“You’re lucky he has a gun.”
These words must have been chilling to the Claxton family of Springfield, Missouri on the evening of January 3rd. Katie Claxton, her husband Matt, and their four children were at a gas station when they were approached by a man armed with a large knife. Noting his erratic behavior, Katie Claxton—in the car with the children—moved to lock the door. However, the man attempted to enter via an open car window. Fearing for her family, Claxton called out to her husband.
Matt Claxton responded by drawing his Beretta handgun and pointing it at the would-be attacker, who uttered the above line and then quickly withdrew.
Katie Claxton credits the swift and safe resolution of the incident to their right to keep and bear arms:
“Our Second Amendment right to carry is what saved our lives. If we didn’t have our right to carry, I feel like we wouldn’t be here today. . . . You don’t go out looking for trouble. But if trouble comes knocking, you’re there to answer.”
Missouri is a “shall issue” state for concealed carry permits.
Police have apprehended a suspect in connection with the incident, a 42 year old man dealing with paranoia who believed that vehicles in the parking lot had been sent to spy on him.
While none of the Claxtons were harmed physically during the incident, the family reports that the young children are all having difficulty understanding what happened.
