Only, targets are increasingly refusing to play their role as more and more are armed and prepared for these predictable encounters. Two such instances unfolded over the weekend in the Windy City as law-abiding citizens took responsibility for their own wellbeing.
The first instance of a good guy with a gun standing up for himself came Friday night on West Wrightwood Avenue. At approximately 11:23 p.m., a man became involved in a disagreement with a group that then turned on him and began beating him.
That was a mistake.
The 43-year-old intended victim was not only a concealed carry permit holder, but he was also armed and prepared. A witness said that the three men accused in the attack attempted to enter his home, and this did not end well for the suspects.
All three are currently listed in critical condition. According to authorities, a 29-year-old male was struck by five bullets in the torso and is being treated at Mt. Sinai Hospital. A 22-year-old was hit by defensive gunfire in the chest and a 55-year-old suffered a wound to the neck.
Both were transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital for treatment after the explosive encounter.
The victim suffered significant injuries in the alleged attack and was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital. He sustained blunt force trauma to the head and body and at last report was listed in critical condition.
His cousin, identified as Andres Salgado, described him as a hard-working father of two who is married to a public-school teacher.
Salgado told reporters that his cousin “doesn’t deserve this. Always with his kids, taking them to baseball, baseball practice, everything. His wife is a teacher. Very respectful family.”
Roughly four hours later, another concealed carry permit holder was apparently the intended victim of a gang of carjackers. At about 3:30 a.m., the man was on North Spaulding Avenue when he was allegedly approached by three armed criminals.
The 34-year-old was walking to his car when the three suspects reportedly exited their vehicle and demanded that he turn over his car to them. But the concealed carry holder had other ideas.
Instead, he quickly drew his weapon and launched a volley of bullets at the three suspects. After reevaluating their situation, the three attackers jumped back into their sedan and hurriedly left the scene.
Police do not believe that any of the three suspects were struck by the gunfire, and the search for them continues.
Chicago has a well-earned reputation for violent crime, and there is not a weekend that goes by without dozens of incidents where victims are targeted by bad guys. The police work hard to keep the peace, but there is only so much law enforcement can do and only so many places they can be at once.
That’s where the Second Amendment comes in.
Without the right to keep and bear arms, the outcomes for both of these intended victims would undoubtedly have been worse. One was critically injured, but he still has a chance he almost certainly would not have if he were not legally armed.
It is no secret that having a firearm can be the best solution for upstanding citizens when facing an attack.
There is simply no substitute for having situational awareness and being prepared to the fullest extent to defend yourself from violent criminals.
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