Criminals who prey upon other individuals are scums and almost every one of them are cowards to boot. They try to find the weakest possible targets in the hopes of accomplishing their goals of either obtaining material goods or fulfilling their need for violence. The area of Minneapolis traditionally known as Uptown has been suffering a rash of violent attacks:
A group of violent robbers struck six Uptown pedestrians three nights in a row within a six-block area, beating people into concussions with fists, kicks and, in at least one case, a set of brass knuckles, while taking phones and wallets, Minneapolis police said.
The three attacks occurred between 11:30 p.m. and 1 a.m., one attack each night starting in the early hours of Sunday morning, in an area bound by Hennepin and Lyndale Avenues, W. 32nd Street to W. 25th Street.
One of the punks also appeared to enjoy making inane threats against his victims:
“You want me to shoot you, bro?” he asked Houser, before running off. The three men drove away in a late model white minivan that was parked nearby.
Unfortunately for these thugs karma is a cold-hearted bitch:
The Uptown robbers struck again Tuesday night, only this time their victim was armed, police say.
Edward Curtis, 61, who described himself to police as an ex-Marine, fired several shots at a group of men who attacked him as he got out of his car near his apartment, according to police records. Curtis thinks he may have struck one of the men, said Minneapolis Police Lt. Mike Fossum.
“He had just parked his car in the parking lot,” said Fossum. “These guys blitzed him. They just started kicking his ass. He managed to get off three rounds.”
These brazen cowards weren’t so smart when faced with an individuals with the ability to defend himself. When facing multiple attackers a gun brings the odds of your survivability up greatly. After three similar successful attacks the criminals were sent running from their fourth attempt because Mr. Curtis was able to fight back.
Stories like these are why I’m such an advocate of the right to carry. Ultimately you are the one responsible for the defense of your life. The police won’t magically teleport to your location when needed and most people who witness an attack will keep out of it so you’re down to you and the tools you have available.
EDIT 2011-06-12 12:20: It was brought to my attention that I mixed the name Curtis and Fossum around. That’s been corrected. Thanks Nicole.
From the second article: “I don’t feel any motivation to go out and buy a gun or pepper spray or anything,” he said. “I still consider this a safe neighborhood, I’m just more aware that there are unsafe people out there.”
This is the part that mystifies me. Four attacks in a short period but take no steps to protect yourself. That and people who tell me that carrying a gun only attracts violence to me, or something like that.
I too have never understood the belief that carrying a gun attracts violence. If properly concealed, no one even knows you are carrying a firearm. How is that supposed to attract violence?
Also, I really don’t understand people that don’t want to take responsibility for their own safety. It doesn’t matter how “safe” a neighborhood is considered to be, bad things can happen anywhere. Everyone should carry some sort of self defense tool. As the saying goes, “it’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.”