Good Samaritan couple with Ohio concealed carry licenses stop a domestic violance attack

[virginia mountainman]

Konopinski's girlfriend told police they had been arguing throughout the day, and he allegedly punched her in the side at Walmart, 222 E. Smok erise Drive.

When the girlfriend, who was driving, refused to leave the Walmart parking lot with Konopinski in the car, he reportedly stepped over the center console, put the car in reverse and stepped on the gas pedal, causing the vehicle to lurch backward and almost hit several parked cars, according to the police report.

She then drove to the McDonald's parking lot. When she parked the car, Konopinski reportedly "slammed" her back into the seat with his elbow and his body. At that point, witnesses intervened, the report said.

"We've been assisted by the public at times, but never with a CCW permit-holder utilizing their weapon, that I can think of," Wyrick said. "It certainly sounds like they contributed to his capture and arrest by Wadsworth police officers."

...


And this from the sheriff...

"I would hope that most of the public that we serve, would be willing do that in one aspect or another."

Video at link!

http://www.onntv.com/live/content/onnnews/stories/2010/09/21/story-wadsworth-crime-couple.html?sid=102

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. So it happens all the time, we just don't hear about it.

"We've been assisted by the public at times, but never with a CCW permit-holder utilizing their weapon, that I can think of," Wyrick said.

[virginia mountainman]

3. LOL here is one that happened about around a hour and 45 minutes from you..

Up in Mt Airy.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x340692

[spin]

4. Such stories are normally buried by the national media ...

you will not see this story or others like it even on Fox News.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. This isn't about media spin - read the quote by the cop.

He's NEVER seen a CCW prevent a crime in his jurisdiction. That's the cop saying it, not the press ignoring it.

People assist others all the time. And they are almost never armed when they do it. That's the point I was making, and which the officer was commenting on.

Frankly, I don't think that packing is any indicator if you are going to assist or not. If you are not brave enough to intercede unarmed, having a weapon won't make you any braver. Virtually every time you hear of a CCW intervention, that carrier is an ex-cop, ex-military, someone with not only training but also experience.

The person who is scared of his neighbors, even if he goes out and gets his permit and takes a training course, he's STILL going to be scared of his neighbors. And that's the guy I worry about, because that's the guy who will shoot through a closed door out of fear of what's on the other side.

[benEzra]

6. Read it again. He's never personally had a CCW holder capture and hold somebody for police before

and I would certainly agree that this is rare. I hold a CCW, and would be on the phone with 911 in this case (and might intervene depending on the circumstances), but holding someone for police can be risky. In this case, circumstances were apparently such that holding him for first responders was doable, and the couple did so.

FWIW, I have a good relationship with my neighbors, and do not carry because of "being scared" any more than I have a fire extinguisher in my car because of "being scared." But whatever...

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. He didn't say 'me', he said 'we' - implication is that in his entire department

he in unaware of getting public support from CCW holders, while acknowledging getting help from unarmed civilians.

So it is even more rare than you suggest, despite the meme here that it happens all the time.

[virginia mountainman]

8. Well... What about when the sheriff says this??

"I would hope that most of the public that we serve, would be willing do that in one aspect or another."

[RaleighNCDUer]

10. What about it? nt

[SteveM]

9. Well, it is Wadsworth, Ohio, not Atlanta or Miami. nt

"Frankly, I don't think that packing is any indicator if you are going to assist or not. If you are not brave enough to intercede unarmed, having a weapon won't make you any braver. Virtually every time you hear of a CCW intervention, that carrier is an ex-cop, ex-military, someone with not only training but also experience.

"The person who is scared of his neighbors, even if he goes out and gets his permit and takes a training course, he's STILL going to be scared of his neighbors. And that's the guy I worry about, because that's the guy who will shoot through a closed door out of fear of what's on the other side."

This is mostly conjecture. I don't know if I would be "braver" with a gun, but my likelihood of surviving such an intercession would be significantly enhanced. Do you have any data or other info to back up the "Virtually every time you hear..." comment?
How many folks, btw, do you think are so "scared of his neighbors" they will "shoot through a closed door out of fear...?" If you have a number, what percentage to they constitute of all firearm-self-defense incidents?

[spin]

11. Wadsworth Ohio has a population of 20,810.

It's not unusual that a police officer has never seen an incident where a CCW prevented a crime. I doubt if 500 people have a carry permit in that county.

People who have concealed carry permits are not law enforcement officers or vigilantes. They just go about their everyday lives while carrying a concealed firearm and not every person with a permit carries all the time.

You do make one interesting point...

Virtually every time you hear of a CCW intervention, that carrier is an ex-cop, ex-military, someone with not only training but also experience.

Most of the people that I have known who carry on a regular basis ARE ex-military or ex-police.

For some reason, people who oppose concealed carry always have to insinuate that fear is the reason that many people get concealed carry permits. In my experience this is a stereotype. I have absolutely no fear of my neighbors nor am I paranoid.

I do realize that there is a possibility that I might be attacked by an individual who wishes to seriously injure or kill me. The chance of this happening is slim but not nonexistent. I took the time, effort and expense to obtain a carry permit and I carry because to leave the weapon at home would be a waste of that money and time. I carry an extremely lightweight weapon, a S&W Model 642 snub nosed .38 cal revolver. I merely drop this weapon and its holster into my front pants pocket when I leave my home. It takes less than five seconds.

Some posters often say that if I was a real man, I would handle problems without a firearm. Most attacks involve a weapon, either a firearm or a knife. I have had some martial arts training and I realize that a trained fighter is at a serious disadvantage when facing an armed opponent. Also I am almost 65 years old and am a candidate for a hip replacement and also have degenerate disk disease in my back. To a certain extent I may appear to be easy prey to a predator as I have an obvious limp.

You also make a statement that I find false ...

The person who is scared of his neighbors, even if he goes out and gets his permit and takes a training course, he's STILL going to be scared of his neighbors. And that's the guy I worry about, because that's the guy who will shoot through a closed door out of fear of what's on the other side.

To refute this common argument I will refer to the monthly report on concealed carry issued by the State Of Florida at:
http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/stats/cw_monthly.html

The report covers a 22 year time frame from October 1, 1987 to August 31, 2010. In that time frame Florida issued 1,842,237 concealed weapons permits and currently 754,548 are still valid.

Only 168 licenses have been revoked for a crime involving a firearm after the license was issued. Shooting innocent people through a closed door would qualify as a crime and lead to your license being revoked and your spending a long time in prison.

[PavePusher]

12. "Bravery" is not the only limiting factor.

Circumstances, abilities and opportunity are issues as well. Also there are times when having a weapon does make the difference between effective intervention and futile or enhanced complication.

And plenty of non-mil, non-LEO Citizens have the courage, thoughtfulness, training and resources to effectively intervene in a criminal situation

[friendly_iconoclast]

13. Assisting the cops is not the main purpose of CCW, nor should it be

I would also point out that despite your worries about "the person who is scared of his neigbors", it's more likely that a

'bad' shooting will be done by a LEO than a CCW permit holder.


Perception of danger vs. actual danger

[YllwFvr]

14. I would say

they intervene more because they are used to it, as either an off duty or retired cop or armed services member. In this situation I surely wouldnt have stepped in. Unless I see someone at serious risk to life or limb I wont risk it. Even then, if its just myself then I may weigh flight instead and notify the authorities.

[cleanhippie]

2. I hope the one that always asks for this is reading it.

Probably not, he never responds to it even when he asks for it. Such a coward.