Concealed Carry Chicagoan Wins over Muggers

A Chicago man was assaulted on private property by two men brandishing guns. The target then pulled out his own handgun. The 53-year old South Austin resident then fired several shots, scaring off the attackers. 

This may be the first time live shots have been fired since concealed carry permits were mailed out in the city earlier this year. 

The incident started when two men approached an intended victim while he was on private property. 

They did not know he had a concealed carry permit and a gun. The two men approached the resident on the 5400 block of west Van Buren Street, and about 2:40 in the morning on April 5th.

He was walking from his garage in to the front of his yard when the two assailants approached him, wearing hoodies. One of the pair then pulled a gun from his waistband, and the intended target quickly grabbed his own weapon, firing several shots. The two then ran away without being injured. There was also no reported property damage. 

Chicago law now allows concealed weapons in public with a permit. However, residents may carry concealed weapons on private property without such a certificate. 

Andrew Queen, executive director of a local firearms training center said, “I think it sends a signal to the criminals that it’s no longer open season on citizens. While certainly you don’t want to see anyone get shot, I think that armed citizens can certainly act as a deterrent to the criminal element and maybe help to bring the crime rate down a little bit.”

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, police data show the murder rate in Chicago dropped during the first quarter of 2014 to its lowest rate since 1958. This was the first time residents were legally allowed to carry concealed weapons. 

Police are not yet releasing the names of the men involved in the incident. Police determined the intended victim had a valid concealed carry permit, firearm owners identification card, and had 
completed firearms safety classes. The man who defended himself  from the robbery will not face any charges for his actions. 

Police are still looking for the two assailants, describing one as tall and the other man as short.