PORT RICHMOND, PENNSYLVANIA — After a man was refused entrance to a bar, he retrieved The Club — a steering wheel locking device — out of his car and assaulted a guard. The guard suffered from a punctured lung but was able to draw his handgun and fatally shoot his attacker.
According to Philadelphia police who are still investigating the scene, they have told 6 ABC Action News that no charges have been filed against the security guard as he was defending his own life.
Security guards tasked with protecting patrons and club-goers are stuck in a very crappy situation when it comes to self defense. It’s almost guaranteed that at some point in their individual careers, they will be assaulted. And it will most likely be someone who just got kicked out or someone who wants to start trouble.
Mumble, mumble, something about alcohol impairing good judgement.
Now, not only do guards have to take care of people who are not in their right mind, they have to worry about their own lives as well.
It’s not something exclusive to night club security guards. This has been seen industry wide. Whether it’s a security guard protecting a non-profit’s Christmas toy distribution plant, an unlucky guy protecting a woman at a mall, or a guard protecting a hotel clerk from violent assault, there’s a reason businesses hire these guys. And it’s certainly one of the reasons why those guards need to be armed.
But it can happen to any gun owner. People lose their minds, sometimes, and attempt to do violent stuff to the rest of us. They may wake up hours or days later and come to and regret their decisions, but if you’re not willing to defend yourself, you’re liable to wake up in a hospital — if you ever wake up.
That’s why responsible daily concealed carry is so important. The bad guys of this world need to have some resistance or the only thing they’ll fear is getting three square meals a day and free lodging courtesy of taxpayer dollars.
Everyday responsible carry of a handgun is a decision you make. Whether you’re a security guard knowingly putting yourself in a high risk environment or just the average person trying to get home from work, that gun can save your life — but only if you have it on you.