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Book Review:
“The Man Who Hated Work and Loved Labor — The Life and Times of Tony Mazzocchi” This is a fascinating book about a labor leader who has had tremendous influence on our lives, but whose name is not even known by millions of Americans. Please read my review.

From:
The American Rifleman
March, 1999

Studies indicate that firearms are used over two million times a year for personal protection, and that the presence of a firearm, without a shot being fired, prevents crime in many instances. Shooting usually can be justified only where crime constitutes an immediate imminent threat to life limb or in some cases property. Anyone is free to quote or reproduce these accounts. Send clippings to: "The Armed Citizen," 11250 Waples Mill Rd., Fairfax, VA 22030

Barbara Thompson was at home in bed one Friday night when she heard someone breaking down her back door. The Hoffman, North Carolina, woman thought it might be a former boyfriend who was under a court order to stay away for earlier assaulting her and breaking her arm. As the attacker made his way inside he broke down Thompson’ bedroom door and fired at her with a shotgun. Thompson, whose 15-year-old daughter was in another bedroom of the house, fired back with five shots from a .38-cal. revolver, stopping her tormentor dead in his tracks. (The Pilot, Southern Pines, NC, 12/17/98)

The proprietor of Joe’ Carryout in Van Buren, Ohio, had been the victim of an attempted robbery before — in fact only 10 days earlier. In that incident, Joe Tooley’s stalling tactics, and the unexpected presence of his wife, caused the two masked, armed bandits to flee. This time, a man walked in and told Tooley to fill a bag with cash. When Tooley asked why he should, the bandit replied that he would shoot Tooley if he didn’t comply. Unable to open one of his registers, Tooley took an antique display gun off the wall and told the robber he would be shot instead. Apparently unwilling to take the risk, the man fled on foot — without any money. (The Times- Reporter, New Philadelphia, OH, 11/21/98)

A friendly outing on the links at a DeKalb County, Georgia, country club turned dangerous one afternoon when would-be robbers struck a golfing foursome traveling in three carts on a wooded trail. Remarkably, the incident wasn’t entirely unusual. Robbers had plagued the course for months, and golfers had been warned. This time, however, one golfer was prepared. Three robbers, two of them armed, forced occupants of the first cart onto the ground and began rifling their pockets. As the driver of the third cart rounded a corner and saw what was happening, he pulled a gun from his golf bag, firing a shot that struck one of the ne’r-do-wells in the face. The wounded juvenile was sent to a local hospital in critical condition, and police said they planned to charge him and his two cohorts with attempted robbery, kidnapping and aggravated assault. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, GA, 12/11/98)

When Michelle Sheppard emerged from an office building after conducting business one afternoon she was confronted by her estranged husband who was angry and armed with both a knife and a gun, according to sheriff’ office spokesman Col. Bob Garner. The knife attack that ensued left the New Orleans woman with stab wounds to the forehead, backs neck and side. As she attempted to escape, Sheppard ran into the parking lot of a nearby business where she attracted the attention of a patron who witnessed her plight and decided to help. The Good Samaritan used a gun he was licensed to carry to hold Sheppard’s attacker until police deputies arrived. (New Orleans TimesPicayune, New Orleans, LA, ]0/31/98)

A number of unsolved burglaries and a subsequent string of sexual assaults near the University of North Carolina’ Charlotte campus had female residents there fearing for their safety. It was that heightened sense of awareness, and an armed citizen, that helped prevent yet another attack. Twenty-six-year-old Adrian Rodricka Cathey entered a woman’s apartment early one morning and assaulted her with a knife. This time, however, the intended victim fought back, retrieving a firearm and shooting her assailant. Cathey, who had a record of arrests on charges of rape and attempted murder, was later found dead in a parking lot. (The Charlotte Observer Charlotte, NC, 11/1 8/98)

As Bruno Kosinski, 81, of Chicago’s Ukranian Village was getting into his car before dawn one morning, two teenagers attacked him with pepper spray, knocked him down, stole his wallet and threatened to kill him, according to police. That’s when the 5-foot, 5-inch Kosinski fought back, rising to his feet and firing once with a handgun he carries in his pants for protection. The shot struck a male attacker in the neck and sent a female accomplice fleeing. Though he did not have a carry permit, Kosinski was not charged with any crime. "He had a registered weapon and used it to defend himself against these gangbangers," said a police spokesman. (Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL, 12/9/98)

When four armed robbers set their sights on Frank’s & Sons Jewelers near Houston one morning, they hadn’t planned on becoming targets themselves. Two of the men jumped over the store’s glass counters while a third guarded the door and a fourth remained in a getaway car. Once inside, one of the men began filling backpacks with jewelry while the other ordered store owner Donnie Galvin to open the safe. Galvin complied, but rather than withdrawing jewels or cash, he drew a .357 Mag. revolver. He shot one robber and then used that man’s gun to shoot the other robber, saving his own life and those of his two employees. Both men died of their wounds while their accomplices made good their escape. (Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, 12124198)

Lori Bowers’ beagle, Pete, began barking shortly after noon one day while his owner slept in her Barney, Maryland, home following her night job. When Bowers awoke, she heard noises other than those made by her pet. Going to investigate, she saw a man in her living room attempting to disconnect her videocassette recorder. "I own a .45 pistol, and back in my bedroom I cocked [it] and he heard [the sound]." The man, realizing the homeowner was about to get the drop on him, took off so fast he ran right through Bowers’ screen door. Police later arrested two men driving a truck — full of stolen property — that matched the description given to them by Bowers. (Carroll County Times, Westminster, MD, 9/11/98)

If you have had a firsthand “Armed Citizen” experience,
call NRA-ILA Grassroots at (800) 392-8683.

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Last Updated — June 20, 2008