“When exposed to a situation such as an armed robbery, I highly doubt there’s a single father in America who would not have done exactly what Carlos Molina did.”
Many anti-gun people in the United States lose their collective minds in the wake of a mass shooting or any other crime committed using a firearm. National gun debate didn’t deter one Texas man from exercising his right to keep and bear arms, possibly saving his family and others from grave danger.
Carlos Molina was enjoying a meal with his family at a Popeyes chain restaurant when a would-be robber, 19-year-old Andrews Herrera, approached Molina with a gun, demanding money. Molina informed Herrera that he didn’t have money and asked if his family could be allowed to leave. That’s when Herrera made his final mistake. When two of Molina’s children walked out of the restroom, Herrera pointed his gun at them. Unbeknownst to Herrera, Molina himself was carrying—something everyone quickly learned when Molina pulled out his licensed gun and opened fire on Herrera, killing him.
There’s hardly a conservative bone in my body, but I am a staunch supporter of the second amendment. To me, it’s not a political issue but one of safety. While certain groups continue to condemn gun laws and call for strict measures to supplement the already stringent criteria gun owners must adhere to, many citizens continue to practice their right to bear arms unapologetically.
One consistent argument I hear is that while carrying certain firearms may be successful at staving off home invasions and would-be mass shooters, they aren’t worth the gun violence statistics—often carried out using firearms that were acquired illegally.
However, I would challenge everyone to think about the price tag they would put on family. Carlos Molina demonstrated the importance of carrying and quite possibly saved his children’s lives. When exposed to a situation such as an armed robbery, I highly doubt there’s a single father in America who would not have done exactly what Carlos Molina did.
There will always be danger that happens unexpectedly where reaction time won’t allow the average citizen to sit and ponder decisions. Yes, I also believe that more spaces should be open to firearms because many incidents that have occurred in the United States could possibly have been neutralized on the spot by responsible gun owners.
There’s hardly a conservative bone in my body, but I am a staunch supporter of the second amendment. To me, it’s not a political issue but one of safety.
Carlos Molina also fully cooperated with law enforcement, who have reportedly stated they believe the incident to be classified as a shooting “in defense of a third person.” Also, I can’t fathom that someone would attempt a robbery in Texas, of all places, and not expect that one of two citizens just might be carrying.
I’ve also never understood the outrage over assault weapons, considering Europe has strict gun laws and has fallen victim to several terrorist attacks that were carried out using Kalashnikovs. There will always be a black market for weapons and any other banned item for that matter. Just like criminals will always be able to acquire firearms in the United States, no matter how much the government regulates gun laws.
Luckily, Carlos Molina was able to exercise his constitutional rights in defense of his family.
