Three days ago President Obama delivered somber remarks in the aftermath of the mass shootings at Umpqua Community College near Roseburg Oregon. “The reporting is routine,” Obama said. “My response here at this podium ends up being routine, the conversation in the aftermath of it. We’ve become numb to this.”
In some regards he’s right. CNN reported that Obama has now delivered statements regarding (domestic) gun violence 15 times in his near 7 years in office. By any standard of measure – liberal, conservative or ‘other’- that’s 15 times too many.
But there’s a stunning gap in Presidential time-and-again remarks, a flaw in liberal logic so screechingly loud that any and all can see it but that liberals refuse to acknowledge. Liberals such as Obama continually call for in imposition of (more) “gun-free zones” despite the facts that a) no such thing exists, and, b) about the only places we see these mass shootings taking place is in these very “zones.”
Of the more recent shootings that have captivated headlines Columbine High School in Littleton Colorado was a posted “gun-free zone”; Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg Virginia was a posted “gun-free-zone”; as are all U.S. military bases, Fort Hood, Texas was a posted “gun-free zone”, Century 16 Cinema in Aurora Colorado was a posted “gun-free zone”; Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton Connecticut was a posted “gun-free zone.” On and on it goes.
But there’s one would-be mass shooting and mass shooter whom you rarely if ever hear mentioned. That’s because it never happened.
With over 10,000 congregants, New Life Church in Colorado Springs Colorado is a “mega church.” Its main sanctuary seats over 5,000 and is packed for most services. Add to that another huge youth sanctuary, children’s churches for children from infants through junior high, staff, people hanging around the café, etc. and you have a very target-dense building.
On December 9, 2007 at approximately 1:00pm Matthew James Murray walked into New Life with enough armaments and ammunition to kill dozens if not hundreds if he were an accurate enough shot. The 11:00am service had just let out. People were everywhere. Murray shot and killed two in the parking lot then entered the building. That’s where his rampage ended. Unfortunately for Matt Murray, New Life Church was not a “gun-free zone.”
Once in the building Murry ran across Jeanne Assam, a woman with a concealed weapons carry permit, training in the handling and use of firearms, …and she was packing heat. Ms. Assam assessed the situation, pulled out her pistol and dropped him.
Matt Murray entered New Life Church that Sunday intent upon killing, however in the final analysis only one person was shot and killed inside New Life that day — Matt Murray.
No one knows how many lives might have been lost had New Life Church been a “gun-free zone” but we do know this, no President went on national tv that night talking about the need for more “gun-free zones” to help curb our “culture of gun violence” and yadda, yadda. Why? Because rather than sit and wait her turn to be executed Jeanne Assam was able to defend herself and those around her.
Imagine how many would be alive today if we had not more but fewer “gun-free zones.”
Derrick Wilburn is the Founder and Chairman of the Rocky Mountain Black Conservatives and American Conservatives of Color.
He is a sought after speaker/presenter, and is also a renown author and columnist, contributing columns and editorials to the Colorado Springs Gazette and Colorado Common Sense News. He can also be read nationally on American Thinker, Allen B. West and the Tea Party News Network.
His online videos may be viewed on the ACofC YouTube channel and he frequently delivers the Tea Party National Weekly Address.
