Tyler, Texas Shooting – some fallout
First up, is a piece rightfully calling Mark Wilson a hero:
“He saw evil in the city streets of Tyler and he acted instinctively and decisively to stop it with no regard for his own safety,” friend Russell Harris told a crowd of about 200 people who attended a memorial for Wilson, 52.
Another piece notes the shooting raises gun law questions:
When gunfire erupted in an East Texas town square, Mark Alan Wilson didn’t hesitate. He grabbed a Colt .45 handgun and charged downstairs to confront the assailant.
Actually, it was a Glock in 9mm:
Wilson’s actions in Thursday’s Tyler shootings drew hearty praise from gun advocates who say he probably saved several more lives as well. But gun control groups say his death is further proof that carrying a gun increases a person’s chances of getting killed.
Tyler police spokesman Don Martin warned gun owners to carefully weigh the risks before intervening.
“Certainly we don’t want citizens to go out there and get involved in situations if they don’t have to because they don’t have the training that the officers do,” Martin said.
Mr. Wilson saved at least one person. His intervention very likely saved many others as the gunman had to engage Mr. Wilson instead of shooting other people. Mr. Wilson knew the risks as does anyone who carries a gun and is willing to use it.
Kristen Rand, legislative director for the pro-gun control Violence Policy Center in Washington, D.C., said the Tyler shooting shows that criminals aren’t deterred by the knowledge that someone nearby could be carrying a concealed weapon.
I’d comment on this but Rep. Hupp already did:
But state Rep. Suzanna Hupp, a supporter of the state’s concealed carry law, said Wilson’s actions and his access to a gun improved the odds that Arroyo would be taken down before more people were killed.
Also, this reignited the debate over the ban on weapons that look like assault weapons. Or as Jerry Patterson said:
“What we’re focusing on is the alphanumerics: A-K-47,” Patterson said. “If he’d have used a Remington semiautomatic deer rifle, the same outcome would have resulted.”
March 1st, 2005 at 3:01 pm
Nope,If he had used a Semi-Automatic Deer rifle the results would not have been the same.Out of the 4 wounded there would have been 3 or more deaths.
A 3006 with soft point ammunition would have done a lot more damage than FMJ 7.62×39.Even a 30-30,a rifle that is the same balisticly as the 7.62×39 had it been loaded with soft point ammuntion,would have done more damage than the FMJ 7.62×39.