We just discussed yesterday the lifting of the injunction on the “Doc for Glocks” law in Florida — a law barring doctors from asking patients about weapons in their home as a general practice. Now Pennsylvania Dr. Lee Silverman has taken the “Docs for Glocks” approach in a more literal direction. After patient Richard Plotts, 49, (left) pulled out a gun and started shooting people, Silverman pulled out his own weapon and engaged Plotts in a gun battle — leading to the wounding of both men but stopping Plotts. Plotts by the way was reportedly upset by the hospital’s gun free zone policy.
Notably, Silverman violated the policy at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in bringing the weapon. However, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan praised the pistol-packing psychiatrist: “If the doctor did not have a firearm, (and) the doctor did not utilize the firearm, he’d be dead today, and I believe that other people in that facility would also be dead.”
Even police chief Donald Molineux showered him with praise: “Without that firearm [Plotts] could have went out in the hallway and just walked down the offices until he ran out of ammunition.”
Plotts was standing next to caseworker Theresa Hunt across the desk from Silverman when he suddenly pulled out the gun and shot Hunt point blank in the head. Silverman then took out his own .32-caliber semiautomatic Seecamp and unloaded on Plott.
Plotts was reportedly used a rather old weapon to kill Hunt and injure Silverman. It was a .32-caliber Iver Johnson revolver circa 1940. These guns were once advertised as safe for babies to play with. It is not a gun that you see often today outside of a museum.
Plotts appears to have intended to kill Silverman over the hospital gun policy and both men emptied their weapons. Silverman had graze wounds like Plotts that required hospitalization. Plotts has been a patient of Silverman for 20 years. He is now charged with murder and attempted murder.
Source: Philly
The problem is a criminal element. Owning a gun does not suddenly give you homicidal tendencies. Most of us already drive cars every day, which can be used as a mass murder weapon.
I live in a high-gun-ownership community. It is common to see riders with guns or knives strapped to their legs. And yet, they aren’t out blowing each other away. They’re just tools here. The most common crime in the area is stealing equipment from outlying buildings, rather than home invasions when the family is home. In fact, I have never heard of one.
Because criminals typically have a sense of self preservation. If 2 homes were side by side, and one had a big peace and doves sign, while the other had a “patrolled by Smith and Wesson” sign, which do you think the criminal would choose to break into, especially if he knew the family was home?
Karen, That’s something a 10 year old understands. But, gun haters gotta hate.
Karen S
Keith – I follow the Israeli Defense unit news. The last I heard was that rockets from Hamas went amiss and hit a hospital, killing civilians. But, hey, they’re fine with using human shields, so should be no problem.
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In a trance engendered by the bullies in your life.
Here is a flash from the Izraeli Duhfence nooz who luv Cheezus.
Tight gun control hasn’t worked so well for Detroit.
Criminals do not follow the law. Only law abiding citizens do. By definition.
This is not one example that proves the point.
Police departments do not consistently track the statistics (and they need to in order to quiet the disarm faction), so it’s hard to get a solid figure.
I’ve posted studies before, on other topics, but most gun deaths fall into two categories: suicide and violent crime. The violent crime typically has a criminal connection between victim and perpetrator. This includes gangs and drugs.
It is simple logic. Let’s say, for example, a psycho stalker is terrifying his ex-girlfriend. You know, the whole, “If I can’t have you than no one can” bit. She’s got a restraining order. He doesn’t care. The police can’t live in her front yard, or follow her to work. So, basically, she’s helpless. Criminals do not follow the law. She’s 5 feet tall. He’s 6 feet tall. He breaks into her house with a machete. She has half a second until he breaks through her bedroom door. Not enough time for the whole 911 scenario. Option A: She gets killed, and joins the long list of domestic abuse murder victims. Option B: She was smart and got a concealed carry permit, and carries her weapon with her at all times. She either defends herself or holds him with the gun until police arrive.
Which option is more empowering for abused women? Dying or being strong and defending themselves?
Tough one.
Squeeky Fromm, Girl Reporter
Funny how lefties don ‘t think much of trickle down economics but just luuuuvvve them some trickle down gun control.
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I think you missed your appointment.
Ruuuuubbbbbyyyy, don’t take your
luvwarm gun to town.Keith – I follow the Israeli Defense unit news. The last I heard was that rockets from Hamas went amiss and hit a hospital, killing civilians. But, hey, they’re fine with using human shields, so should be no problem.
“If the doctor did not have a firearm, (and) the doctor did not utilize the firearm, he’d be dead today, and I believe that other people in that facility would also be dead.”
Even police chief Donald Molineux showered him with praise: “Without that firearm [Plotts] could have went out in the hallway and just walked down the offices until he ran out of ammunition.”
And THIS is why we have the 2nd Amendment.
And THIS is why we need to fix our mental health system. How many mentally ill people need to commit mass murder with arson, cars, axes, knives, poison, and guns before we start focusing on who commits these crimes instead of what tool they use?
The first firearm I ever owned was a gift to me from a police officer I dated many years ago. He said that he had never, in the history of his career, arrived in time to stop a violent crime from occurring. It just takes too long to get to a phone, make the call, describe the problem, give your address, and wait for police to arrive and act. If an attacker is someone who does not care about getting caught, like a stalker, he’s going to do what he came there to do. You can either pray for mercy from a killer, or you can defend yourself.
This case brings to mind the Texas Clock Tower shooter. It was so high up that he had an enormous range. But you don’t mess with Texas. Armed citizens picked up their rifles and kept him pinned down. They were praised with preventing a higher body count.
To Traveling Limey: One example proves your point?! Amazing! Like proving or disproving global warming with 1 week of temperature readings.
Let’s not forget that a large percentage of shrinks are psychotic themselves. We’re not talking even psychology here, that pathetic pretence of a science or an art, but psychiatry is a political tool of despots, including our government. I’m giving this shrink the benefit of the doubt as he does prove the rightness of the NRA and others in prefering to arm good citizens. Not that I wouldn’t kill a psychiatrist myself in any O’Connor/T2 movie situation, where the bastards want the soul with their nasty drugs.
““If guns were outlawed they would not be available to outlaws.”
Right, that’s worked so very well in the War on Drugs.
If guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns (see: Mexico, a state anti-gun zealots love to ignore).
If you don’t like the Mexico reference – how about Rwanda? When massive genocide was committed on an unarmed populace by state backed mobs armed primarily with the panga (machete). Anti gun laws do not stop gun crime, and an unarmed populace is not safer – it is more vulnerable, because a lack of guns does not prevent murderous violence on even a large scale.
The cure for bad guys with guns, good guys with guns. They are the great equalizer.”
And, since doglover asserts that outlaws obey laws and laws control the supply of guns, it is important to observe that the U.S. is, and has been for some time, a “murder free zone.” Somehow laws have not stopped this crime. Prohibition has a history of defining and creating illegal markets and corruption; whether this is in regard to drugs, abortion, firearms, alcohol, or cigarettes.
The “good guys / gals with guns” are like people who know CPR or have medical training. They are part of your community and may be crucial to have around in the case of an emergency when police or medical services are a phone call away – or more.
Readers of this blog might be surprised to know just how many emergency department physicians are armed. Concealed means just that. Concealed. No flaunting, but it is there if needed. You will never know it, and if asked, the doctor will probably deny he or she is carrying.
I know one doctor who didn’t start bringing a sidearm into the emergency department until after a gang-banger shot up the place. Mercifully, he didn’t hit anybody, and the staff got him subdued, but not before there were six bullet holes in the walls and ceiling.
Pepper spray is not a good idea inside a hospital for several reasons, although it is excellent for home, jogging trail or parking lot defense. First, OC (oleoresin capsicum) is almost impossible to clean up in an emergency room. Second, patients with compromised breathing or are very ill could be seriously injured or killed by pepper spray in the ER.
The bullet of choice for knowledgeable emergency staff is the Cor-Bon Glaser Safety Slug antipersonnel round. The Glaser was developed for the Air Marshal service in 1974. They needed a bullet with great stopping power, but would not blow a hole in the aluminum skin of a pressurized airplane.
A Glaser Safety Slug will blow a hole in an armed assailant that you can throw a cat through, but most walls will cause it to spatter rather than penetrate. An average emergency room partition will stop a Glaser.
Doglover – “If guns were outlawed they would not be available to outlaws”.
Actually, only outlaws would have access to them. Not a place I want to be in.
Funny how lefties don ‘t think much of trickle down economics but just luuuuvvve them some trickle down gun control. Which is what you get when you want to take guns away from law -abiding citizens and hope it eventually deprives criminals and maniacs of their firepower.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
“Twenty years of “schooling” and they [shoot] you on the day shift.” – Bob Dylan (Subterranean Homesick Blues)
“Plotts has been a patient of Silverman for 20 years.” – JT
That gives new meaning to cure.
Flip a coin to determine which one is the most sane.
“If guns were outlawed they would not be available to outlaws.”
Right, that’s worked so very well in the War on Drugs.
Anybody risking the death penalty for murder will not be dissuaded by a weapons charge.
If guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns (see: Mexico, a state anti-gun zealots love to ignore).
If you don’t like the Mexico reference – how about Rwanda? When massive genocide was committed on an unarmed populace by state backed mobs armed primarily with the panga (machete). Anti gun laws do not stop gun crime, and an unarmed populace is not safer – it is more vulnerable, because a lack of guns does not prevent murderous violence on even a large scale.
The cure for bad guys with guns, good guys with guns. They are the great equalizer.
Yes, they would.
There was an actually pretty even handed piece on CBS yesterday about Mo. teachers getting training for concealed carry. I believe they said 12 Mo. school districts have approved it. One female teacher was interviewed. She said she worked in a rural district where she and many teachers know there would be @ least 20-30 minutes before police could arrive to a shooting incident. This woman didn’t sound neurotic or dramatic. She was quite logical and was taking logical steps to protect her students and herself.