| Another CPZ Death |
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| Written by Daniel White | |
| Monday, 24 October 2005 | |
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A shocking story out of Cleveland over the weekend highlights once again the folly of "gun free" criminal protection zones. Friday night, four men wearing masks from the movie Scream shot and killed a patron at the Peanut Bar on West 84th Street and Denison Avenue. According to witnesses, one of the men had a shotgun. He opened fire on customers, fatally shooting one man in the back as he tried to get away. Assured of no resistance due to Ohio prohibiting patrons of an establishment serving alcohol under a Class D liquor license, regardles of whether that patron is impaired or even drinking at all, these thugs were free to murder at will. All of the robbers escaped unharmed. "It's very alarming," Cleveland Police Sgt. Dan Galmarini told NewsNet5.com."They're dressed in Halloween costumes. They're coming in, they're not afraid. They're firing weapons as soon as they enter, and people are being injured and robbed. So its very alarming." What else is alarming is that there is nothing any of us could do to protect ourselves in such a situation. (Click 'READ MORE' to continue...) Other states, such as Florida, have provisions in their laws for being able to protect yourself from armed and dangerous criminals even where alcohol is present. The provisions range from prohibiting a patron from having a firearm only while he or she is drinking, prohibiting only when the patron is legally impaired (similar to vehicular restrictions), or, as is the case with Florida, no prohibitions at all provided you do not misuse the firearm. Will it turn out that one of the patrons present during this attack had a CHL and could have stopped the murderous rampage, such as happened in the Columbus Nightclub Shooting that left Dimebag Darrell dead? Only time will tell. One thing is certain, that the criminals who disregarded all laws to commit this crime are free today to ply their trade again. |