Validation of Armed Citizens

By Massad Ayoob. July 10, 2023

The Orlando Sentinel, 03-20-02. A front-page story by reporter Bob McKay runs in the Florida paper under the headline, "Watchful dad slays gunman."

It seems Robert Shockey made a point of showing up at the end of each business day to stand by as unpaid security while his son Gabe, 20, locked up the video store where he worked.

The senior Shockey was licensed by the state of Florida to carry a concealed, loaded handgun. He kept a .45 auto in a holster inside his waistband near the middle of his back.

On the night in question, two criminals with long rap sheets burst in while the son was closing. One of the armed robbers waved a rifle around and, the paper reported, both perpetrators, "were shouting violent, obscenity-laced threats." Said Shockey himself, "They made it clear that they would kill us." .....