Opinion
Texas – -(AmmoLand.com)- What could have been a much worse tragedy inside a White Settlement, Texas church Sunday was quickly stopped by good guys with guns, who not only fatally shot the gunman but got quick support from several other armed church members, as seen by examination of the streamed video, which has since been taken down.
The shooting incident left three people dead, including the shotgun-wielding killer. NBC News said two members of the congregation died at the hospital.
By watching the 51-second video that streaked across social media, one could count at least six other members of the congregation who appear to have drawn sidearms, including one woman. All carefully moved in to cover the downed gunman, while taking care to move bystanders out of the way and not cover one another with their guns. The parishioner who clearly fired the shot has been identified as Jack Wilson, president of On Target LTC, LLC and a candidate for public office. He went on Facebook hours after the incident to tell his story.
According to Fox News, two church members shot the gunman although in the video it appears only one parishioner fired. There were three audible gunshots on the video. Other members of the congregation were diving for cover as the shots were fired over the course of four to six seconds, as shown in the 51-second video of the incident that has been circulated online. Two other people were reportedly injured in the chaos while ducking for cover, but they were treated and released.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott condemned the killer’s actions in a statement.
“I am grateful for the church members who acted quickly to take down the shooter and help prevent further loss of life,” the governor said. “Cecilia and I ask all Texans to join us in praying for the White Settlement community and for all those affected by this horrible tragedy.”
Statement on shooting at West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement: pic.twitter.com/Crrrvavvs6
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) December 29, 2019
The shooting occurred at the West Freeway Church of Christ.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Jeoff Williams, regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety, praised the actions of the armed citizens. His agency will lead the investigation.
“I would like to point out that we have a couple of heroic parishioners who…saved countless lives,” he told reporters. “Our hearts are going out to them and their families as well.”
The video is graphic, and the Dallas Morning News said it was quickly removed by the church but not before it was viewed by an unknown number of people. The video showed the gunman, wearing what appears to be a hooded jacket, get up from a rear pew, approach one man in the rear corner of the sanctuary and apparently ask a question before pulling what appears to be a shotgun from under his coat.
At that point, a man seated at the rear of the sanctuary, stands up and appears to have a bit of trouble drawing a concealed handgun. He is the first person shot by the gunman, who then turned his gun on the first man he spoke to.
The gunman then turns and moves down a wall-side aisle. A second armed church goer can be seen at the upper left of the video drawing and firing, and the gunman immediately dropped to the floor as other armed parishioners closed in.
Shockingly, former Texas Congressman and presidential candidate Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke rushed to exploit the tragedy, “So saddened to hear about another church shooting in Texas, this one in White Settlement near Fort Worth. Clearly what we are doing in Texas, what we are doing in this country, when it comes to guns is not working.”
So saddened to hear about another church shooting in Texas, this one in White Settlement near Fort Worth. Clearly what we are doing in Texas, what we are doing in this country, when it comes to guns is not working. https://t.co/krwcpL1lih
— Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) December 29, 2019
O’Rourke’s presidential run crashed shortly after he declared during a Democratic debate in August, “Hell, yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47.”
However, there did not appear to be any immediate reactions from gun control organizations. The gun prohibition lobby is routinely silent following an incident in which armed citizens intervene.
However, Alan Gottlieb, founder and executive vice president of the Second Amendment Foundation, was not so tongue-tied.
“The fact that so many other church members were also armed, and did not open fire, demonstrates how responsibly armed citizens can perform in an emergency,” Gottlieb said. “The video belies the oft-repeated myth that armed citizens are irresponsible and even dangerous to one another, which is something we address in ‘Good Guys With Guns’.”
“We don’t know what motivates someone to open fire on a peaceful church congregation,” Gottlieb said. “But thanks to the video, we know what stops them.”
About Dave Workman
Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.
Obviously an effective group response. My respect to those church members who acted so quickly and appropriately in defense of the congregation.
We have the mandate and right to keep and bear arms. If you don’t already carry 24/7 you have one more event for a good reason. The detail spotted the guy before hand but, at least one of them reacted too slow and he lost his life. This stuff goes sideways very fast. The whole thing from pulling the shotgun to bad guy down was about 6 seconds. Guess who the actual first responder was? Wasn’t the cops. You can bet, it someone had not stopped the bad guy, there would have been many more dead. If you don’t go… Read more »
So the initial reports is that the perp is paranoid and is battling demons.
Just wait for the Red-Flag advocates to exploit that.
I would be nice if the gun haters in Virginia would learn what actually works and stand down from their gun ban crusade.
Any politician who proposes, supports, votes for or signs a bill that disarms or infringes on the right to bear arms must be charged as a criminal accessory before the fact, willfully transforming citizens into defenseless victims, thus aiding and supporting criminal activity.
6 seconds. That’s all it took.
END GUN FREE ZONES NOW!!!
Regardless of what a law or a church may say, if you do not carry concealed, do not be surprised when you are a helpless victim.
ALL ‘gun control laws’ and restrictions are unconstitutional.
Two Points:
1st. Gov. Greg Abbott’s statement should have said “I pray all eligible Americans get trained and armed.”
2nd. To Bobby Francis, Hell yes it’s not working, you’re gun grabbing schemes are costing American lives. Not that you care about that. It seems you are only concerned about the lives of folks who are her ILLEGALLY!
Bozo the Clown opens his mouth and puts his foot in it… again. Does this clown even go to church or does he believe he is better than God? He certainly believes he’s better than most Americans. Actually, he’s pretty disgusting (and totally useless).
Correct. Nearly all mass shooters and mass killers have been democrats brought to a killing frenzy by the hate-spewing news media.
Next time you congressman or mayor or governor, legislator, president or enforcement person says you have no reason to be armed, this would be another good thing to bring up as an example. The right and mandate to be armed comes from Scripture, from the LORD HIMSELF, there is no higher authority. These days, if you don’t carry 24/7, you are taking chances with lives. Common sense dictated the need to carry. SCRIPTURE, along with the 2A, gives us the right and mandate to be armed. Even if you have to be civically disobedient to carry, bullets are cheaper than… Read more »