[.455_Hunter]

From CNN.com.....

Guard who killed gunman was volunteer from congregation

A New Life parishioner acting as a security guard shot and killed the gunman who entered the church Sunday afternoon after he had gotten no more than 50 feet inside the building, Boyd said.

"She probably saved over a hundred lives," Boyd said of the guard, whom he said is not a law enforcement officer and used her personal weapon.

This is the last thing the gun control zealots want the public to hear. ;)

[Cosmoline]

So why was she even considered a "security guard"?

[Beatnik]

It already came out that Boyd and said guard had an agreement for her to guard the place gratis.

[Fish Miner]

They have to use Security Guard so the rest of America does not see a need for personal protection. I'll bet she was an older church lady that never thought of her self as a Security Guard. Just a good Sam in the right place with the right frame of mind.

[Black Adder LXX]

Yeah, if she was acting as a security guard she would have hidden and called the cops. Glad there's some real people left in this country. Hats off to this hero...

[feedthehogs]

I can see a whole new line of skits with Dana Carvey/church chat.

Well isn't that special.................

[Prince Yamato]

I think I'm going to cry... holy crap this makes my week.

[Eagle103]

Our MN leftist newspaper says security was "beefed up" in the hours following the Arvada shooting. A volunteer lady from the church using her CCW doesn't fit this description very well IMO. Hopefully this beefy hero will make her rounds in the media at some point.

[BobbyQuickdraw]

They should just report it the way it really is - a regular woman with a CCW permit and a good aim stepped up to the plate to guard her fellows, at great risk to herself.

No pay. No security guard background. Just a woman and a tool that saved lives.

[jakemccoy]

Wow, she's amazing. I'd give good money to talk to her personally. She's an inspiration.

[stevereno1]

Here in Georgia, CCW holders are forbidden by law to carry in a church. I may have to write my congressman.

[30 cal slob]

I will say a prayer for the innocent victims. I cannot imagine losing two young daughters to some creepy freak.

I will also say a prayer for that very brave woman who stopped the perp. What she went through can't be easy to be at peace with and relive, especially so close to the holidays (and at church to boot). I hope she is strong enough to remember that at the end of the day...she did good.

[RNB65]

So why was she even considered a "security guard"?

I don't think she was a random CCW holder who happened to be in the right place at the right time. I'm gathering that the church had some type of action plan in place in which church volunteers agreed to act as security guards when needed. They activated the plan after the other shooting earlier in the day. CNN is reporting that there were three of these volunteer guards in the church at the time of the shooting but only one of them was armed.

[Pete409]

I don't imagine that volunteer security lady will have any trouble sleeping at all..... once the excitement wears off. If she has any doubts at all about taking a life, those doubts will be quashed in an instant by the thought of the number of lives she saved.

This reminds me of an instance of quite a few years ago when a security guard (or perhaps it may have been a LEO) who had to shoot someone in the line of duty. Clearly the perp needed to be shot.

The day following the shooting incident, the guard/LEO attended and participated in a shooting match (contest) of some kind. When someone asked him how he could even handle a gun, much less fire one, the day after he had killed someone, he replied "Very easy. Yesterday, I did what I had to do. Besides, this shooting match is something I had planned to attend for several months now, and I'm not going to let some perp change my plans. Also, it takes my mind off what happened yesterday. "

[Cmdr. Gravez0r]

It will be interesting to see if she makes it on Larry King or Greta van Susteren. My bet is NOT though...doesn't fit the script.

[charon]

It will be interesting to see just how this plays out in the media. USUALLY, the media is looking for human interest stories. Consider the Marine that helped at ground zero and then melted away afterward. After the story came out he received plenty of coverage and even ended up on Extreme Home Makeover.

Here, you have a citizen volunteer stepping up to take personal responsibility for her safety and that of the congregation. Using, successfully and proactively, her right to keep and bear arms. Illustrating, at least in this case, a major pro CCW argument. And, at stark contrast to the mall shooting's gun free zone.

The media will cover it, but IMO we not likely see Security Guard replaced by Security Volunteer all that often. Technically they can use the guard term and not be formally dishonest. And, there will likely be few personal feature pieces on her as the story rather quickly slips from the news cycle. Even though the human interest angle is plenty strong and far stronger than if she had been a formal armed guard or police officer doing their paid jobs.

I may be wrong, since there does seem to be a few cracks in the 2nd Amendment ice even in some very unlikely media outlets. If this actually went down as represented, the coverage of her involvement will really be telling as to just how deep those cracks actually are in the anti-2nd media bias.

[tuckerdog1]

I heard on the radio earlier, that she may have had some previous LE background. But no details what that meant.

Tuckerdog1

[chadwickms]

We, also, are not allowed to carry in churches (Mississippi). My state representative won't return my call or emails, so I'm thinking I may just have to run for office myself!

[charon]

It will be interesting to see if she makes it on Larry King or Greta van Susteren. My bet is NOT though...doesn't fit the script.

Not to mention Nancy (firearm ownership is evil) Grace :)

Charon

[bogie]

Don't these people know that he should have just taken it away from her?

(grin...)

Just wondering - what is this church, and why did the guy go nutso? Why'd they need a security guard plan in the first place?

[BobbyQuickdraw]

Volunteering to be someone ready to act doesn't make you a security guard. And actually if that's the story they go with, she could get in trouble for not being a licensed guard.

What happened here was tantamount to someone saying "Hey, if some nutjob busts in here, what do we do?" an she said "I'll carry my gun and shoot him."

That does not make you a security guard. Under that logic, we're all security guards of our own homes.

[USAFNoDAk]

I wonder if this is her prayer before she goes on duty.

Before I stand to guard his pad,
I pray to God my aim ain't bad.
If I should fire before I aim,
I darn sure hope the perp to maim.

[RNB65]

Under that logic, we're all security guards of our own homes.

We are.
-

[zxcvbob]

What happened here was tantamount to someone saying "Hey, if some nutjob busts in here, what do we do?" an she said "I'll carry my gun and shoot him." That does not make you a security guard. Under that logic, we're all security guards of our own homes.

I don't know about Colorado law; maybe churches are a prohibited place and they have to spin it as "private security guard" to keep our hero out of legal trouble.

[USAFNoDAk]

It will be interesting to see if she makes it on Larry King or Greta van Susteren. My bet is NOT though...doesn't fit the script.


"Hannity and Colmes" or "The O'Reilly Factor" might be a safe bet for her appearance in the very near future.

[RLsnow]

oh snaap!

[.455_Hunter]

Church carry is in A-OK in Colorado.

At least our legislature/governor got the state's CCW policy mostly right.

Very few places are actually off limits.

Businesses may post any sign that they want, but you are only violating a law (tresspassing) if they ask you and your weapon to leave and you don't. Keep it concealed and you are good to go.

You can even have a beer with dinner while CCWing, just don't become intoxicated.

[LegalAlien]

It will be interesting to see if she makes it on Larry King or Greta van Susteren. My bet is NOT though...doesn't fit the script.

But who knows - maybe Glenn Beck will be a good one to interview her :D

[jackie treehorn]

The antis will only cry that they "never hear about people using guns to save lives"! Heck, we're ALL security guards. Some of us choose to be armed for the task. I just don't like the notion of yelling "Stop!...or I'll yell 'Stop!' again!".

I will shoot an extra mag of 9mm tomorrow, in honor of the heroine that stopped a mass killing in progress. It's times like this that I am glad that we still have a right to keep and bear arms.

I wonder how long it took the police to show up at the church. 5 minutes?

[charon]

But who knows - maybe Glenn Beck will be a good one to interview her

I bet they're just rushing to get her for the next segment of Anderson Cooper 360 :)

Charon

[USAFNoDAk]

They'll interview anyone who witnessed the shootings, except for the one witness who also STOPPED the shootings by shooting.

Can the world spin any faster? I'm trying to shorten my work day. :)

[gunsmith]

that would help

[romma]

Talk about a "Well Regulated Militia"... There you go, Church people volunteering looking out for one another!

[ptmmatssc]

A female security staffer

The pastor said the unidentified, volunteer guard normally works as his personal security at worship services and was stationed in the rotunda.

He called the church security detail's handling of the incident, including evacuation of hundreds still in the church, "supernatural and unbelievable."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-12-10-colorado-monday_N.htm

Seems like normal , everyday people , who happen to be armed . This is what SHOULD happen to those that decide to make people victims . But for some reason the anti crowd just doesn't get it . we all know that the one common denominator in the slew of mass shootings has been that they were in "gun free" zones . This story should be told loud and often as to what WOULD happen if people were not stripped of their RKBA for their "safety" .

[USAFNoDAk]

DENVER — The gunman believed responsible for killing four people and wounding five more in two Sunday shootings was a 24-year-old suburban Denver man who "hated Christmas," a law enforcement official told the Associated Press.


So the "Church Lady" shot and killed the "Grinch". As someone noted earlier, this could make for some interesting skits.

A possible reason for the Grinch hating Christmas was because his heart was two sizes too small. The Church Llady must have really been a good shot then, if she was aiming for the heart.

[jrou111]

Security = having a gun (honestly, how secure are unarmed guards?)
Guard = vigilant

Although all the facts are not in, I think that this is good news to hear in light of other events involving firearms in the past week.

I wonder if she'll be on Glen Beck? :D

[jrou111]

Also, anyone else feel there should be an Oleg poster for this? :D

[CJ]

Some were asking for links.

For the moment, it's up at:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/10/colorado.shootings/index.html

Titled "Source: One gunman responsible for Colorado shootings"

Quotes from the current article, in case it's changed later:

"The source said there were three security guards in the area of the shooting, only one of whom had a weapon. That guard fired at him, causing him to fall down, and she told him to drop his weapon, the source said. But Murray appeared to try to grab something that may have been a grenade, so the guard shot him again, the source said."

""She probably saved over a hundred lives," Boyd said of the guard, whom he said is not a law enforcement officer and used her personal weapon." (sic, quotation marks of quote within article were never closed)

[the iron horse]

Waiting see if the CBS, NBC, and ABC Evening News report this action by the plain clothes security guard. The same to me as a person with a CWC permit.

At last a good guy (in this case a gal) was there to stop a killer.

Much thanks to the brave lady

Thank God

[30 cal slob]

Before I stand to guard his pad,
I pray to God my aim ain't bad.
If I should fire before I aim,
I darn sure hope the perp to maim.


Amen, brother.

[CJ]

By the way, a press release from the church is at: http://www.newlifechurch.org/db_images2/12-10-9am.pdf

Some quotes from it:



Question: Can you tell us more about your security person who shot the
gunman?
Yes. She she is highly trained, and is a volunteer member of our church and,
simply, her role is to provide security and she did her job yesterday and she is a
real hero. When the shots were fired, she rushed toward the scene and
encountered the attacker in the hallway. He never got more than 50 feet inside our
building. There could have been a great loss of life yesterday, and she probably
saved over a hundred lives. He had enough ammunition on him to cause a lot of
damage, and she rushed toward the attacker and took him down in the hallway.


Question: Was the security officer stationed where she normally would be
stationed?
I don't know where she is normally stationed--she is often near me, but takes
assignments wherever needed. She is a volunteer--this is a person that comes to
our church and is a worshiper here. We have two services--so she sits in one
service and worships, and then serves in the second service as security many
times.


Question: Was she an off-duty police officer?
No, but she does have law enforcement background.

Question: Was she uniformed?
No, she was plain-clothes.

Question: How large is the security team? Are they all armed?
I don't know the exact number we have on the team--approximately fifteen or
twenty. The only ones that are armed are the ones licensed to be carry weapons.
We follow the law very carefully and we follow strict guidelines, because there is
obviously a lot of legality involved. We have to have a security team that large
because of the size of our church--we have 300,000 square feet of buildings and
there are people on our campus all the time. So we have to have a provide security
for that size building.

Question: Was the gun used her weapon or the church's weapon?
No, we don't own weapons. It was her personal weapon that she was licensed to
carry.

[Nightwing]

On Cnn!?!?!?!? Oh Man! That's Freaking Awesome!!!!!!!

[LaVere]

Security = having a gun (honestly, how sucure are unarmed guards?)
Guard = vigilant


Security observer = No gun
Security Guard = Gun

[sacp81170a]

Under that logic, we're all security guards of our own homes.

Under the 2nd Amendment, we are. ;)

My prayers go out to the victims, but let's not be guilty of "dancing in the blood" as we so often accuse our opposition of doing. This good lady is going to have to deal with some major mental, physical and emotional aftereffects of taking a human life. It happens to everyone to one extent or another, so I hope she has supportive friends and family who know how to help.

[charon]

No, but she does have law enforcement background.

This still leaves the media an out to spin it away from the "common person." I wonder exactly what that background is?

The pastor is in CYA mode, as he should be, but a few more details would be useful.

[charon]

My prayers go out to the victims, but let's not be guilty of "dancing in the blood" as we so often accuse our opposition of doing.

It's sad, but the way things are with no real allies in the media, we have to grasp every straw we can in horrible events like this. It really does suck that when the news breaks my first thought is often: "I hope its a revolver... or I hope it was a hunting rifle... or a sporting shotgun..."

The other side will dance in the blood with the media right along side. We have to be willing to promote any positives we can, as distasteful as that might be at times.

[pax]

The pastor is in CYA mode ...

Actually, it reads to me as if he's trying to preserve some folks' privacy for just a bit longer. I know if I'd been the woman that took the shot, or if one of my family members had been among the wounded, I'd certainly be grateful for the extra time out of the spotlight.

pax

[ColinthePilot]

Thoughts and prayers for everyone involved.
In Florida, we could legally carry anywhere except schools (we could keep it in a vehicle), federal buildings, court houses (and the like) and bars. I don't recall churches being on the list, but the few times I attended mass in college, I never carried simply out of a personal sense of impropriety. I don't personally like the idea of carrying a weapon into God's house. Its supposed to be a place of peace on the day of peace. My views have changed a bit now.

[Bailey Guns]

From post #29:

I wonder how long it took the police to show up at the church. 5 minutes?

2 minutes from initial 911 call to first officer on scene. I'd say that's pretty good.

[ilcylic]

So much for all of those people in the Omaha thread who were saying how impossible it is for someone armed with a handgun to engage someone armed with a rifle. Good thing this lady didn't know that.

As for her... *salute*

That poor man who lost his two daughters. No words can convey.

I don't personally like the idea of carrying a weapon into God's house. Its supposed to be a place of peace on the day of peace.

True enough. And sometimes, it's up to good people to keep it thus.

[S&Wfan]

Yep . . . two minutes from receiving the call . . . yet by then all the shooting was over with, as usual.

That lady is a true hero and, unlike a "rent-a-cop" security type person, she was bravely charging that nut with the rifle . . . willing to lay her life on the line for the protection of her friends and fellow worshippers.

This CCW story is a match made in Heaven.

Unfortunately, the hounds of Hell will soon be unleashed at her, her church and anyone else who gets in the way of the liberal media trying to find some way to pervert this amazing story.

That lady and her church need to be in the prayers of all of us who believe in the real reason for Christmas! Heck . . . I'll expand that to include all BELIEVERS in the right to bear arms!!!;)

Here's a case that might just tip things our way and save countless lives all over the nation in future years!

T.

[gotarheels03]

CNN said she was a security guard with a law enforcement background and conveniently left out the fact that she was both a volunteer and a civilian with a CCW.

[.455_Hunter]

Female member who shot gunman credits God

I never thought I would see such a headline on that webpage!

What's in Atlanta's water today?

[Outlaws]

So much for all of those people in the Omaha thread who were saying how impossible it is for someone armed with a handgun to engage someone armed with a rifle. Good thing this lady didn't know that.


That is because some people are only looking out for number 1.
Bystanders are the same as perpetrators...IMO.

[FourNineFoxtrot]

I like the sound of "Psycho intent on mass murder stopped," a whole lot better than, "Psycho kills X number of people before punching his own ticket." Utterly bizarre to see the equivalent of both headlines in such a short time. Kudos to the lady who punched this fellow's ticket for him.

I'm unclear on whether she was a Security Guard, or just somebody volunteering to do security. From the interview posted earlier, it sounded like she was part of a plainclothes security force on this rather large campus, who was licensed to carry.

Recently I posted on a thread about the Omaha shooting, when the talk turned to security guards. I noticed some folks making disparaging comments about the profession, and I notice the same here. I'm a former security guard, and for some reason I feel a peculiar compulsion to defend the profession when it comes under fire. I'd hoped that in a thread discussing an incident where a Security Guard, however official or unofficial her capacity, took down a murderous psycho, such comments might be absent.

I was wrong. Instead I find people unwilling to believe or accept that she was a security guard, instead insisting that she was a churchgoer with a CCW. Maybe that's so, maybe it isn't. Moreover, I find comments praising her actions, while remarking how un-security-like they are, because as everyone knows, Security Guards are cowards who hide or run away while the shooting's going on.

I don't like defending this trade, people. I wasn't that fond of it when I did it for a living. But I can't stand by and let this pass, because I feel like I'm being called a coward by proxy, and worse, that some good men I worked with are being called cowards.

They are not cowards. Faced with a near-total absence of legitimate authority, and completely unarmed, I've seen these guys wade into fistfights, tackle a knife-wielding guy who'd just stabbed someone, and face down unruly groups of gangbangers... alone. I've seen them put their lives on the line, knowing that sometimes the only thing they can do if things go wrong, is die to give the rest of us time to react. I was lucky, I had a nice, uneventful few years in the business. Not everyone was so lucky.

So disparage their training, if you want. Deplore the fact that they're largely unarmed. Detest the reason for their existence, or dispute that they need to exist. But don't call them cowards. Please. It isn't right, and it isn't true.

[lance22]

If anyone doesn't have their permit yet - let this story be an inspiration. Too many whack jobs are running into malls / churches unopposed. Get your permit and do your part to defend your community if needed, as that woman did at her Colorado church.

[Dorryn]

Yeah, if she was acting as a security guard she would have hidden and called the cops.

Low Road. In fact, quite a number of low road responses on this thread.

[MachIVshooter]

Low Road. In fact, quite a number of low road responses on this thread.

I agree.

It does not matter her title. What matters it that she rose to the occasion and put her own life on the line to save countless others. She has a place reserved in heaven.

And for those who are doing a little blood dancing, whether she is labled a security officer or not, she has proven once more that an armed civilian can make a difference.

[Larry Ashcraft]

I wonder how long it took the police to show up at the church. 5 minutes?
News reports are saying three minutes, but the perp was dead by the time they got there. Score one for our side!
So disparage their training, if you want. Deplore the fact that they're largely unarmed. Detest the reason for their existence, or dispute that they need to exist. But don't call them cowards. Please. It isn't right, and it isn't true.
Well said!
Yeah, if she was acting as a security guard she would have hidden and called the cops.
If this turns into a security guard bashing thread, I'm going to have to close it, so it stops NOW. I'll start by deleting posts, and if I need to, deleting members.

[4v50 Gary]

This courageous woman is proof that a CCW can save lives. As we know, the anti-gunners hate it when something good comes from a gun owner.

[skinewmexico]

Legal to carry in church in Texas, unless it's posted. Several LEOs in our congregation rotate as a bodyguard for our pastor. Apparently if you start telling people to quit beating their wife, or abusing their kids, you get death threats.

[TexasRifleman]

It already came out that Boyd and said guard had an agreement for her to guard the place gratis.

I have an agreement with myself to guard myself gratis. Does that make me a security guard? What if I charge myself a few bucks a month?

Hmm, maybe we're on to something here.......

[doc2rn]

Headline should read "Gun Free Zone=Murder, CCW in GFZ=Dead Murderrer". In Ks it is illegal to carry at church, but I am glad to see that in some states this is not so. I will buy that woman any drink she wants!

[CrawdaddyJim]

Eyewitness report and one of the wounded as well. Same guy.
http://www.denverpost.com/outdoors/ci_7683781

An excerpt from the article.

At about that moment, Assam turned a corner with a drawn handgun, walked toward the gunman and yelled "Surrender!" Bourbonnais said.

The gunman pointed a handgun at Assam and fired three shots, Bourbonnais said. She returned fire and just kept walking toward the gunman pressing off round after round.

After the gunman went down, Bourbonnais asked Assam, a volunteer security guard with the church, how she remained so calm and focused.

Bourbonnais said she replied:

"I was asking the Holy Spirit to guide me the entire time."

Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com

[Ash]

The Deacons at my church have to, alas, patrol the parking lot for thieves - even caught a few. This would up the ante, of course. Glad it hasn't become a problem around these parts yet.

Ash

[Myself]

The best link I have seen. Includes an interview with the female security person.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14817480/detail.html

[Sistema1927]

"I was asking the Holy Spirit to guide me the entire time."

For by you I can run against a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.
This God—his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
For who is God, but the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God?—
the God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless.
He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand supported me
and your gentleness made me great.
You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.
I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
and did not turn back till they were consumed. - Psalm 18:25-37(ESV)

[NC-Mike]

Larry King is such a tool. He actually asked Jeanne Assam if she was proud of what she had done. Thankfully, she ignored the question. She's holding up very well in lieu of what went down.

[DerbyDale]

Larry King is such a tool. He actually asked Jeanne Assam if she was proud of what she had done. Thankfully, she ignored the question. She's holding up very well in lieu of what went down.


He said allot of very ignorant things to her...

When he said that... I thought "What the Heck?" "He cant be serious!" I'm sure she is not "Proud" of killing someone, but should take some comfort that she was able to save so many others...

[MachIVshooter]

Larry King is such a tool. He actually asked Jeanne Assam if she was proud of what she had done. Thankfully, she ignored the question.

She should be, but it was good judgement to not answer. No doubt some despicable character would have put a spin on it.

[realityscope]

Here in Georgia, CCW holders are forbidden by law to carry in a church. I may have to write my congressman.

I know this is true but I was glad to hear Sunday morning from the preacher that he was not in fear of anyone cause half the choir behind him was armed...he was speaking on the topic of not letting ourselves be consumed by fear in spite of some of the recent events...

I think what this woman did was a courageous thing and should be an example that each of us is capable of a similar feat. I only hope she is not crucified by the media now.

[grimjaw]

Too bad this lady wasn't vacationing in Omaha several days ago.

Doesn't matter if she was a CCW holder or not. From the accounts so far, she was a private citizen and not a paid guard. Use of a firearm by your average non-LEO Joe (or Jill in this case) to save lives. Good enough for me.

jm

[poor_richard]

I was wrong. Instead I find people unwilling to believe or accept that she was a security guard, instead insisting that she was a churchgoer with a CCW. Maybe that's so, maybe it isn't. Moreover, I find comments praising her actions, while remarking how un-security-like they are, because as everyone knows, Security Guards are cowards who hide or run away while the shooting's going on.
Seems like a lot of people are either missing, ignoring, or just discarding the following statement from the posted article.

“Assam was one of about a dozen volunteer security guards at the church, half of whom are armed, Boyd said. The guards are licensed, trained and screened, and are church members, not "mercenaries," he said.”
emphasis mine.

[Gunnerpalace]

She stopped him before he could do worse. And she was on Greta.

[elonm]

Looks like she was an ex-police officer that worked on the Minneapolis police force some years back. FWIW.

David

[Robert Hairless]

Sorry, but nothing any of you have said happened is at all possible. It could not have happened. I know because I've been paying careful attention to the media and various law enforcement spokespeople for years. Here is what I've learned:

First, Gun Free Zones are safe. That's why they are designated "Gun Free Zones." It is against the law in many states for anyone to have a gun in a church except with permission. The criminal did not have that permission so he would have been breaking the law by shooting people in that Gun Free Zone.

Second, churches are safe. No one would commit murder in a church. That would be wrong.

Third, it's not safe for a woman to use a gun in a self defense situation. Any criminal would take it away from her and kill her dead right there on the spot.

Fourth, it's best to call 911 instead of trying to defend yourself if anyone tries to murder you. That way the police who find your body will know that you are the victim. Otherwise they might think the guy who killed you was the good guy, and the police might arrest you instead of him.

[damien]

Larry King is such a tool. He actually asked Jeanne Assam if she was proud of what she had done.

She was on Larry King? Is there an online link for this?

[jcjacobvt]

Security Guard: 'God Guided Me And Protected Me'
Jeanne Assam Stopped Gunman At New Life Church
Thomas Hendrick, News Editor

POSTED: 4:46 pm MST December 10, 2007
UPDATED: 8:25 pm MST December 10, 2007


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Jeanne Assam appeared before the news media for the first time Monday and said she "did not think for a minute to run away" when a gunman entered the New Life Church in Colorado Springs and started shooting.

There was applause as Assam spoke to reporters and TV cameras saying, "God guided me and protected me."

Feeback Now: Tell Us What You Think


New Life's Senior Pastor Brady Boyd called Assam "a real hero" because Murray "had enough ammunition on him to cause a lot of damage."

When asked by a reporter if she felt like a hero, Assam said, "I wasn't just going to wait for him to do further damage."

"I give credit to God," she said.

Assam described how the gunman, Matthew Murray, entered the east entrance of the church firing his rifle.

Click to read more about the shootings in Colorado Springs and Arvada.

"There was chaos," Assam said, as parishioners ran away, "I will never forget the gunshots. They were so loud."

"I saw him coming through the doors" and took cover, Assam said. "I came out of cover and identified myself and engaged him and took him down."

"God was with me," Assam said. "I didn't think for a minute to run away."

Assam said she believes God gave her the strength to confront Murray, keeping her calm and focused even though he appeared to be twice her size and was more heavily armed.

Murray was carrying two handguns, an assault rifle and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, said Sgt. Jeff Johnson of the Colorado Springs Police Department.

"It seemed like it was me, the gunman and God," she said.

Assam worked as a police officer in downtown Minneapolis during the 1990s and is licensed to carry a weapon. She attends one of the morning services and then volunteers as a guard during another service.

Boyd said Assam was the one who suggested the church beef up its security Sunday following the Arvada shooting, which it did. The pastor credited the security plan and the extra security for preventing further bloodshed.

Boyd said there are 15 to 20 security people at the church. All are volunteers but the only ones armed are those who are licensed to carry weapons.

The security guards are members of the church who are screened and not "mercenaries that we hire to walk around our campus to provide security," Boyd said.

About 7,000 people were on the church campus at the time of the shooting, said Boyd.

Two of the parishioners killed in the shooting were identified Monday as sisters Stephanie Works, 18, and Rachael Works, 16. Their father, David Works, 51, suffered two gunshot wounds -- one to the abdomen and one to the groin -- and was listed in fair condition on Monday. They were shot in the parking lot as they were getting into their van.

"Our concern is for our family that lost two teenage daughters. Our hearts are grieving," said Boyd. "You can imagine, as parents, losing two children while coming to church, just showing up for a worship service, not bothering anyone."

Boyd said Assam's actions saved the lives of 50 to 100 people.

Assam said she was ending three days of fasting on Sunday when fate put her in the path of the gunman.

"I was praying to God that he direct me" in what to do in life, Assam said. "God made me strong."

[230RN]

S&Wfan observed:

Here's a case that might just tip things our way and save countless lives all over the nation in future years!

Make it so...

(Tried to upload pic of praying hands, but it didn't work. Don't know why.)

[charon]

I was wrong. Instead I find people unwilling to believe or accept that she was a security guard, instead insisting that she was a churchgoer with a CCW. Maybe that's so, maybe it isn't. Moreover, I find comments praising her actions, while remarking how un-security-like they are, because as everyone knows, Security Guards are cowards who hide or run away while the shooting's going on.

You miss the practical issue Fourninefoxtrot.

The media will not, now, concentrate on the CCW aspect. Instead, a security guard, and former LEO was able to use her years of law enforcement training to end the shooting. It will be amazing to see any pure discussion of CCW now. CCW will be fine, as long as you are former LEO or a "trained security professional" -- all those who meet that criteria please raise your hands. Not that it will even be directly discussed to that extent. The primary focus will be on the AK-47, the spray of bullets, how massively out gunned she was, the 1000 rounds of ammunition in "high capacity clips" etc. with the day saved by a former police officer.

I'm certainly glad she was there. I'm glad she stopped the shooting as quickly as she did. But from a media standpoint they have all they need now to ignore the big picture issues. I hope that is not the case, but will see. Of course, the fact that it's a mixed bag on the issues front, and that she has such strong religious faith will likely be unsettling to the producers and editors and the whole event may just quickly disappear from the news cycle.

[Macpherson]

This is an CRYSTAL CLEAR argument for CCW everywhere and for the 2nd amendment rights in general. Here we have, in the span of less than two weeks, the problem and its solution. Problem: civilians are being prohibited from carrying any means of defense against armed attackers. Solution: Allow civilians to carry arms. The facts are that even with a 2 minute police response time, dozens could be killed and I highly doubt that the first officer on scene is going to rush in without backup, which could increase the response time (and the death toll). The best person to stop these killers is the civilian who is on scene, knows the situation, and has the best chance to get the drop on the maniac before he can do much damage. If the police can get there and handle the situation, great, but as we've seen time after time, the killers know full well that police take time to respond and they use that time to kill as many as possible before they go out themselves. As Oleg and others have said "when seconds matter, the police are only minutes away". The more CCW carriers we have in this country, the fewer of these nutjobs will think it's a good idea to go to some public place and start shooting.

[230RN]

Duplicate post with attempt to attach image.

[charon]

The best person to stop these killers is the civilian who is on scene, knows the situation, and has the best chance to get the drop on the maniac before he can do much damage.

I agree completey. But, will the mainstream media, the producers and editors who feel that firearms provide too much power for mere mortals to handle?
To them, I would bet, she was not a "civilian." She was a highly trained security professional and former LEO. Now, the fact that she was just an average citizen TODAY providing volunteer security are important points. The fact that she had her weapon legally via CCW is important. But, just how important are those aspects to the people producing the coverage?

We'll just have to see.

[XnaV80]

I too saw her interview on LKL (larrykinglive) And it was great to see him make an ass of himself, or i thought he did anyway, trying to spin it to "what were you doing having a gun in church?" like she didn't need it and had no reason of having it. Obviously Mr. King, there was a reason. Looks like the kid learned a tough lesson, don't mess w/ god, or his people or he'll send Sarah Connor after his ass. Obviously she wasn't exactly proud of what she had done, but she also knew it was 100% necessary. In my eyes, she just look like she was sorry for the whole situation and that it had to end the way it did. Bravo Zulu Jeanne Assam! and God bless.

[FourNineFoxtrot]

Charon:

No, I understand that. I completely get that it would have been better for us if she had done this as a CCW civilian, no training or experience in LE; it would have been a clear victory for CCW. As it stands, it will not be played as a victory for CCW. That is unfortunate.

My post was not about the perspective the media would take, nor the comparative gains for CCW. My post was in response to the bashing of security guards, above and beyond an expressed desire that the lady was not a security guard. It wasn't that some folks hoped that she was a civilian with a CCW, it was that they were incredulous that she could be a security guard, and disparaging of the profession, to the point of accusing them en masse of cowardice.

[charon]

My post was not about the perspective the media would take, nor the comparative gains for CCW. My post was in response to the bashing of security guards, above and beyond an expressed desire that the lady was not a security guard. It wasn't that some folks hoped that she was a civilian with a CCW, it was that they were incredulous that she could be a security guard, and disparaging of the profession, to the point of accusing them en masse of cowardice.

Got it. Valid points.

[Chester32141]

Has anyone heard what her CCW was and in what caliber ?

[DerbyDale]

She did not say what the make/model of pistol she used was. Only that it was a 9mm.

[willbrink]

"It already came out that Boyd and said guard had an agreement for her to guard the place gratis."
__________________

But I still want to know what her supposed LEO background is/was. It does not matter if the woman took one week of training 20 years ago, the anti crew will say "see, she had special police training and was trained to use a gun and so that does not apply to you regular people" and so on.....:barf:

[finalnight]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22198709

“I ran and heard the gunfire and it was roaring like thunder,” Bourbannais told Vieira.

He saw a male security guard with his gun drawn, but the guard was not firing at the Murray.

“I said, ‘Gimme your handgun. I’ve been in combat. I’m going to take this guy out,’ ” he said, adding he repeated the request four or five times, but the guard would not hand him the weapon.



Bourbannais stepped behind the pillar again and repeated his demand that the security guard give him a gun so he could take the shooter out. When he got no response, Bourbannais stepped out from behind the pillar to confront Murray again.

At that point, another security guard, 42-year-old Jeanne Assam, arrived with her gun drawn. Unlike the male guard, she was using hers.



Regarding the male guard, can you say "fired"?

[willbrink]

After reading the entire thread, I see she was ex LEO. We all know she was a civi with a CCW at this point, but we also know anti types will simply claim hr LEO background will = it does not count as won one for the good guys as civi with CCW is a good idea. Oh well...

[S&Wfan]

An ex-Vietnam combat vet, aged 59, was an equal hero in this matter and he WOULD have ended the threat shortly before Ms. Assam did . . . HAD HE BEEN ARMED. Even unarmed, he drew fire from the shooter, then advanced forward parallel with Jeanne Assum to help end the threat together. He also disarmed the shooter of his jammed 9mm and cleared the weapon to defend against other attackers in case they were present too!

His story . . .

After Columbine he decided that if he was ever in a situation such as Columbine he would run to the sound of gunfire and try to stop the situation.

He was unarmed and eating a Cheeseburger in the church's cafeteria when the shots rang out. He immediately ran towards the danger.

He came upon a MALE security guard who had his handgun drawn but who was cowering behind a column.

He encouraged the "guard" to get in the fight but to no avail.

He then begged for the "guard's" handgun multiple times and told the guard he was a combat vet who knew weapons well, and would "Take the guy out himself."

All the guard did was tell him to "get behind me."

He then realized it was up to him to do SOMETHING so he fully exposed himself to distract the gunman, and called the shooter a "Coward," followed by calling the shooter some dirty things.

He said, "It worked," for the shooter turned his rifle on the unarmed vet and shot . . . but missed.

The vet temporarily took cover, while the sheep next to him remained cowering and out of the fight.

Then, the vet came out a second time to taunt the shooter. He was NOT aware Ms. Assum was approaching from a different direction either!

It was at that moment that Ms. Assam entered view from another direction and engaged the shooter without cover, and without regard for HER life.

He said that she walked calmly forward, "as if walking to her car" as she fired several rounds to take down the shooter. At the same time, this unarmed vet ALSO advanced forward, parallel with Mr. Assum and directly into the man's line of fire.

He says Assam is the bravest person he's ever seen, including in combat.

Me? Hell, he's just as brave, IMHO! Too bad he wasn't toting himself.

Him? His name is Larry Bourbonnais!


SOME . . . will say that it is hypocritical for Christians to be armed in church.

As a Christian I say this . . . we HAVE a shephard, and most of us are sheep. But ALL shephards need SHEEPDOGS to protect the flock.

That morning there were TWO sheepdogs "standing in the gap."

Last I checked, sheepdogs can be equally both male or female!

Bravo to both!!!

T.

PS: Jeanne Assum is an ARAB Christian, which shows God's hand in this even more. She'd been fasting for three days, asking God for direction in her life. She's 42 and a former LEO . . . and was asking if she should return to being a LEO.

She's also quite attractive, never married and has no kids . . . and has been praying for the right man to come along.

I wouldn't be surprised if God answered her fast and prayers.

I also wouldn't be surprised if this event answers some prayers for us CCW types too!

IMHO, we serve an awesome God . . . even if He needs a few sheepdogs himself!!!

[Roswell 1847]

PS: Jeanne Assum is an ARAB Christian, which shows God's hand in this even more. She'd been fasting for three days, asking God for direction in her life. She's 42 and a former LEO . . . and was asking if she should return to being a LEO.

She's also quite attractive, never married and has no kids . . . and has been praying for the right man to come along.


I thought she had an Arab look about her. The name sounds Arab, but I figured that might be her husband's name.

She's got more sand than Josie Wales.

I may have quoted Eastwoods words from A Fist Full of Dollars which went "everything else being equal the man with the rifle will beat the man with the pistol" or words to that effect, but remember he said this just before he killed the man who had the rifle with his pistol.

Things certainly weren't equal. The man with the rifle was a murderous dog, while the lady with the pistol was a cool and competent hero who knew her weapon and had no fear for her own life.

[USAFNoDAk]

And meanwhile, old Paul Helmke is trying to use this tragic event to push forward his "no assault weapons" agenda. He was on Fox News this morning and he immediately tried to take the conversation to a ban on assault weapons. Larry Pratt was on the other side of the debate making the point that we have to quit disarming law abiding citizens or these shootings in gun free zones will continue. Helmke immediately asked why we keep selling these military style weapons to civilians. He's such a hack.

[jackie treehorn]

USA Today gets it...kind of.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-12-10-3279401414_x.htm

"When a black-clad gunman walked into New Life Church on Sunday and started shooting, he was met with the church's first line of defense: a congregant with a concealed-weapons permit and a law enforcement background."

I wish they would stop emphasizing her LE background, but at least they acknowledge that she had a CWP. :D

Jackie Treehorn

[MarshallDodge]

Ever heard the story of David and Goliath? God was with Miss Assam and enabled her to protect the innocent.

May this be an example of why we need to be able to protect ourselves. There is evil in this world and it attacks without warning....even in church. :(

I feel for the people that have lost loved ones and pray for comfort for them.

[charon]

The Chicago Tribune ran the Los Angeles Times Article by Nicholas Riccardi and DeeDee Correll.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-shoot11dec11,0,7273540.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout

Some Highlights:

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. - The gunshots were so loud that Jeanne Assam thought the shooter was already in the building.

A former police officer, Assam, 42, was on security duty Sunday morning at New Life Church here. Hours earlier, a 24-year-old who had been rejected from a missionary school in a Denver suburb had shot and killed two staffers there. Now he was spraying New Life's parking lot with gunfire and pushing through the doors to the sanctuary.

Murray dropped to the ground. He was carrying an assault rifle, two pistols and a backpack holding more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition...

"I just prayed to the Holy Spirit to guide me," Assam said at a packed news conference Monday. "I give the credit to God. This has got to be God, because of the firepower he had versus what I have."

As to the CCW angle (not covered) check out the online response postings. Some strong pro 2nd posts likley from other true believers, but more than a few along these lines:

This woman was the church security guard and a retired police officer. I'm assuming that having a gun is part of her job, and as a liberal anti-gun guy, I see that as being totally fine.

Cops should have guns. They're there to protect. You want to arm mall & campus security? I don't even have a problem with that.

It's the dummies who want to take matters into their own hands I have a problem with...

Another brave defense of our constitutional rights to bear arms. Thanks again, NRA for another massacre.

You know, we can change this situation. It can be done. We can get pretty much all of the guns off the streets, not to mention assault rifles. It would take about five years. It just takes a little imagination and willpower. And you'd still be able to hunt, etc.

Again, where's that cost-benefit study on hand-guns/assault rifles? What are they worth to society?

agree completely with Jason. I have no problem with police and security guards being armed, because they are TRAINED in how to use guns properly, and they are checked for a history of psychological disturbances or criminal behavior.

What I have a problem with is everyday kooks (like Matthew Murray) getting their hands on this kind of ammunition. Why the hell should this disturbed kid be carrying a gun??? Thank you, NRA, for making sure everybody in America can have a semi-automatic...

And this odd one.

She's a back shooter, she just shot him without asking him to surrender.

Well, that's probably the way its going to play for as long as it's in the news. However, it seems to be fading from the front page pretty quickly.

[Blue Line]

Regarding the male guard can you say "Wuse"!

[AZ_Rebel]

I don't personally like the idea of carrying a weapon into God's house. Its supposed to be a place of peace on the day of peace.

My gun is a tool of Peace... carried to keep the Peace... from those who would break the Peace. If I need to use my gun its because the Peace has been broken and I need my gun to restore the Peace! To consider your gun as something "not peaceful" is a fundamental misunderstanding of the role it plays in your life. To the Anti's this is one of their mantras - Guns Are Evil.

[RoadkingLarry]

Regarding the male guard

Never having been in a situation like that I don't "KNOW" how I would have reacted. I know how I hope I would react, I know how I see my self reacting but unless one has been in that type of situation then you can't know till it happens. Not every human on the face of this planet is the equal of Ms. Assam. Leave the poor shmuck alone, I have no doubt he has enough self loathing to fill his plate.

[Diggers]

I doubt you will see anything on ccw come from this. In fact does anyone know IF she even does have a ccw?

She was a church member acting as volunteer security for her church, would she even need one on church grounds?

Anyhow if it does come up they will just say "she had a permit to carry a gun."

I agree with others that the focus will be on the bad guys guns, what kind and where he got them.

[The Gunman]

I don't care if she was paid, unpaid, private or whatever. This is how things should be, an honest citizen bearing arms in defense of themselves and others.

[ZeSpectre]

Hrmmm, looks like the story has already been changed to stress that the gunman killed himself.
Personally I preferred the focus on the hero and only a few bits of info about the murderer.

[charon]

What is odd, is that they are not actually talking that much about the specific gun. You would think that would be about as "important" to the media here as it was in the mall shooting.

It's been stated that the shooter had a shotgun (at least earlier reports) but not in later reports. Could it be that the main weapon he used was actually a shotgun? Have to check and see if the generically referenced weapon is being called an assault weapon or assault rifle.

A shotgun, even one of those Sagia's get a bit close to the whole "don't scare the hunters" angle.