. The site is http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ and administered by the Federal Trade Commission. I looked at the site and it may be useful in prevention as well as possible minimization in the event of a theft. Good Luck -- the scumbags are out there!

I always appreciate it when information and advice seems to pay off. I received the following today from Alan S. He did a great job of having his presence known but not becoming directly involved thereby supporting my "cockroach theory of criminality." I love it when a plan comes together!  Good job Alan!

Alan wrote "I thought you might be interested in this site, especially for the Ladies of the Knight. http://www.aware.org/
 Very well done with lots of practical advice for women (and men)."
Note: I concur -- there is some useful material therein. Looks like extras for the old bag of tricks!

 "I hope that you will be able to include information (and your analysis) about the recent murder in Largo of the 88 year old gentleman in your next newsletter.  The St. Pete Times was very vague as the to particulars.  He "somehow" got a gun that he used to defend himself and his wife? A discussion of things you should do AFTER you are forced to shoot would be especially helpful.  It would seem that the victim made a mistake -- but given the sketchy details it's hard to say what it was.  Some general information based on your experience would be valuable. BTW, I want to let you know that your CWP class has already proved its worth. Last week, as I was crossing the parking lot at my apartment, I happened to notice a man having a loud "discussion" with a young lady.  He had blocked her car in with his truck and had her car door open and was b! locking her in the car.  In the past my first reaction would have been to be a "White Knight" and attempt to "rescue" her.  However, I was carrying at the time (as I always do where it's legal), and practically the first thought through my head was your comment during the course about how an argument when you're carrying becomes an "armed confrontation."  I simply stopped at a distance and took a good look to see what was really happening ("observe") in case I needed to call the police ("report").  The "gentleman" noticed me almost immediately and yelled at me -- "What are you looking at -- (expletive deleted)."  I did NOT start talking to him or respond directly.  I just watched and started walking slowly away.  He continued to yell at me and demanded that I come over and he'd "kick my a--."  I still did not directly respond.   At this point I moved around a corner and out of immediate sight (I stayed in earshot).  Afte! r a few more choice comments, he went back to his truck and left.  I think that he believed I was going to call the police -- and I would have if he hadn't left almost immediately. It would seem that your "cockroach" theory is alive and kicking.  All that was necessary was for him to know that someone had seen him and he "scuttled" away.

 Strangely enough, now that I look back at it, the fact that I was armed probably saved me from an assault.  Not because I used my weapon to discourage the other guy (he never even knew that I had it), but because it made me so much more aware of how things could escalate out of control that it "discouraged" me from confronting him and instead I reacted in a way that prevented that escalation.  Thanks,  Alan S."

 

St. Petersburg Times November 27, 2002  "Assault on pair leaves 88-year-old dead" and
St. Petersburg Times November 28, 2002  "Police: Man was shot with his own gun"

 

I already had this programmed to write this weekend. Please note that I have no specific knowledge other than what I read in the St. Pete Times. All I do know is that an elderly man was brutally murdered and his ailing 86-year-old wife was battered in an apparent home invasion. They lived in a reportedly violent crime free area in south west Largo. The elderly gentleman and his wife walked home from the nearby Publix approximately 2:30 PM on November 26. Upon arrival at their condominium, they were forced into their home by a young man. The elderly man was able to retrieve a .38 caliber revolver and shoot the intruder in the face and chest (initial report was back -- the exit wound was probably mistaken for an entry wound). The good citizen then called 911 to report a robbery and suspect shot. The police arrived three minutes later and found the victim dead in the bedroom due to a gunshot wound to the head. The suspect, identified as a 19-year-old white! male scumbag named Brandon Scott Ware, who was arrested in June 2002 for sale & possession of cocaine and later pled guilty, was found bleeding and semiconscious on the floor in the living room. Fortunately the elderly woman only suffered minor scrapes to her head. However, she will probably be able to provide very limited if any information due to Alzheimer's disease. Please remember that I was not there and not privy to the investigation. The November 28 story related that the assigned detective stated that either the elderly man put the gun down while he called 911 and the killer picked it up or the very frail 90 pound victim was simply overpowered by the scumbag who had been shot twice. I do have several opinions and comments in this matter however.
       a. The 88-year-old man definitely succeeded in protecting his wife. She survived with only minor injuries. May God bless his lion's heart, indomitable spirit and love for his wife. The scumbag surely must have been shocked when the 90 pound tiger roared!
       a. Clear your six (watch your back)! Remain situationally and environmentally aware! Know what is happening around you! By this I mean that the victim should have been checking to see what was going on behind and around him and his wife. They may very well have been followed from the Publix by the opportunistic punk, who worked in that area, without the victim even seeing the attacker before the attack.
       b. I am also going to assume that the home was not alarmed. This may have been an ideal time to have a panic button available. When the siren goes off the dirtbag may have just fled the scene like a good cockroach.
       c. The fight is not over until the scumbag attacker says it is over! Simply stated, it is my opinion that the victim failed to consider that human beings may be very tough to stop when the adrenaline kicks in. We covered this in class during the multiple target and gun retention shooting. When the attack stops you stop shooting and then cover the attacker until the police arrive. If the attack resumes you resume your efforts to stop the attack. The victim had a problem in that his wife could not apparently dial 911 but more important, the attack was stopped and the scumbag down damnit! For whatever reason, the victim was disarmed by a severely wounded assailant and then killed with his own gun. In my opinion, it is much more important to maintain control than to call for help. Help will get there eventually but the victim was killed within three minutes of his 911 call and the attacker drifting in and out of consciousness. Be a little (lo! t) patient rather than surrender your major tactical advantages -- your firearm and your full attention!
       d. With a .38 hit that entered his cheek under his right eye and one in the upper chest, the intruder should have been stopped. I can only assume that the victim was not using a quality factory self-defense round.
       e. Train, train & then train some more! Jane and I very well know that violent, senseless crime can happen anywhere at any time! Be prepared my friends and take care of yourselves and families!
       f. If you are involved in an armed encounter, please carefully consider everything that you say and do after the encounter. This will be a very traumatic event in your lives and you must do the "right thing" and act as a good citizen. Personally I will probably be administering first aid because it is the right thing to do as long as my doing so will not create greater peril. Please remember that I am not a lawyer and I am not giving you legal advice. Please consult an attorney for legal advice. Personally, I am only going to say three things if I am so involved. You of course may say anything that you feel appropriate.
             1. I was in fear of my life (or someone else's life).
             2. I was only trying to make him stop.
             3. I want to speak with a lawyer now.
Numbers 1 & 2 are the legal basis in Florida for the use of deadly force. Number 3 simply stops the action and prevents you from possible self-incrimination at a very emotional and vulnerable time. Of course, it is always easier to avoid the incident than to extricate yourself from the incident! Please govern yourself accordingly and don't make me look bad!        

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

 

STAY SAFE AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!

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