Beware: Law Abiding Citizen
On a relatively quiet street in Tulsa Oklahoma, Jeremy lake was standing outside his home with his girlfriend Lisa Kepler 18. Her father pulled up and asked what she was doing in the neighborhood. Jeremy walked up to introduce himself as Lisa's boyfriend and without a word 54 year old Shannon Kepler shot him. Lake later died from his injuries. Kepler fled the scene and was later arrested. As was his wife Gina for accessory to murder after the fact. What makes this case more shocking is that the Keplers are Tulsa Police offices. Most 2nd amendment advocates take comfort in so called law abiding citizens arming themselves to help protect us from crime. However no one seems to ask the question who will protect us from them? I am not suggesting that most gun owners or even a large number are as unstable as Kepler. Most gun owners are responsible and indeed law abiding. It is also important to recognize that violent crimes are not always committed by hard core criminals. Quite often its your next door neighbor or even worse it could be those sworn to protect us.
Who can forget the notorious Christopher Dorner? The rouge ex Los Angeles police officer who after claims of racism, went on a killing spree before being taken out by law enforcement after being cornered in a mountain cabin. The mental state of an individual isn't always detected by the existence of a criminal record. Many gun owners are functioning members of society with respectable careers who are the proverbial powder keg just waiting for a spark to set them off. Forty three year old Pedro Vargas of Hialeah Florida was such a case. Vargas, who some describe as "quiet" had no criminal history of irrational behavior. He set fire to his apartment and then shot and killed six people in and around his apartment building in July 2013. "We have no explanation", said police spokesman Carl Zogby. Some residents believe that Vargas had a dispute with the building supervisors.
There are many who believe that having more "good guys' with guns will make bad actors think twice before committing crime. I would be in agreement with such a position if I could determine who the good guys were.
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