Pistol-Whipped Father and Son Keep Pizza

"Allentown father and son fight off gun-wielding robber, save pizza"
Allentown Morning Call (undated, Google linked to this article on November 22, 2009)

"An Allentown father and son fought back against a man who pistol whipped them, but the robber had to flee without getting anything - not even their pizza.

"The 58-year-old father and his 22-year-old son - who asked that police not identify them - were walking along South Lumber Street, after picking up a pizza from a Hamilton Street restaurant.

"That's when a man wearing a black hood, and carrying a handgun, approached them and ordered them to give him their money...."

- - - and left with no money - and no pizza.

The father and son were hit by the handgun (not, interestingly, with the bullets it presumably contained), and later treated & released from a hospital.

The pizza got dropped, but stayed inside its box.

American law enforcement generally says that you shouldn't fight back - and I suppose that makes sense. Besides, in this lawsuit-happy country, that's all they can say, and not get sued for "making" someone get hurt.

Me? I'm glad that the father and son are okay, that they kept their pizza, and that the would-be robber is still alive. That means there's still time for him to re-evaluate his life choices. And no, I don't think that letting criminals get away with slap-on-the-wrist sentences is a good idea. On the other hand - - -

One of the comments on the article referred to the idea of carrying weapons for self-defense: and did so in an all-too-familiar way. Little sympathy as I have for the practice of armed robbery, I don't think that summary execution is the best option.

Some of the less thoughtful and more vocal advocates of firearm ownership have, I think, helped other Americans to be scared silly of weapons. (see "EEEK! Guns! Hoplophobia and Foreign Policy ," Another War-on-Terror Blog (December 23, 2007)) While I'm on the topic, this family doesn't carry firearms. We learn martial arts - Soo Bahk Do, mostly. It's good mental and physical exercise.

That's our story, and we're sticking with it.

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A tip of the hat to cathfamilies, on Twitter, for the heads-up on themorningcall.com article.