Jesse Garza of the Journal Sentinel
Jan. 30, 2012
Milwaukee police late Monday were investigating whether a 20-year-old man who showed up at a hospital with a gunshot wound is the same man who tried to rob an Aldi store and was shot at by a customer.
A man with a shotgun entered the store at N. 76th St. and W. Villard Ave. about 7 p.m., according to a news release from Milwaukee police.
According to the release, as the man began to rob the store a customer fired shots at him, and the man fled empty-handed.
No customers or employees were injured during the incident, and police were questioning a man who went to the hospital with a gunshot wound to determine if his injury was connected to the attempted robbery, according to
the release.
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This story makes me giddy. It has all aspects of a perfect fairytale, although the fate of the heroic customer who shot the robber has yet to be determined.
Consider this analogy:
Consider the old addage, how can you expect to win if you're not willing to get dirty with the people that are spreading the dirt?
If a basketball opponent is given a free-pass to double-dribbling and traveling, their opponent would inevitably lose if they continued to abide by the traditional rules of the game. So, in this instance both teams enter into a game with a certain understanding of standard rules (laws, signs against concealed carry), one team completely violates the rules (criminals), and the referees (police) have no ability to stop the game (the game is freedom of movement in the overall society, in this case Aldi or wherever a crime occurs).
If the opposing coach realizes that the game is going to be allowed to continue despite massive violations, he will also realize that he must adjust accordingly or he will lose.
If the coach decided to adjust his player's conduct in the game to match the other team, this is the equivalent of getting a concealed carry permit. It simply levels the playing field for all participants involved in the game.
If the coach would continue to tell his players to dribble with the rules and not travel, this demonstrates a righteous commitment to rules and tradition, but also an acceptance of defeat. Its just that during a robbery at Aldi, defeat means dying. And I say fuck dying. I would much rather be judged by a jury of twelve than carried by six of my friends.
In the end, we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. A man coming into an Aldi to rob the place with a shotgun has affected that customer's right to continue a living a life absent from the risk posed by the 00 buckshot in the criminal's shotgun.
By entering into that Aldi wielding that weapon with his verbalized intent, the criminal gave up his right to life. By prosecuting the person who shot him for carrying a weapon in an unauthorized area, we would be publicly announcing that the individual's right to life is dead, and that he must rely on the state for his complete protection. Problem is, the state's standard for police response cannot ever counter the immediacy posed by the nature of a robbery or the muzzle velocity of a shotgun.
Perhaps the solution should be to simply boycott Aldi or any other business stupid enough to post signs that keep law abiding concealed carry permit holders from defending Aldi's property, employees, and patrons. On the other hand, property rights (including Aldi's) need to be respected or we are lost as a Nation. The original draft of the Declaration of Independence said each citizen were guaranteed the right to "life, liberty, and property," which of course was later amended.
Regardless, I close with a smile on my face as I reflect on a bad guy being shot, store patrons and employees safe, no money stolen, and hopefully increased future hesitation by Milwaukee thugs who think they can rule with violence. To them, I say this: game on. Defense wins championships. You have a problem with no pain, no gain? No problem. Let's all play by the same rules. I guaranty I am a better shot.
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