A teenager, Dante Williams, was shot and killed attempting to rob a Waffle House. Unfortunately for him (but fortunate for everyone else in the restaurant), one of the patrons was prepared to defend himself (and others) with a concealed carry weapon.
What’s happening to our youth when robbing a store is the best solution to “earn” money? Remember when kids would knock on neighbors’ doors and ask if there were any jobs around the house that they could do to earn money? You know, mow a lawn, rakes leaves, paint a fence, wash windows? What are we teaching our kids? Obviously this kid had initiative. It takes initiative to walk in take something that isn’t yours. It cost him his life, and his friend will be spending a good portion of his in prison. Was it worth it?
And then there’s the young man’s family. They’re calling for stricter gun control laws. Not because Williams had acquired a gun to commit a crime, but because he was shot and killed by someone lawfully defending himself and others! He was a good kid, they said. He’d never done anything like that before, they said. Riiiiggghhhhtttt! That they knew of, I’m sure. But who’s to say it wasn’t a habit for him and he just hadn’t been caught, yet?
Yes, it’s sad that Williams died. It’s also sad that he thought crime was the best way to make a living. It’s sad that he made that choice. And it’s sad that the family is dealing with loss and grief. But Williams made a choice, and with all choices, there are consequences. Some of them are deadly.
Watching the surveillance video, one family member said that the Justin Harrison (the patron with the concealed carry) was not in imminent danger because Williams wasn’t going to hurt anyone. He was just trying to leave the store. I’m sorry, I saw the video. He was brandishing that gun very authoritatively. He was walking toward Harrison with it pointed at him. That’s a “life-threatening” situation. You can’t dodge a bullet. Harrison knew that and wasn’t about to become a victim. He used his concealed carry in exactly the manner it was intended. And now he has to come to terms with someone dying at his hand. I don’t care who you are, whether the killing was justified or not, it’s not an easy thing.
Williams’ family insists that he didn’t have to die. I agree. He also didn’t have to rob the Waffle House. He chose that path. If you don’t want to get shot, don’t commit a crime. Go find some honest work.
You can watch the surveillance video for yourself here.