And in 2023, even the most anti-gun members of society generally concede that to protect your residence from violent criminals is an inalienable right. Reasonable people do not bat an eye when they hear of a person defending their home and family, even with deadly force.
Yet another case of a good guy with a gun being his own first responder just came out of Tennessee.
A Murfreesboro homeowner is in the clear after he shot two home invaders, killing one, on Friday, May 5, 2023. The evidence was strikingly clear.
Police report that two violent criminals, identified as 52-year-old Kevin Ford and 42-year-old Clifford Wright, forced their way into a residence on January Street while wearing masks and gloves. The frightening incident occurred around 8:30 p.m., and there were three people at home when it unfolded.
After they gained entry, they used a Taser to subdue the family dog and pointed a gun at the teenage son.
Thankfully, the homeowner was able to gain possession of his firearm, and then he shot both men several times. Responding officers found Ford dead at the front door as he apparently tried to escape. Wright was located a short time later after having taken refuge at the Salvation Army on Main Street.
He was treated at a local hospital for his gunshot wounds, which apparently were not serious, and taken into police custody. The suspect was charged with aggravated burglary, attempted aggravated robbery, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent felony.
Wright is being held on a $700,000 bond and has a June 5 court date.
Authorities report that the incident is currently under investigation, but they confirm that the homeowner does not face charges.
He wishes to remain anonymous but spoke with local reporters after the home invasion. “I heard my dog make like a noise like something was hurting and I heard [a] Taser. It was either them or me — that’s how I was looking at it and I was making sure it wasn’t me or my family.”
“I wish it wouldn’t have happened but I’m glad it went my way instead of their way.”
To be clear, the debate raging over gun control is one that pits those who value the right to self-defense against those who prefer that people are helpless victims. Even though most will concede the necessity of defending a person’s home, the ultimate goal of the anti-gun lobby is to strip Second Amendment rights away from lawful gun owners.
Now more than ever, it is essential that the people are not inhibited from taking up arms and protecting themselves from violent criminals. When politicians rail against gun rights, they tell the public that their need for self-defense is not important.
This Tennessee homeowner was prepared, and he had the courage to jump into action and protect his family and home. When armed masked men break into a residence, the only logical assumption is that they are there to harm everyone inside. It is commendable that authorities saw the situation for what it was and decided not to press charges.
As he clearly stated, it is a tragic situation that could have been much worse had he not been prepared to defend himself and those around him.
Armed self-defense is as old as human civilization. From clubs and spears to modern sporting rifles, people have always sought to protect themselves and their loved ones from those who would do them harm. The fight for our gun rights is simply a continuation of what humans have done for self-defense for thousands of years.
