As reported, an elderly homeowner used his shotgun to stop a burglar who was rushing towards him in a threatening manner:
Police say that the 70 year old Marion County, SC resident was returning home when he noticed that his front door had been forced open. He reportedly grabbed a self defense shotgun that he kept near the front door, at which point a burglar came walking by, carrying some of the elderly homeowner’s belongings. The homeowner is said to have ordered the burglar to freeze until the police could arrive, at which point the burglar grabbed a tire iron and rushed at the homeowner, who then fired in self defense. The burglar was reportedly shot in the hand and thigh, and the homeowner was unharmed. A suspect, reportedly identified as 32 year old John Wesley Collins, was taken to a local hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds and is currently on probation for a 2009 burglary charge, according to police. Collins will reportedly face two counts of burglary and assault with intent to kill, once he is released from the hospital and transported to the Marion County Detention Center, police say.
It is a sad fact that criminals prey on senior citizens, seeing them as easy targets. Unarmed senior citizens can often be overpowered by even a single young criminal who is stronger and faster, and as a result may suffer greatly in their own home.
However, when senior citizens are armed for self defense, they are in the best position possible to defend themselves. A few examples: This armed 85 year old woman held a home invader at gunpoint, and made him call the police on himself. This armed 93 year old man shot a home invader in self defense after the home invader began to attack him. This armed 70 year old woman held an intruder at gunpoint until the police arrived to arrest him. This armed 91 year old man used his handgun to fend off two home invader who had broken in and threatened his wheelchair-bound wife with their guns. This armed 84 year old man used his handgun to stop a criminal who repeatedly tried to enter his home through the front door, back door, and a window. I could go on with more examples, but the point should be clear: armed self defense is a senior citizen’s best chance at stopping a younger and stronger criminal who attacks them.