The One Reason The Indiana Shooting Was Thwarted
(TargetLiberty.org) – Republican-controlled states across the country have passed constitutional carry laws in recent months, giving constituents the right to take their licensed firearms with them in public. Indiana was one of those places. According to reports, the good Samaritan who recently stopped a mass shooter from killing even more victims was able to do so because of that law.
What Is Constitutional Carry?
On July 1, Indiana’s constitutional carry law went into effect. The legislation allows residents to conceal and carry legally purchased firearms outside of their homes. At least 25 states have put such laws into place.
Gun experts believe the legislation makes it easier for law-abiding Americans to buy weapons and protect themselves. It’s because they don’t have to pay cumbersome fees for permits to carry their gun outside of their home.
In April, the NRA released a statement when Georgia passed its constitutional carry law. CEO Wayne LaPierre emphasized the states have recognized the Second Amendment ensures all law-abiding Americans have a “right to self-defense.”
Greenwood Park Mall Shooting
On July 17, 20-year-old Jonathan Sapirman entered the Greenwood Park Mall in Greenwood, Indiana. He spent an hour in the restroom off of the food court before walking out with a semi-automatic rifle and firing on patrons. He shot and killed Victor Gomez, Pedro Pineda, and Rosa Pineda, and injured a 12-year-old girl and a 22-year-old woman.
Elisjsha “Eli” Dicken, 22, was legally carrying a firearm under the state’s Constitutional Carry law at the time. He saw the gunman begin the attack and, according to law enforcement, fired his weapon 10 times from 40 yards away. Eight rounds hit Sapirman, killing him.
According to Fox 59, Greenwood Police Chief Jim Ison said Dicken didn’t have any prior military or police training before he shot the suspect at the mall that day. The top cop previously told reporters the 22-year-old was able to stop the shooting within 15 seconds of it starting.
Texas State University analyzed data over the last 20 years and noted that 266 shooters have been stopped from killing people. In just 24 of those cases, an armed bystander was able to stop the attack.
Dicken is being celebrated as a hero for stopping more bloodshed that day. He proved a good guy with a gun can actually take out a bad guy with a gun, seemingly demonstrating how important it is for Americans to be allowed to exercise their Second Amendment rights. Also, his actions showed how useful constitutional carry is and why Republicans are passing those laws.
Do you think more states should pass laws to protect Americans who want to carry their firearms outside of their home?
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