On Aug. 2, the Klamath Falls, Ore., police department responded to a 911 call of a shooting outside of a convenience store. Upon arrival, they found a 29-year-old man shot in the leg and shoulder. Witnesses said the wounded man had been shooting at a vehicle his girlfriend was driving. A legally armed citizen witnessed this and intervened, shooting the assailant twice and instantly stopping the rampage. The wounded man then tried to hide his weapon, which was nonetheless recovered by detectives at the scene. The woman was not injured in the incident, though her vehicle was struck multiple times. After being released from a nearby medical center, the attacker was charged with attempted murder, felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon and reckless endangering. (klamathfallsnews.org, Klamath Falls, Ore., 8/3/20)

A tattoo shop owner responded to a notification from his shop's security alarm on the morning of Aug. 16. Once inside, he saw a man trying to open drawers behind the counter with a knife. The shop owner, who had a Maryland concealedcarry permit, drew his 9 mm Glock G48 and ordered the intruder to drop his knife and to sit down until the police arrived. During the police investigation, surveillance footage shows the intruder pulling on doors, trying to gain entry into other businesses in the same shopping center. He is then seen making entry at the side door of the tattoo shop. The investigators were able to verify the shop owner's account of the incident. The intruder is facing felony criminal charges that include second- and third-degree burglary. (cecildaily.com, North East, Md., 8/16/20)

A 29-year-old Adrian, Mich. man stabbed and killed an 85-yearold man in the automotive section of a local Meijer grocery store on Sept. 16 before being stopped by a woman with a concealed-carry firearm license. According to surveillance footage and witnesses, the suspect and the victim entered separately and the younger man stabbed the older man multiple times in the head and neck, killing him. During the altercation, a woman noticed what was happening, drew her firearm and ordered the suspect to the ground, where he was held until police arrived. The attacker was arrested and faces charges including murder. (freep.com,Detroit, Mich., 9/16/20)

A woman in Mesa, Ariz. was outside doing yard work on the afternoon of Sept. 18 when she heard a loud noise from inside her home. She went inside to investigate and found a 29-year-old man, who threatened her with a knife. This action forced the homeowner to defend herself and shoot the intruder once in the chest. After being released from the hospital, the suspect was charged with first-degree burglary and aggravated assault. According to police, the also had two outstanding arrest warrants. (azfamily.com, Mesa, Ariz., 9/18/20)

A Turtle Creek, Penn. woman endured hours of domestic abuse in the earlymorning hours of Sept. 26. According to police records, a 24-year-old man held the woman (his girlfriend) against her will and repeatedly assaulted her while threatening to kill her. The woman was finally able to get to her legally purchased firearm and defend herself, shooting and killing the man. First-responders found the man with multiple gunshot wounds and pronounced him dead at the scene. (post-gazette.com, Pittsburgh, Pa., 9/26/20)

A man was approached and threatened while putting groceries into his car outside of an Arvada, Colo. store on Aug. 28. The suspected car thief reportedly pointed a gun at the man's stomach and demanded his keys. Instead of handing the keys over, the victim tossed the keys several feet away, causing the thief to go after them. During the distraction, the vehicle owner, who is a concealed-carry permit holder, was able to draw his own firearm and scare the thief off. Police arrested the suspect a short time later after he crashed a stolen truck into a nearby McDonalds. (wane.com, Arvada, Colo., 8/28/20)

In the early-morning hours of Sept. 21 , a Pembroke Pines, Fla. man walked into a Valero gas station, pulled out a gun and tried to rob the business. However, the clerk was able to draw his own firearm and shoot the would-be robber several times. The assailant fled the store and crossed a road before collapsing on the sidewalk. The Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue took the man to a local hospital where he later died. (miamiherald.com, Miami, Fla., 9/21/20)

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.