April 21, 2007
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04/20/07 -
An Anonymous Supporter Upbraids Us On Gun
Control; We Reply
An Australian Reader Reminds Us Of
Courage Under (Immigrant) Fire
Re:
JPod Weighs In On The Question Of Fighting Back…
From:
Professor Andrew Fraser [Email]
in Australia
JPod cannot imagine how unarmed students or lecturers
could fight back against a gunman engaged in a mass
shooting. That, however, is exactly what happened at
Monash University a couple of years ago. In that
case, the shooter (another
Asian) was tackled by an unarmed lecturer who was
shot twice himself. He might not have suffered even
those wounds had he been packing heat himself. A couple
of items related to that story are reproduced below.
James
Fulford writes: I honor Dr Gordon-Brown for his
courage,
presence of mind, and
modesty.
The self-defense expert
John Farnam, writing
about
situations like this,
reminds his students that
"When it's least expected, you're elected!"
It's the
will to fight back that's important.
Monash Newsline, 14 December 2005
Monash lecturer Dr Lee Gordon-Brown was today
honoured at a ceremony in Parliament House where he
received a Star of Courage— the highest honour in the
Australian Bravery Decorations.
Dr Gordon-Brown was one of 17 people to receive
bravery awards from the Victorian Governor John Landy.
The award recognised Dr Gordon-Brown's action during
the tragic shooting incident at Monash's Clayton campus
in 2003. He was hit by two bullets but managed to disarm
the gunman.
Dr Gordon-Brown, who has lectured in econometrics at
Monash University for 10 years, was humbled by the
award.
"There wasn't time to think much at all but a lot of
people were very impressive on that day. Most people
that could help in some way did," he said.
"I think a lot of people when presented with the
circumstances would have helped as much as they could."
By John Whitely, On Line Opinion,
November 5, 2002
Dr Lee Gordon-Brown and the others involved in
subduing and disarming Huan Xiang, the alleged
perpetrator in the Monash University shooting, have
rightly been celebrated as heroes. According to
paramedic Paul Howells, quoted in
The Age: "The people on the floor at the time
were just unbelievable. They definitely saved lives."
But the implications of this seem to have been lost on
Prime Minister John Howard and others seeking to use
these events to call for more gun control.
As with most crimes, it was not the police who
stopped the shooter from claiming more lives. Law
enforcement activities and a police presence are
obviously important factors in deterring crime, but they
do not deter all crimes and they almost never stop
crimes during their commission. As the tragedy at Monash
indicates, the task of stopping crimes during their
commission inevitably falls to private citizens. [More]
