Armed Civilian Stops Active Shooter, Once Again Proving Good Guys with Guns Matter

We keep saying it, but when will the disarmament lobby listen?

One law-abiding American with a firearm is all it takes to thwart would-be murderers. That timeless truth was once again proven on Saturday, August 1, when 35-year-old Jordan Salinas pinned down 24-year-old gunman Chad William during a shooting at an In-N-Out restaurant in Idaho.

Countless lives were saved because one man chose to set aside his own self-preservation for the sake of others. He did not act recklessly, but with courage, composure, and skill. And of course, this was all made possible because the Second Amendment guaranteed his lawful right to own a firearm.

"There's a task that needs to be done, and we're the ones who need to do it," Salinas said.

Zooming Out

For decades, the anti-gun lobby has relentlessly peddled anti-gun narratives across the mainstream airwaves. As mass shootings became all too common headlines, these same advocacy groups marched over the graves of innocents to blame the firearm—not the crazed individual wielding it.

In their rush to condemn the Second Amendment, however, these ideologues forgot one sound truth: "gun violence" is predominantly thwarted by law-abiding citizens with firearms.

This is the data the anti-gun lobby ignores:

"Of course, law-abiding citizens stopping these attacks are not rare. What is rare is not citizens stopping these attacks—it's the national news covering it," said Crime Prevention Research Center President John Lott.

Ignored by the Media

Salinas is an American hero, but to the mainstream media he is a nightmare. His decisive and honorable actions negate everything they want Americans to believe. Because of this, they left him out of the story. The following articles do not mention Salinas:

Why It Matters to You

Without the Second Amendment, we cannot protect ourselves or our liberties. The Constitution defends our right to self-government and individual liberty. The Second Amendment defends the Constitution. Its importance cannot be overstated.

The media lies about the role of citizen gun-owners in stopping violent criminals. For years, the legacy media and gun control ideologues have done everything in their power to undermine the importance of armed, law-abiding citizens. But Americans like Salinas demonstrate just how essential they are to a free society.

Self-government requires self-policing. Salinas' actions—and those of countless others—show that the Second Amendment provides a vital form of self-policing, empowering those who strive for good to confront the ever-encroaching darkness of this world.

The Takeaway

The right to life is fundamental to American freedom—and so is the right to defend your life. It's up to us to defend the Second Amendment so the next generation can inherit a safe and prosperous republic.