An 80-year-old Korean War veteran, his wife and great-grandson were asleep when a convicted felon with a 13-page rap sheet allegedly smashed a basement window ~nd entered their home. Hearing the commotion, the veteran got his handgun. Police said the suspect drew a gun and fired two shots. The veteran fired a single round, killing him. Here's where it got even more interesting: The veteran is a resident of Chicago, which has a decades-old handgun ban whose fate was at press time about to be ruled upon by the U.S. Supreme Court. Police declined to press charges against the veteran even though he may have violated the ban. One has to wonder, would anti-gun zealots favor Prosecuting this war veteran for breaking one of their so-called "common sense" laws even though his actions saved innocent lives?"How are we going to protect our homes without guns?" said the vet's son. "That gun law should be abolished:" (Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL, 05/27 /1O)

In February an NRA-supported federal law went into effect permitting people who may legally carry firearms to do so in many previously gun-free national parks. Three months later, a backpacker chose to exercise the new right while hiking in Alaska's Denali National Park. His decision and the new law likely saved his life and that if the female hiker accompanying him. They discovered bear sign and went on high alert. The bear, a grizzly, quickly emerged and charged the female hiker. The male drew a .45 ACP pistol and fired about nine shots, killing the bear. (Daily News·Miner, Fairbanks, AK, 05/30/10)

Police say four known gang members burst into an Arizona store that sells car alarms and stereos and announced a robbery. The gang members began ransacking the store and forced an employee into a back office at gunpoint. That's when the store's owner emerged onto the scene and opened fire with a shotgun. One gang member was killed and two were wounded. The store owner, whose forearm was slightly injured by return fire, held the three surviving suspects for police. (Associated Press, 05/12/10)

Home alone with her baby one morning, a woman heard a knock at the door. She declined to answer. A second knock, this time at the back door, aroused her suspicion. She retrieved a shotgun and attempted to obtain the license plate number of the car outside her home. To her shock, on·e of the suspects was able to pick the lock on the front door's deadbolt and it began to turn. She aimed the shotgun at the door. Police said the suspect opened the door, saw the shotgun and fled the area with an accomplice while shouting that they were merely lost. Themen were arrested. (Chillicothe Gazette, Chillicothe, OH, 05/15/10)

Strolling along on his evening walk, a man with a concealedcarry permit was approached from behind by a robber who thrust a gun in his back and demanded money. He handed over his wallet, and as the robber was distracted, he drew a .40-cal. semi-automatic pistol from its holster. The suspect pointed his gun at him, so the man opened fire, killing the suspect. Police said the suspect may have fired a shot durin·g a robbery the previous week and may have been prepared to shoot again. "When. we found [the dead suspect], he was laying on the ground with the gun in his hands and his finger on the trigger;' said Hazelwood Police Chief Carl Wolf. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, 05/06/10)

Claiming to need money for a bus ticket, a man went begging doorto-door. Several houses into his apparent scheme, he was turned away by Charles and Rita Ray. The suspect allegedly grew agitated and tried to enter the home. "We believe he couldn't get in the front of the house and went around to the back and that's when the gunshots started;' said Moss Point, Miss., Police Chief Sheila Smallman. The victims and the suspect both fired shots. The Rays were injured, but will recover. The suspect was killed. (Sun Herald, Gulfport, MS, 05/23/1O)

With her husband working the night shift, a woman was home alone one evening when she heard noises upstairs. Fearing the worst,.she got her handgun before investigating. A second floor window was shattered and a man was waving a flashlight around in the bedroom. "He yelled something at her;' said Calhoun County, Ala., Sheriff Larry Amerson. "She wasn't sure what it meant and she was scared:'The woman shot the intruder several times, killing him. (The Anniston Star, Anniston, AL, 05/19/1O)

Studies indicate that firearms are used more than 2 million times a yead or personal protection, and that the presence of a firearm, without a shot being fired, prevents crime in many instances. Shooting usually can be justified only where crime constitutes an immediate imminent, threat to life, limb, or, in some cases, property. Anyone is free to quote or reproduce these accounts.