A concealed carry permit holder was one of those brave citizens that tackled the lone whack job that shot Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and killed and wounded many others. Joe Zamudio was leaving a Walgreen’s pharmacy when he heard gunshots… and ran toward them to see if he could help.
Update: (found the Fox interview)
Update 2: had to change links; try this one to see an interview
Also see interview with Geraldo Rivera here. [link is defunct]
Please note that Joe was just one of the several heroes on the scene. Patricia Maisch ran to disarm the assassin by grabbing the magazine. Roger Salzgeber and Col. Bill Badger also tackled and held the shooter down. Col. Badger [74 years old!] actually suffered a gunshot wound to the head before taking action. All are true citizen heroes.
I bring attention to Joe Zamudio primarily because most of the national media, judging by reporting on similar previous stories, will likely downplay or ignore the fact that he is a concealed permit holder.
Here is a man that heard gunshots and ran towards them in an effort to help however he could. He did this without knowing the situation or who was in danger. Arriving on scene he recognized that the criminal was no longer a threat and provided assistance in restraining the assassin. Several things should be noted:
- He did not draw a firearm and charge into an unknown situation. That would have added to the confusion, possibly leading to him being identified as a second gunman.
- He was aware that there was a crowd and recognized the danger of hitting bystanders.
- A person other than the assassin was in control of the firearm when Joe arrived. He did not misidentify the criminal and fire on an innocent.
- He did not act as “judge, jury and executioner”.
- He has stated (on the Fox and Friends interview) that he has no special training for such situations.
Please keep these in mind as in the wake of this tragedy, the blood dancers wail and moan about the need to ban guns, ammo, and full capacity magazines (the shooter used a 31 round mag in his Glock). The gun banners will say that only cops have the training and ability to use firearms and stop criminals. This incident highlights that citizens are capable and the cops are always second responders. Here we have a good guy with a gun and a bad guy with a gun and it was the bad guy who sprayed bullets into the crowd. It’s not the implement; it’s the criminal.
Do not let anyone tell you that your freedoms must be restricted because of the actions of criminals. If the consequences of the crime of premeditated murder won’t stop a lone nut from shooting a congresswoman and into a crowd, more laws won’t stop another from doing the same. Gun bans only create more victims.
Additional links:
American thinker asks, “Would you run towards the sound of gunfire?”
Local AZ news interview of Joe
Father of slain 9 year old does not want restrictions on freedom
Filed under: In the News | Tagged: Arizona, AZ, blood dancers, CCW, CHL, concealed carry permit, gun ban, heroes, Joe Zamudio, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords |
1 With A Bullet 
i am just glad that she is doing better, i have no problem with guns at all, i just think that bullets should be 1000$ per shot, that way when you shoot somone you better mean it!!
I believe I recognize a tongue-in-cheek tone in your comment but on a serious note if you take into account that a person is responsible for every bullet that leaves their gun, it is actually more expensive than that. A person can do everything right in a defensive shooting and still be sued by the criminal (if they survive), the criminal’s family, a zealous DA, etc. The legal costs incurred after the event may very well take every cent you have to pay and many that you may not have. That in itself is reason to get training on not only how to shoot but when to shoot and when not to.
Stupid comment. $1000.00 a bullet would make becoming proficient with a firearm impossible as one must practice on a regular basis to become accurate when firing a gun.
Obviously, you’ve never fired a handgun and have been watching too much TV.
Go to the pistol range, rent a handgun, buy some ammo and some targets and see how long it takes you to hit anywhere near the center of the target from 7 yards.
Now imagine trying to do so in a stressful situation.
You’re probably one of those people that says “why didn’t the police shoot him in the leg instead of killing him?”
Never mind that the difficulty factor of shooting someone in the leg is high, that police departments don’t shoot to wound, they shoot to kill when their lives or other lives are in danger and the fact that the legs have a huge artery that will cause someone to bleed to death in no time.
$1000.00 a bullet and you would have people with guns and no accuracy in firing them.
if they ignore the fact he was a CCW holder its because its not relevant, you don’t have to be a CCW holder to be a hero any more than by not having one you can not be a Hero, I mean come on, talk about reaching for straws….
No. You don’t need a gun to be a hero. The unarmed principal of Sandy Hook Elementary can be called a hero for attempting to defend her students by charging the New Town, CT murderer. However, if she were equipped with the proper tool(s) to resist an armed killer, she and many more students might be alive today.