Seatbelts, extinguishers, and firearms

Passerby's heroics key to rescue
MANSFIELD -- A passing motorist armed with a pocket knife, a fire
extinguisher and a cell phone might have helped save a life Monday morning.

Highway Patrol reminds motorists of importance of wearing seat belts
ZANESVILLE - "We're telling people the best thing they can do when they get in a car is to buckle up," Lt. Barry Donley, Zanesville Post commander. "You may not be able to prevent being involved in a crash, but you can prevent the extent of your injuries by wearing a safety belt."

Neighbor charged with stabbing man
CUYAHOGA FALLS - A man is recuperating from multiple stab wounds and his
neighbor is in jail following an altercation Thursday in Friendship Terrace
Apartments. When officers arrived, they discovered the victim, who is disabled and uses a motorized scooter, had been stabbed 15 times in the face, arm and chest.

Burglars attack homeowner
SPRINGFIELD - Two men who broke into four homes Friday — injuring a 64-year-old man in one — might have committed a string of 14 other burglaries since Feb. 27, said Clark County Sheriff Gene A. Kelly. "These are cold-blooded, violent individuals," Kelly said.

align="right">
We don't wear seatbelts because we expect to crash. We don't install fire extinguishers because we plan on a fire. We all know that car crashes and house fires can turn out much differently without taking these common sense precautions. Why are some unwilling to advocate these same logic when it comes self-defense?

Changing a couple of Trooper Donely's words about seatbelts could offer advice that would save many lives:

"You may not be able to prevent being involved in a [violent attack], but you can prevent the extent of your injuries by [carrying a firearm]."