A Tale of Two Attacks: Guns Prevent Violence

In August of 2009, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was leaving the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis, WI, when he came upon, and intervened in, an incident of domestic violence.  A 20 year old thug attacked the unarmed Mayor when the Mayor began to call 911.  The Mayor suffered a brutal beating to his face which left him with significant facial lacerations.  The Mayor also had teeth knocked out by the attack.

While involved in the physical altercation, the mayor struck his attacker with a closed fist which broke several bones in his hand requiring multiple surgeries in the year following. Press conferences after this extremely violent incident demonstrated that in addition to the physical injuries suffered by the Mayor, the emotional injuries suffered by the Mayor and his entire family were just as, if not more calamitous. http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/53347442.html

In March of 2013 in West Allis, WI an armed citizen was driving home from work when he came upon, and intervened in an incident of domestic violence.  Charlie Blackmore, a concealed carry license holder observed a large man beating and kicking a woman (who later was identified as his girlfriend).  Mr. Blackmore drew his legally carried weapon and immediately stopped the attack on the woman.

Without a shot being fired, Mr. Blackmore held the attacker at gunpoint, while he called 911 and  peacefully controlled the situation until the police arrived.  This incident offers an opportunity to expose the irrational fear-mongering of anti-gun special interest groups like W.A.V.E. who claim to be against violence.  These attacks occurred in the same city.  Both attacks involved a law-abiding citizen coming upon a domestic violence situation and deciding to render aid.  The difference between the two is that the mere presence of a gun, in the hands of the law-abiding citizen led to an markedly more peaceful resolution to the situation.  An unarmed Mayor Barrett was not able to peacefully end a violent situation he came upon.  He suffered a violent and brutal attack which led to devastating injuries which took over a year to recover from. He and his family suffered emotional injuries that may never heal.  In contrast, when the  "good guy had a gun" peace ensued.  Violence was immediately brought to an end.  The victim instantly protected, not a shot fired, not a scratch on the law-abiding citizen.

-- Peaceful -- It is time to expose the false prophecy of misguided anti-gun special interest groups who claim to advocate for less violence while they support legislation that would lead to increased violence.  It is time for news media to reveal the blood on the hands of groups like W.A.V.E. who promote "anti-violence" with initiatives that lead to more violence against the law-abiding.  Its time to ask W.A.V.E. who they are trying to protect from violence? The criminal, or the law-abiding.