Why Everyone Should Own a Firearm

[MountainDon]

story with video here

A young Oklahoma mother shot and killed an intruder to protect her 3-month-old baby on New Year's Eve, less than a week after the baby's father died of cancer.

Sarah McKinley says that a week earlier a man named Justin Martin dropped by on the day of her husband's funeral, claiming that he was a neighbor who wanted to say hello. The 18-year-old Oklahoma City area woman did not let him into her home that day.

On New Year's Eve Martin returned with another man, Dustin Stewart, and this time was armed with a 12-inch hunting knife. The two soon began trying to break into McKinley's home.

As one of the men was going from door to door outside her home trying to gain entry, McKinley called 911 and grabbed her 12-gauge shotgun.

McKinley told ABC News Oklahoma City affiliate KOCO that she quickly got her 12 gauge, went into her bedroom and got a pistol, put the bottle in the baby's mouth and called 911.

"I've got two guns in my hand -- is it okay to shoot him if he comes in this door?" the young mother asked the 911 dispatcher. "I'm here by myself with my infant baby, can I please get a dispatcher out here immediately?"

The 911 dispatcher confirmed with McKinley that the doors to her home were locked as she asked again if it was okay to shoot the intruder if he were to come through her door.

"I can't tell you that you can do that but you do what you have to do to protect your baby," the dispatcher told her. McKinley was on the phone with 911 for a total of 21 minutes.

When Martin kicked in the door and came after her with the knife, the teen mom shot and killed the 24-year-old. Police are calling the shooting justified.

"You're allowed to shoot an unauthorized person that is in your home. The law provides you the remedy, and sanctions the use of deadly force," Det. Dan Huff of the Blanchard police said.

Stewart soon turned himself in to police.

McKinley said that she was at home alone with her newborn that night because her husband just died of cancer on Christmas Day.

"I wouldn't have done it, but it was my son," McKinley told ABC News Oklahoma City affiliate KOCO. "It's not an easy decision to make, but it was either going to be him or my son. And it wasn't going to be my son. There's nothing more dangerous than a woman with a child."

[considerations]

Yep.

[Ernest T. Bass]

I just saw this a few minutes ago.. I'm glad for her--would have been a happier ending if she could have gotten away with just knocking a leg off or something instead of killing him, but I suppose it's better safe than sorry.. Wonder if she warned the guys that she was armed?

[rick91351]

I just saw this a few minutes ago.. I'm glad for her--would have been a happier ending if she could have gotten away with just knocking a leg off or something instead of killing him, but I suppose it's better safe than sorry.. Wonder if she warned the guys that she was armed?

Pretty sure the boom was warning enough......  As far as just wounding a stellar individual such as this.  This opens yourself up to lawsuits and litigation.  Some times deadly force is a lot simpler.     

[Tickhill]

The dead can't testify verbally! I don't blame the other guy for turning himself in, probably had to change clothes first.

[NM_Shooter]

A little bit of info on being able to protect yourself.  Some states require you to retreat as far as you can, even if you are in your own home. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_doctrine

[OlJarhead]

"Dead Men Don't Tell Lies".....

and they don't sue you either.

Good for her!  She saved the tax payers a ton of money too 

[OlJarhead]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45845801/ns/us_news-life/t/passer-by-shoots-out-window-help-rescue-children-icy-river-crash/#.TwUxpYGgK8A

That's for those who don't like stuff involving killing an intruder.  Here's another excellent reason to keep and bear arms!

[MountainDon]

As to NM_Shooters comment, yes, any firearms owner should be well versed in the laws of their state/locale.   It is hard to imagine there are places that would look at the shot/wounded/dead "alleged criminal"  and then slap the handcuffs on you. But there are.

[Woodsrule]

Now this is what I call "gun control." Is there any doubt in the mind of anyone that, if she had not possessed a firearm that night the results (to her) would have been much different? The intruders would have gained access and she and her baby would have paid a high price for being unarmed. The next time any "progressive" begins to rail against gun ownership, kindly refer them to this article and ask them to provide their opinion. I'm ever so glad the miscreant brought a knife to a gunfight.

[rick91351]

As someone that has been directly involved in numerous incidences where people lost there lives.  (Never one involving a firearm however.)  This young lady will have a lot of healing to do.  Getting it back together will take time and support from others in her peer group, especially after loosing her husband. 

[considerations]

IMO if a stranger forcibly enters my home they have already declared their lack of regard for the law.  If I'm also in the house, how far that lack of regard may reach is risky to spend much time pondering. 

Those precious seconds could be the difference between saving myself and/or my family or risking the possibility of having any defensive advantage I may have taken and used against us.

It is hard to heal emotionally from a home invasion if you are dead.

[OlJarhead]

IMO if a stranger forcibly enters my home they have already declared their lack of regard for the law.  If I'm also in the house, how far that lack of regard may reach is risky to spend much time pondering. 

Those precious seconds could be the difference between saving myself and/or my family or risking the possibility of having any defensive advantage I may have taken and used against us.

It is hard to heal emotionally from a home invasion if you are dead.

Amen.

[Sassy]

I agree, totally, with this young woman!  Yes, it will be hard to heal from, but would be even harder to heal from having her baby harmed & she being raped & injured if left to live... 

[Bob S.]

I think the SOB got just what he deserved. To bad the other reprobate lived to turn himself in.
They knew she knew who they where and had no intension of leaving her alive.

[Native_NM]

As to NM_Shooters comment, yes, any firearms owner should be well versed in the laws of their state/locale.   It is hard to imagine there are places that would look at the shot/wounded/dead "alleged criminal"  and then slap the handcuffs on you. But there are.

I don't know if you remember the case near Santa Rosa about 10 years ago - the girls who broke into the trailer to use the restroom and were shot.  The shooter was charged.

[OkieJohn2]

Here is some follow up info:
http://www.koco.com/news/30145902/detail.html
The accomplice will be charged with murder it seems.
In another story, the dead mans friends reply:
http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_4544.shtml
It is rather weird, one of the friends said that Martin would NEVER break into someones home,,,,,,so how the heck did he end up there??

[MountainDon]

There are always people who say he/she was the nicest person.

Ted Bundy worked for years alongside a woman who said he was the nicest person. Years later Bundy was the sunject of one of her true crime books. Ann Rule.

[rick91351]

url=http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_4544.shtml]http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_4544.shtml[/url]
It is rather weird, one of the friends said that Martin would NEVER break into someones home,,,,,,so how the heck did he end up there??

This is why deadly force often times seems to be the best option.  Without a doubt he now would be coming back saying she came on to him in her grief. .....  She invited him over several times as her lover.............  She is nothing but trailer park trash  .............  They had been having an affair for two years behind her husbands back..........  She has no right to the son because _____________.  She was actually wanted to buy his pick up..............

His attorney would stand on lots of people, not just men carry knives.  Just like concealed and carry with a firearms.  Nothing says that you cannot carry 12 inch knives.  Knives are not threatening.  12 inch hunting knives are the norm for ranch hands in these parts.  You never know when a simple pocket knife might not be the best tool for the job.  Like pealing an apple, cutting the twine on a bale of hay.  Nope 12 inch hunting knife is the normal tool.     

I can not wait to hear what his buddy that was arrested has to say.  Without a doubt they were going to choir practice, just pulled in there to see if they might assist this poor young lady in anyway.  She told them to come in when they knocked on the door.......                 

[MountainDon]

I don't know if you remember the case near Santa Rosa about 10 years ago - the girls who broke into the trailer to use the restroom and were shot.  The shooter was charged.

It doesn't seem like it was that long ago.    But I guess it is. I don't recall the outcome. But getting arrested even if let go is bad enough.

[peternap]

It doesn't seem like it was that long ago.    But I guess it is. I don't recall the outcome. But getting arrested even if let go is bad enough.

There is a lot to be said about this thread Don!
We're coming into the legislative session here and one of the two biggest issues this year will be Castle Doctrine.

Killing someone is he last thing a sensible person should want to do. Unfortunately, I have to deal with a lot of city people who just discovered guns and they all seem to want to shoot someone.

I have no idea how to deal with them....just ignore them I guess.

In this case, the young lady had no choice and three cheers for her for having the means to protect herself.
Thankfully the Legal System there recognized that fact. In many areas, even Va where "Stand Your Ground" is the law, people are still likely to be charged.

I've tried to explain to people that defending against a murder charge will cost around sixty thousand and months in and out of court. You can get a court appointed attorney....but you'll go to jail.

No one should go through that just for doing the only thing possible.

[considerations]

Guns thwart intruders in 3 W. Wash. cities
Updated 09:04 p.m., Thursday, April 5, 2012

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Armed homeowners have reportedly driven off would-be intruders in three more Western Washington cities.

The incidents Thursday follow Wednesday's shooting at a Puyallup home where a retired police officer who was awakened by intruders shot and fatally wounded a man who reportedly threatened him with a crowbar.

At Bonney Lake, police Officer Todd Green says a man first heard someone ringing his doorbell Thursday, then kicking the door. He grabbed a shotgun and confronted the intruder, who fled in a pickup truck. The homeowner says he fired. Police say there was no indication either the truck or the intruder was hit.

In Gig Harbor, an Army veteran says two young men rang her doorbell, then tried to open a sliding glass door. Angela Tallman tells KING-TV she grabbed her gun and tapped on a window to make sure they saw the weapon. She says they both ran off.

Federal Way police say a resident came home Thursday to find an intruder in his house. KING reports the homeowner armed himself and confronted the man, who ran and jumped into a nearby lake. The intruder was rescued from the water — and arrested.