GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS — Investigators credit a man’s concealed carry permit and handgun for saving his life after an armed robbery attempt occurred while he was dropping off a coworker.
The suspect held the concealed carrier at gunpoint and the concealed carrier drew his handgun and opened fire, striking the suspect. The armed robber is now in the hospital according to FOX 2 St. Louis.
Neighbors were understandably shook up, as this is not a neighborhood that is typically home to violent crime.
“I was nervous. You don’t know where the bullets are flying. You hear this everyday. People just sitting on the porch and shot and killed, just from the wild fire,” said one resident.
Violent crime doesn’t have a border line. It can happen anywhere, any time, any place for any reason.
Thankfully, the police took the concealed carrier’s side. They quickly assessed that without his fast actions and having his concealed carry permit and handgun, he likely would have been just another victim of violent crime.
“An armed assailant attempted an armed robbery on a citizen. Fortunately, that citizen is a concealed carry permit holder,” Tom Gibbons of the Madison County State’s Attorney told FOX 2 St. Louis, “and was armed and was able to defend himself by firing at the assailant.”
The State’s Attorney Office for Madison County has decided to not pursue charges against the concealed carrier and has instead decided to vindicate him in his actions.
A very real scenario that can happen to any of us. Thankfully, this concealed carrier was willing and able to act. It’s not just the permit, though — it’s deciding to carry that handgun every single day with a round loaded into the chamber. That is what enables a person to respond to a violent crime instead of simply waiting to be the victim.
Concealed carriers don’t like waiting around to be victims. That’s we made the choice: carry everyday, everywhere legally permissible. Our lives and the lives of those around us depend upon it.