Gunman dead after opening fire at Florida school meeting

[Scott in Houston]

This case is another reminder of why I won't let myself buy one of those cute, light, easy to carry .380's. If I had one, I'd get lazy and carry it instead of one of those other big heavy guns. If I carried it and had to use it, barring an extraordinarily lucky shot, the wounds it could inflict would be unlikely to slow down someone who was trying to kill me until well after it wouldn't matter to me anymore.

Without that temptation, I just dress around my .45's, and don't harbor any illusions about those bullets carrying any magic either.

That was one of my early thoughts as well! I own a little .380 'mouse' gun and it's nice for what it is, but in this situation, I'd feel totally outgunned, and a big guy like that would take all 7 rounds to even begin to stop threatening me...

This incident has me almost questioning even my Glock 26. I'm now thinking I'll carry my Glock 32 (.357SIG) or my Glock 19 all year and not just in winter. Summer clothing makes the little TCP .380 tempting to carry at times, but not anymore.
I was already tempted to sell it because I rarely carry and almost never shoot it.

[RPB]

This case is another reminder of why I won't let myself buy one of those cute, light, easy to carry .380's. If I had one, I'd get lazy and carry it instead of one of those other big heavy guns. If I carried it and had to use it, barring an extraordinarily lucky shot, the wounds it could inflict would be unlikely to slow down someone who was trying to kill me until well after it wouldn't matter to me anymore.

Without that temptation, I just dress around my .45's, and don't harbor any illusions about those bullets carrying any magic either.

That was one of my early thoughts as well! I own a little .380 'mouse' gun and it's nice for what it is, but in this situation, I'd feel totally outgunned, and a big guy like that would take all 7 rounds to even begin to stop threatening me...

This incident has me almost questioning even my Glock 26. I'm now thinking I'll carry my Glock 32 (.357SIG) or my Glock 19 all year and not just in winter. Summer clothing makes the little TCP .380 tempting to carry at times, but not anymore.
I was already tempted to sell it because I rarely carry and almost never shoot it.

Not to detract from topic, but briefly interject:

I carry my 26 with 21 rounds in it (17 mag +3 pearce extension and a 17->26 spacer; with one or two, sometimes three, spare 20 round mags. ( Slide on my 19 is less comfortable length, but turning the holster's cant where the grip is more vertical makes the 26 with 21 rounds still easier to conceal comfortably than my 19) Of course if I need deep deep concealment, it only has 16 rounds in it (Glock 19 mag, with spacer)

Sorry, back to topic.

[chuckybrown]

I cant believe not a man in the place took advantage of the opportunity she gave them.

Every one of those men that failed to move, ESPECIALLY after the brave WOMAN moved in to try to help..............cowards!!!!!!!.........the lot of them! Worried about saving their own skin.....ah, the sheeple!!!

Flame me for my assessment, but I guarantee you, had I been in that room, I'd have fallen on the grenade, every time!

My .02 cents.

[chuckybrown]

here's the take of the libs......

http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2 ... -shooting/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Excaliber]

here's the take of the libs......

http://blogs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.babble.com/strollerderby/2010/12/15/florida-shooting/

The name of the site where the article appears says all that needs saying about the contents.

[pcgizzmo]

The guy in the red deserves much of the blame for doing nothing. He should have jumped the guy when the lady hit the gunman with her purse. It was the perfect opportunity. I don't blame the other guys because by the time they would have gotten to him he could have shot them and it would not have done any good but the red shirt definitely could have jumped him.

It might have made the situation worse though if he was unable to subdue the guy.

The others would have had to be willing to jump in and help but they might not have been willing to do that.

[JJVP]

here's the take of the libs......

http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2 ... -shooting/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Did you read the comments? No one seems to agree with the author.

[RPB]

A few agree, but those are comments from people who believe that no one at all distilled nor drank moonshine during prohibition .... because there was a law against it.

And people who believe that they are safer in Mexico where guns are illegal, than in Switzerland where the military sells excess weaponry to civilians.

I envision those comments coming from young ladies in their "little house on the prairie" dresses, sitting with their 5 children, after hand washing the dishes after Supper, waiting for husband Clem to return from fetching firewood for the night.

[ExMarlboroMan]

I cant believe not a man in the place took advantage of the opportunity she gave them.

Every one of those men that failed to move, ESPECIALLY after the brave WOMAN moved in to try to help..............cowards!!!!!!!.........the lot of them! Worried about saving their own skin.....ah, the sheeple!!!

Flame me for my assessment, but I guarantee you, had I been in that room, I'd have fallen on the grenade, every time!

My .02 cents.

I'd have to agree. That was my first thought when I saw the video on the news today, and still is my belief. But then, I'm still young and dumb too.

[troglodyte]

while looking through all the videos; I saw one I can't find again; video AFTER the event, where the retired LEO/head of school security, (Mike Jones) who actually shot the criminal, was walking, armed.


video was people consoling Mike Jones ...
There was a comment:

Don't know if Mike Jones attended the meeting armed, or ran to his car and got his gun ...

But others say Karen Tucker went to the information office and got them to call security chief and former School Board member Mike Jones,"who came running down and into the board room and then there were shots fired," she said.
http://www.newsherald.com/news/updated- ... video.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.newsherald.com/news/updated- ... video.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


SRO ("Mike") comes in (off camera) and is recognized at 3:20.
SRO back, identifies himself and asking about "a real gun" at 3:33
Guy in red (?) says something to the extent "He probably doesn't even have a gun." 3:39

This and the time it takes between this exchange and the shots fired make me think the SRO had to go retrieve his gun. But that's just my take.

[RPB]

Thanks trog;

he, at the least, went to go get a vest first.
http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/Mike ... 68099.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Although he's decided not to talk on camera, he did say his only thought at the time was to protect the school board members and himself. Colleen is proud of her husband.

“It just amazes me that he could even think like that in a crisis to know to go get a vest and to protect himself to come home to me and still protect everybody else," said Jones.


The one I saw was an "after the shooting was over" news report,

Where Mike Jones was being consoled.

(Although the website (in error) says "see Mike Jones had his firearm out PRIOR to the event"
(Obvious error as the V was already painted)

This one hasd SWAT arriving at 6:15
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[blackdog8200]

I think we have seen a miracle and I am thankful for the outcome. I am reminded of "Pulp Fiction" and the scene where the bullets hit the wall directly behind Jules and Vincent but neither are hit.

Another example of a gun free zone not being a crime free zone as well. I hope and pray none of us has to learn first hand how we would act in the same situtation. This could just as easily been a day at the office for most of us.

"Sad times are these....."

God bless and be safe to you all.

[TexasGal]

I cant believe not a man in the place took advantage of the opportunity she gave them.

THAT is exactly what I was thinking! She was a true Sheepdog! She was trying to protect that flock of sheep to the best of her ability and they just sat there with those big round eyes and no courage. They would have sat there and watched him shoot her if he had chosen to do so. They just sat there too shocked by the reality in front of them. I don't think it was "calm", it was paralysis.

And the wife of the shooter is really creepy. I saw the interview she gave in which she seemed to defend her husband and didn't seem particularly upset that he tried to murder people. No wonder she was fired from her job. I would not want her anywhere near children.

[jimlongley]

I think that even a mouse gun in the purse lady's hands would have led to the gunman dying six minutes earlier.

[Oldgringo]

I think that even a mouse gun in the purse lady's hands would have led to the gunman dying six minutes earlier.

Right! Furthermore, if the school board members had been armed, they could have shot the BG through the desk like they do in the cowboy movies.