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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe 29-year-old hero from Waffle House shooting: 'I saw the opportunity and I took it'
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2018/04/22/waffle-house-shooting-hero-stopped-shooter/540061002/The 29-year-old hero from Waffle House shooting: 'I saw the opportunity and I took it'
Jason Gonzales, USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee Published 8:39 a.m. CT April 22, 2018 | Updated 10:29 a.m. CT April 22, 2018
James Shaw Jr. shows injuries he received when he stopped a gunman from continuing to fire in a Tennessee Waffle House on April 22, 2018. (Photo: Courtesy James Shaw Jr.)
A 29-year-old man credited with saving numerous lives Sunday morning after he unarmed a man who opened fire on an Antioch Waffle House said he was just trying to stay alive.
James Shaw Jr., 29, said he saw an opportunity to tackle the man shooting into an Antioch Waffle House after feeling cornered. He said he doesnt feel like a hero.
Police spokesman Don Aaron told reporters Sunday morning that the Waffle House hero rushed the suspected shooter, disarmed him and threw the assault rifle he was carrying over the counter.
I dont really know, when everyone said that, it feels selfish, Shaw Jr. said. I was just trying to get myself out. I saw the opportunity and pretty much took it.
SoCalMusicLover
(3,194 posts)The NRA wants to know where his gun is, or perhaps call him a "crisis actor."
How many lives did he save? Including most assuredly, his own.
lame54
(36,336 posts)BobTheSubgenius
(11,725 posts)Many people I know are sending thoughts and prayers, desperately hoping that the gun gets re-homed quickly with a loving individual or family.
sandensea
(22,605 posts)monmouth4
(10,009 posts)see him with the rifle and immediately assume he's the shooter. Not only brave and heroic, but SMART!!!!
PJMcK
(22,561 posts)I'm glad this guy only got that contusion on his elbow.
He's a real-life American hero.
Take a righteous bow, Mr. Shaw. I admire your bravery because I don't think I would've had the guts to do what you did. You saved lives.
malaise
(275,559 posts)Said the same thing
rainin
(3,124 posts)He is a true hero.
I hope I live long enough to see true racial equality. I'm ashamed America isn't there yet. We really could be great - if we could turn government back over to the people. The people elect men like Obama. OTOH republicans work for the wealthy and special interests like the NRA. It's clear as day. GOTV
superpatriotman
(6,453 posts)He's lucky the cops didn't show up and kill him.
So two national news shooter stories this week: both shooters 20-something WHITE males.
Aristus
(67,676 posts)an unarmed black man taking down a white shooter.
White cops and white gun-nuts are gonna shit!
malaise
(275,559 posts)but given his color he should consider himself lucky to be still alive - guess that's why he threw the weapon over the counter.
Sad that media folks don't know the word disarmed - unarmed?
Baitball Blogger
(47,498 posts)SoCalMusicLover
(3,194 posts)Baitball Blogger
(47,498 posts)So, it is possible to diffuse a situation without everyone having to carry a gun.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,503 posts)The most effective way to counter a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with courage
ThoughtCriminal
(14,208 posts)The "Rifle"
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)Weapon of choice for American mass killers
SunSeeker
(53,185 posts)onecaliberal
(35,133 posts)MineralMan
(147,083 posts)What channel are you watching?
VOX
(22,976 posts)Mr. Shaw is completely disqualified from the right-wing heroes competition!!1!
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Thank you, Mr. Shaw, for taking the action you did. Everyone should be so selfish.
He was a good guy with a gun...for the three seconds it took him to wrench it out of the shooters hands and chuck it over the counter.
But youre right, he totally hoses the narrative. Screw narrative.
Igel
(35,895 posts)It's our version of their narrative.
One narrative said that even with a normal handgun you'd be a fool to take on somebody with an AR-18.
What, a fire extinguisher? Ridiculous.
Baseball bats? Can't be done.
Rocks? How neandertal--no offense intended to that noble and venerable species.
Why are they pointless? Because none offer a guarantee, and in binary, polarized thinking it's either guaranteed victory or ignominious defeat. No gray.
Far, far better than any of those things are, apparently, bare hands. Because it shows you don't *need* any of those things. But that's not a serious argument.
When cornered, you don't cower. If you die trying to save your life and others' lives, you die--but if you fight, maybe there's a chance you won't die. If you die cowering and whimpering in the corner, you die, and the only hope is that the guy misses or the people in front of you absorb enough of the bullet's energy so it doesn't hurt you.
If you're going to fight, bare hands might work. Using a bat might work better. Fire extinguisher? You can use it from 10 feet away, so maybe that's better than a bat in tilting the odds less in the AR's favor. Gun? Usable from even further away--but then there's the risk of it going through a wall or hitting somebody behind the target. Because we'd rather avoid hitting somebody by accident even if it means letting the killer kill a few more people on purpose.
lastlib
(24,418 posts)In LaPeeErrorWorld, heroes have to have moar gunz an' be white as a freshly-washed KKK robe.....
VOX
(22,976 posts)POC are only issued fists. #MAGA
lame54
(36,336 posts)Nice try buddy
Everybody knows only a good guy with a gun can stop a bad guy with a gun
liberalmuse
(18,837 posts)He really is a hero, in spite of what he believes.
Stuart G
(38,726 posts)sdfernando
(5,249 posts)A real hero never believes they actually are. Most say they were just trying to save life, just trying stay alive, or just doing their job. Humbleness about the act is part of what makes a hero a HERO.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)ailsagirl
(23,427 posts)pandr32
(11,972 posts)...supporting a local business establishment on a Sunday morning in an American town. Thanks to (cough) conservatives and the NRA, mentally unwell and brainwashed people with military-style assault weapons are lurking and threaten the promise of a wholesome American life for those who are trying to live it.
People like James Shaw Jr. are not looking to bribe public servants or exploit our laws for self-enrichment--they just want a life in the so-called land of the free.
He is the same age as my son. Thank goodness his instincts and quick thinking stopped the killer and he only received minor injuries. I am so sorry for the families and friends of the ones who didn't make it and I hope that the injured victims survive their injuries and can continue their lives without serious handicaps.
All of them are likely to suffer PTSD to some degree (veterans with PTSD are rated from 10-100 percent)--everyone in that Waffle House and at every single location of a shooting.
Maybe if Democrats proposed a law for gun manufacturers, their distributors, sponsors, and lobbyists to have to fund PTSD compensation to victims and witnesses of gun violence situations we might not only help these people to move forward with their lives without having to struggle financially with PTSD, but send a strong message about the reality of the 2nd Amendment fraud being perpetrated on our nation. Is this possible?
Crunchy Frog
(26,876 posts)including treatment of bystanders with PTSD. Those costs can then become part of the price of firearms and ammo.
pandr32
(11,972 posts)raven mad
(4,940 posts)If we can get some laws like this passed - the prices for guns?
SKYROCKET! You know any funds like you suggest will come right out of the purchasers' pockets.
Let's also add on a 30% nuisance tax!!
Cha
(302,982 posts)Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)brewens
(15,109 posts)most of them would probably do.
SoCalMusicLover
(3,194 posts)Which of course is of little use against someone with an AR-15 who attacks by surprise.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)I have only heard an AK47 fire once, but if an AR-15 is anything like it, the firing is enough to freeze the minds of most people that seldom or never hear that type of gunfire.
Mr.Bill
(24,603 posts)when the gunman was reloading. Good thing he didn't have a larger magazine, huh?
OldManTarHeel
(435 posts)I salute you sir . . !
Crunchy Frog
(26,876 posts)The ONLY thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. That is a scientific fact. How will the gun humpers manage to explain this?
Hope his injuries were minor and that he recovers quickly.
gademocrat7
(10,997 posts)He reacted well in a very dangerous siuation.
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)slumcamper
(1,658 posts)blake2012
(1,294 posts)Never heard of unarmed guys a man except in Monty Pythons Black Knight sketch.
Stuart G
(38,726 posts)fierywoman
(8,010 posts)MaryMagdaline
(7,586 posts)slumcamper
(1,658 posts)MaryMagdaline
(7,586 posts)ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)David Hogg, Emma Gonzales, and James Shaw Jr. Yep, need to spotlight this kind of heroism.
Lint Head
(15,064 posts)tblue37
(66,016 posts)manager did. There would be many more dead victims.
BootinUp
(48,360 posts)montana_hazeleyes
(3,424 posts)You took action when many would have froze. You saved many lives.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)Many more would have died without this hero stopping the NRA zombie.
DesertRat
(27,995 posts)KY_EnviroGuy
(14,581 posts)For latest coverage, see: http://www.wsmv.com/
I just happened to catch it on their live coverage and it should be posted later. He also has a burn on his hand, apparently from grabbing the hot gun barrel. In another live feed, they showed swat teams searching the apartment complex where the gunman lived. At around 3pm Eastern, he has not been apprehended.
Right-wing heads will spin over this one, as Shaw's friends openly testified as to his Christian faith and good character in the interview.
.....
forthemiddle
(1,417 posts)oasis
(51,317 posts)IllinoisBirdWatcher
(2,316 posts)Thank you, James Shaw, for quick thinking, seizing the moment, and saving lives.
Fortunately you and others are safe and further harm was prevented.
Where was the packin' NRA member who should have been guarding the restaurant?
Vinca
(50,761 posts)Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)Doodley
(9,971 posts)Then I woke up.
packman
(16,296 posts)That's the ONLY way to solve this problem.
Timer
(71 posts)I "really" believe he'd go charging in there & save the day.
OT: I've been thinking someone should put together a book of the stupidest & most blatantly false statements ever spewed forth by our disgrace of a president. Of course, to be comprehensive it would have to be the size of the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Cha
(302,982 posts)malaise
(275,559 posts)Con President
sarcasmo
(23,968 posts)JI7
(90,111 posts)remember when he claimed he would have ran towards the shooting at the florida high school ?
raven mad
(4,940 posts)Still In Wisconsin
(4,450 posts)Oh, wait, he's black and there was no Trump tweet praising this young man. NVM.