As reported, the owner of the Hydroponics Store on the 3600 block of St. John Avenue in Kansas City, MO was going about his business Sunday evening when a criminal entered the store, armed with a stun gun, and tried to rob him. The store owner shot the robber in self defense. The criminal escaped in an SUV, but crashed the vehicle and died shortly thereafter. Police identified the robber as 28 year old Christopher L. Kublic.
Firstly, I would like to point out that stun gun devices can be deadly, as they can stop the heart or cause a person to fall and suffer a fatal head injury. Anyone who is attacked with such a device is reasonably in fear for their life, and justified in using deadly force to defend themselves. Also, note that a victim who is incapacitated by a stun gun can then be beaten to death by the criminal. No matter how one looks at it, a criminal who attacks with a stun gun is a deadly threat.
Secondly, I would like to point out that this shows a stun gun is simply no match for a firearm. Although this news story was not clear on whether the criminal managed to shock the victim, it is clear that a stun gun will not always incapacitate a person. Don’t get me wrong – stun guns can be deadly, however they are not as reliable at stopping a person as a real gun, and when it comes to self defense, reliably stopping the attacker as quickly as possible is vital.
Once again, guns can save lives, while unarmed victims are often at the (non existent) mercy of violent criminals.