On Christmas evening, Woffard Lomax Jr. was in a theater with his girlfriend and her three teenagers, laughing as they enjoyed The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Then came the shush.

Words were exchanged. A second man pelted Lomax and one of the teens with popcorn. People stood and a brawl ensued.

Lomax, recounting the exchange in court yesterday, said he was fighting with the man who told him to quiet down. Then the one who threw the popcorn pulled out a gun and fired, striking him in the left arm.

Jan. 13,2009 – Shooting at Applebee’s injures 21-year-old man

WATSONVILLE – One man was shot during a gang clash between two groups that had been dining separately at the Applebee’s restaurant on South Green Valley Road on Monday night.

(People just have to learn to stay out of these dangerous places. That’s why you won’t find Matt A. in Applebee’s).

No Jon. Criminals would avoid a confrontation with an armed-citizen over an unarmed-citizen any day. Chances are, if a criminal who planned to do you harm knew that you were armed, or thought that there was a chance that you were armed, he would avoid you and the confrontation all together, and seek out another (less equipped) victim. This wouldn’t mean that everyone would need to carry a gun, or even that everyone would need to be armed at all times. The simple possibility that a few people may be among us who are armed, would prevent much of the person on person crime such as robberies, batteries, rape and others.

Jon Simon then says, “Formerly small incidents would turn into bloodbaths. I don’t want to see the US turning into a war zone.”

Just in case you didn’t know Jon, there are plenty (millions of times each year in the US) of “small incidents” that have firearms involved, and because of the firearm, a life is saved, not lost.

This video may be able to shead some light…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_YTM_eAWnQ&feature=channel_page

Fremont Lifer, I will be the first to admit that with any right, also comes responsibility. I’m not sure about all of the details, but Gregory Edward Anderson, may be someone who made a very bad choice that doesn’t deserve the “right” or “responsibility” to act like an adult, or own a gun. This is an unfortunate situation, however, Mr. Anderson is (or was) one out of many millions of other American firearm owners in the United States. Just because he may have done the wrong thing doesn’t mean that WE would have done the same…. Right? Considering all of the firearms in the United States, and all of the firearm owners, there is not very many crimes involving law-abiding citizens and legally owned firearms. This is because most firearm owners are responsible individuals. Take it for what it’s worth.

“FREMONT — A 50-year-old father of three could face felony charges this week after he apparently fired several shots at a tree in his backyard early Sunday, creating a stir in the Northgate neighborhood and bringing at least a dozen police officers to the area, authorities said.

Gregory Edward Anderson, of Fremont, is fortunate no one was harmed, police said. He was arrested on suspicion of willful negligent discharge of a firearm and child endangerment, and could be arraigned today at the Fremont Hall of Justice.

At least six shots were fired at the tree with a 40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, but only two of the bullets were found in the trunk, said Fremont police Sgt. Chris Mazzone. A stray live round was found on the sidewalk near the man’s home, Mazzone said, reading from police reports.”

There’s your “armed citizen”, Walter, endangering the lives of his neighbors and his own children, taking up the time of local officers because he lacks the sense to use a firearm responsibly.

Citizens employed at gas stations/convenient stores should inquire with property owners to receive written permission to “keep” and “bear” their arms while at work, and while on the property.

Criminals are more afraid of armed citizens than they are of the police. Plus, I’d rather confront a bad-guy with protection, not a telephone!