The Gun-Free Zone That Wasn’t
December 10th, 2007 by Syd
A crazed murderer went to the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO, and opened fire on the congregation with a rifle. He was stopped by a woman who was armed. She has been characterized as “security staff,” a “volunteer,” and a “security guard.” The Rev. Brady Boyd referred to the church’s security staff as “volunteers”:
“Many lives were saved because of the quick action of some committed volunteers at our church,” Boyd said. He said about 7,000 people were at the church, which had just completed a late-morning service, when the shooting took place shortly after 1 p.m.” Source
The armed citizen who stopped this attack, Jeanne Assam (should be “Awesome”) has a background in law enforcement, but she was not serving as a police officer, and by inference, she must be a civilian CCW licensee. In other words, an armed citizen was on the scene of a shooting rampage and successfully stopped the murderer. When the New Life church learned of the incident in Arvada, Assam volunteered to help provide security.
Some important clarification of the staffer’s relationship with the church comes from Call Me Ahab:
UPDATE: Directly from the head pastor at New Life Church, the “security guard” who stopped the shooting was an unpaid volunteer, not a police officer, and “used a personal weapon.” The CNN link confirms the information I just received in an email from a source at New Life Church.
So the facts are now that a concerned, armed citizen, acted to in defense of the lives of others and risked her own life by moving rapidly to the shots and engaging the gunman. This woman is truly a hero, and deserves the highest congratulations we can offer. Source
And from CNN:
A New Life parishioner acting as a security guard shot and killed a gunman who entered the church Sunday afternoon after he had gotten no more than 50 feet inside the building, Boyd said…
…”She probably saved over a hundred lives,” Boyd said of the guard, whom he said is not a law enforcement officer and used her personal weapon. Source
It has been interesting to watch the language game being played about the security staffer who stopped the rampaging gunman. There has been an obvious attempt to “officialize” her, and I have watched with a certain degree of amusement as the language has morphed from “volunteer” to “plain clothes security officer” in news media reporting. Could it be that the MSM want to do anything they can to avoid acknowledging that this was a legally armed citizen who stopped this murderous attack with a privately owned firearm?
Churches are among the places that are generally regarded as “gun-free zones.” In a number of states CCW licensees are prohibited from carry in churches. This apparent gun-free zone wasn’t, and it worked. Lives were saved and a spree killer was put down by a legally armed citizen volunteer.
The woman who stopped the attack is named Jeanne Assam.
Assam appeared before the media with applause and said “God guided me and protected me.”
She described how the gunman, Matthew Murray, entered the east entrance of the church firing his gun.
“There was chaos,” Assam said, as parishioners ran away.
“I saw him coming through the doors” and took cover, Assam said. “I came out of cover and identified myself and engaged him and took him down.”
Assam had several years of experience in law enforcement and is licensed to carry a weapon. She attends one of the morning services and then volunteers as a guard during another service.
“I give credit to God,” Assam said. “God was with me. I didn’t think for a minute to run away.” Source
“This has got to be God, because of the firepower that [the gunman] had vs. what I had – was God. I did not run away and I didn’t think for a minute to run away, I just knew that I was given the assignment to end this before it got too much worse. I just prayed for the Holy Spirit to guide me.” Source
When victories don’t feel like victories
Four beautiful young people lost their lives at the hands of this killer. Several others were seriously wounded. We cannot crow and thump our chests about how an armed citizen bagged a bad guy and ignore the human tragedy of this event. We may justly feel a sense of gratification that a homicidal attack was successfully stopped in a way that we have recommended, but we will be wise to remain circumspect in our pronouncements. It’s a sad day when people can’t even go to church without worrying about being attacked by a maniac. There is a deep tragedy about this event and the other multiple shootings like it. People are going to be looking for answers and solutions, and our responses need to be thoughtful and realistic.
Not everyone can carry a gun, nor should they have to. What will be the long-term solutions for eliminating this sort of terror? Do we have to simply get used to it, or are there things that can be done? These questions are going to be asked. Our answers had better be more than to issue an Uzi to everyone’s grandmother.
Bloggers on this incident:
MSM Reporting:
Colorado Police Seek Clues in 2 Shootings
Gunman killed after opening fire at church
Authorities Identify Victims of Colorado Springs Church Shooting
Deadly Colorado Church Shootings May Be Linked
Pastor: Guard, plan saved ‘hundreds of lives’ at church
Source: One gunman responsible for Colorado shootings
Security Guard: ‘God Guided Me And Protected Me’
“Could it be that the MSM want to do anything they can to avoid acknowledging that this was a legally armed citizen who stopped this murderous attack with a privately owned firearm?”
I’m assuming this is rhetorical?
—357
“Could it be that the MSM want to do anything they can to avoid acknowledging that this was a legally armed citizen who stopped this murderous attack with a privately owned firearm?”
Not only is the MSM seething because a mere “civilian” used her God given right to protect herself and others, they are furious that she had the audacity to refer to her Christianity and her belief is the power of God to help her do the right thing?
What if the people of America get these wild Ideas that they can do things for them selves?
What if the sheep forget that Religion is just for the weak of mind?
What if they start believing in moral standards, and a Higher Authority than Katie Couric?
Where will the MSM and ACLU be then?
Who cares what the left-wing Hillary ass kissing morons vomit that passes for so called poltical commentary? Tell them where to get off and that goes for some of these namby pamby GOP blowhards as well. Empower yourself, get a firearms permit and exercise your right to protect yourself, family and neighbors from the low-life scum who want to take everything you possess. A little more Charles Bronson would go a long way these days-nothing like having a couple of friends named Smith & Wesson to even up the score with these people with issues or the idiot gang-bangers. Screw’em.
I have a CCDW license in a state that prohibits church carry. However, I know a few guys that carry in church anyway - and I have thought about it myself. I hate to stop going to church - but I also hate not being armed when I attend.
Probably, the only way I would be “found out” would be if I had to defend my life or that of another in an emergency. I wonder if in saving the life of the pastor, parishioners, or myself by stopping a killer with my weapon, I would offset my crime of “carrying”? I suppose not.
Anyone know of this happening? Or any thoughts or advice on this conundrum?
I have a CCW because I am a retired police officer.NOW!!!LET ME TELL YOU, WHO CARRY’.. CARRY !!!!! ALL THE TIME. I mean ALL the time .. Even if you are just going out to get a bottle of milk, or a lottery ticket. What’s the sense of having a CCW if you leave your weapon home. I will always carry, even if I loose my permit for some unknown reason. If some lowlife sees that you are armed, then on another occasion (like stopping on the way home from church) sees that you are not armed. YOU are in deep doo-doo… CARRY. DAMN IT, THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE THAT PERMIT… Thanks for the time to express my feelings on this issue… Mac
Thomas - a couple thoughts that go through my mind are: Could you live with yourself if you found yourself in a situation where you could defend innocent lives with a firearm, but had none?
And about CCW prohibitions in certain public areas - it is a victomless crime so long as you always retain control of your firearm (keep it on your body at all times). That is not legal advice, only my thoughts about it. I’m sure each state has their views on it.
Also, how you respond to a deadly force encounter may influence how the responding officers treat you, and if they recommend that you not be prosecuted. How you respond will be influenced by your training. The cost of the education is worth it - take defensive handgun classes and LFI 1 with Massad Ayoob. Find out when he will be near you, and sign up early. It’s the best investment you’ll ever make.
Unfortunately, these kinds of killers will always target soft targets before they eat the last bullet. More of these soft targets need to start allowing CCW, or open carry, to deter violent crime. Unfortunate as it is, this is a good case to cite should the issue ever come up in your church. Consider how many cartridges did that POS have on him when he was stopped? That is the approximate number of gunshot wounds prevented.
Mac - thanks for your comments! It is great to see LE encourage private citizens to carry!
What happened at the New Life Church is a great example of the sheepdogs in the church protecting their own. If you church in in a state that does not prohibit CCW, you should consider a volunteer security/safety team. They are a great asset. They help keep the children safe, co-ordinate medical responses as well as handle a potential active shooter as we saw in Colorado. If youe state does not permit CCW, consider starting team any way. They can use OC spray, poaaibly ASP batons or just their hands.
I have been the director of church security here in the Dayton area for the past 6 years. When I first put together a team, there was virtually no information available. About a month ago a friend and I stated to post items of interest to the church security community. We have listed a number of items such as recommended training, sample polices for the security team, medical team, incident reports, training videos on ASP batons, physical restraints, deadly force, low profile CCW and a presentation to the church management on why a team is needed. Please check it out.
www.churchsecuritymember.com.