Utah mass murder

This isn't surprising. We'll be seeing more of this sort of thing in the future, courtesy of the nut-jobs of the world. It's the reason I never go anywhere without my weapon.

BTW, if you'd like to know what "their" problem is: it's that the fruits of the land of milk & honey aren't free for the taking. Somewhere along the way they got the idea that the United States of America owes them a living, and that they shouldn't have to work for what they get. Gee. What a surprise it must be when they find out it doesn't work that way. I bet they think it isn't "fair". Does any of this sound familiar to anyone? Can you say liberal?

I live in the Salt Lake area, and have followed the story closely on the local news.

First, the shooter was a Bosnian Muslim. That's true. He came to this country nine years ago, when he was nine. He's a high school drop-out. He enrolled in several local schools, but didn't stick with any for long.

The local Muslim community hasn't said a lot, but they have said that the family has not been a participant in the Muslim community. They haven't been part of any of the local mosques. The Muslim and Bosnian community have expressed deep regret for the pain and suffering. The shooter's family seems in shock, and heartbroken.

My estimate is that this was just a sad, lonely kid who happened to be Muslim.

One of the heroes of the day was a civilian, who had presence of mind enough to run around to all the shops on the upper level, and tell them to pull down their shutters, turn off their lights, and get into the back. He encountered an off-duty Ogden policeman, told him what was going on, and then deliberately drew the shooter's fire while the policeman got into position to engage the shooter.

The other hero is the police officer. He and his pregnant wife had finished their Valentine's dinner, and she had stopped to visit a rest room. When he understood the situation, he sent his wife (a dispatcher) back to the restuarant, with instructions to get herself and the other customers out of harm's way, and to call 911 with a description of what he was wearing.

He then went down to the level where the shooter was, did what he could to clear the area of civilians, and made a contact with a SLC PD officer, and the two went after the shooter. The Ogden officer was the first to find the shooter, and started exchanging fire with him, using his Kimber .45.

When the officer opened fire, he became the sole object of the shooter's attention, and no other people were shot. Apparently, fire was still being exchanged when the SWAT team entered the scene. Witnesses heard the command to drop the gun, then many rounds as the shooter apparently refused to comply. It seems redundant to cuff him at this point, but that is what they did.

The Ogden officer gave a short TV interview, and came across as a very modest, capable, fine officer. I was very impressed with him. He knew exactly what to do, and did it perfectly, and at great personal risk.

The major lesson of the incident is that one person, well trained, and on the scene with a weapon makes all the difference. In the first three minutes, the shooter killed five people and wounded four. My guess is that that brave officer who put himself in harm's way probably saved about that many more, because it was an additional three minutes before police were there in force.

The officer did note that his magazine holds eight rounds, and that he was starting to be a little worried after he had expended six of them, and had only two left. Could there be a new, double stack model in his future?

It's baaaaack....

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-1022

Denton - That's what they make extra mags for. Plus, cocked and locked he should have had 9 rounds. An extra mag gives 17 rounds total.

I always carry 1 extra mag, but 2 would be better for sure.

Good news is he knew he had limited ammo and wasn't a spray and pray adherent.

Denton

Thanks for the info! We haven't heard a fraction of that here in Missouri.