I can hear the comments now. “This makes us look bad.” I agree but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t cover stories like this. They should be reminders to us all that we have to take the responsibility of carrying a gun seriously. And carrying while intoxicated is a big no.
Shortly after noon this past Sunday, two men got into an argument in an Illinois Family Dollar. It is reported that a 43-year-old man commented about a young kid with another man who took offense to the comment. The argument continued as the men left the store.
The man with the child then punched the other man which knocked him to the ground. Then the 43-year-old drew a handgun and fired at the other man. A local news outlet reported that he was hit in either the arm or the side and his injury was non-life-threatening.
The 43-year-old left the scene and went home where the police caught up with him. They found him to be intoxicated and found a half-empty beer can and a pistol in his vehicle. After getting a search warrant, the police removed seven more firearms from the man’s home. The shooter also has (or had) a valid Illinois Concealed Carry License and a FOID card.
I say ‘had’ because he most likely will have his concealed carry license revoked if it hasn’t been already. He was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon while intoxicated.
Aggravated battery with a firearm is a Class X felony with potential penalties ranging from six to 30 years in prison. Carrying a concealed weapon while intoxicated is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in the county jail. – VIA The News-Gazette
This guy can say goodbye to his license and if convicted of the felony, he may never get one again. And all of this over some comment the shooter made about a kid? AND he was intoxicated. This is just completely irresponsible. Don’t drink and carry concealed. Period.
