A remarkable incident is being largely ignored by corporate mainstream media – as it doesn’t fit their “guns are bad” narrative. A man with a concealed carry license stopped a mass shooting in progress outside a South Carolina nightclub in the early morning hours on Sunday after an assailant opened fire in a crowed of people, striking and injuring three people.
Jody Ray Thompson, 32, faces multiple attempted murder charges stemming from the incident, according to Spartanburg County deputies. None of the victims’ injuries were life-threatening, according to police.
“His rounds struck 3 victims, and almost struck a fourth victim, who in self-defense, pulled his own weapon and fired, striking Thompson in the leg,” Lt. Kevin Bobo said.
Police said that after getting into an altercation with another man, Thompson pulled out a firearm and began firing into a crowd of people that had gathered near the front of the club around 3:30 a.m., according to WISTV-10.
As Thompson was firing at the crowd of people, one of his would-be victims, with a concealed carry permit, was able to return fire, striking Thompson in the leg and ending the mass shooting in progress.
“Thompson was still on the scene when deputies arrived, but the initial scene was chaotic,” Lt. Bobo said. “It wasn’t until victims and witnesses were interviewed, and video from the scene was reviewed that Thompson was identified as the suspect.”
Police confirmed that the man who stopped the attack had a valid concealed weapons permit and won’t face any charges. Thompson faces four counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and unlawful carrying of a weapon.
The interesting thing about this incident is that it flies in the face of the narrative that people would be safer if we make it harder for individuals to gain access to, or legally carry, firearms.
There is a certain level of common sense regulation, such as not allowing violent felons or convicted terrorists to own guns. However, the push to make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to access or carry firearms actually works against public safety, as clearly illustrated in this case.
The current narrative on gun control is that “mass shootings,” defined by the FBI as three or more people shot in one incident, are at an epidemic level. This ostensible epidemic requires society to increase restrictions on gun ownership as a means of saving lives and lowering the U.S. homicide rate.
It’s important to keep in mind that mass shootings in public places should never be the main focus in the gun debate for gun control. The reality is that on average mass shootings account for much less than a single percent of the U.S. homicide rate.
The Covert Guide to Concealed Carry (Ad)
Had this legal concealed carrier not been present when this gunman began opening fire, this incident would have likely had much more deadly consequences. The reality is that a legal concealed carrier at ground zero of an attack can stop the carnage sooner.
When good people carry firearms it saves lives, not that the media will tell you that.
Please share this story if you agree!
Jay Syrmopoulos writes for TheFreeThoughtProject.com, where this article first appeared.
Not sure I agree with the assertion that the media is not covering this. I simply googled the name Jody Ray Thompson, 32, and two solid pages came up with the same reporting of events. The concealed carry shooter was also plainly visible and part of the news accounts.
What this article neglects to say is had this guy not been allowed to have a firearm in the first place, none of this would have happened. Jody Ray Thompson already had a record, and should have not been allowed a firearm had the laws been stricter. And as far as “Mass shooting” ? This does not fit the definition of a mass shooting. He was in an argument with one guy, and fired off rounds hitting others; a bad shot. A mass shooting involves one or more shooters setting out to indiscriminately kill multiple randomly-selected victims.
There’s a lot of passionate controversy over this issue which I’d rather not get immolated by, but what is easily confirmed is the fact that, as you say, a Google search of this incident produces reporting which consistently credits the involvement of the CWP holder.
This article’s sensational headline is supported only by bracketed assertions of media negligence which is easily disproven in this particular case.
Using false claims to support a valid point isn’t a particularly effective debate tactic, and Syrmopoulos should tighten up his reporting if he wants to maintain credibility as a reporter and advocate.
Al Kene, I don’t know you but I know a biased, kool aid drinker when I “see” one. Your biased allegation that the media is not ignoring this is beyond ignorance. Why should the citizens have to google this incidence to learn of it. Each mass murder where the criminal succeeds in their killing spree, is reported, reported, reported for days on end, usually blaming the gun, not the criminal. And in many cases,i.e. San Bernadino, Orlando, Ft. Hood, the Obama kool aid drinkers blame the gun or law abiding US citizens who own guns but the Islamic terrorist, out to kill Americans, is redacted to be politically correct. See the redacted “report” from Orlando. Anybody with at least half a brain, common sense knows when the drive-by media, Obama kool-aid drinkers is playing to their emotions to blame the gun not the criminal. Another example of media bias, when Bundy Ranch/Malhuer National Wildlife Refuge spokesman Robert “Levoy” Finicum was shot and killed attempting to draw a gun after fleeing a felony traffic stop, it was a major news story for days and days on network and cable news. The talk was about gun violence, white, right wing extremists, etc. Yet, recently, when Revolutionary Black Panther Leader, Angelo Brown, is killed after shooting at police, you barely hear of it. let along daily coverage as Finicum. Wake up, the left wing elitists, with some right wing elitist complicity, i.e. elitism is slowly but surely usurping regular citizens god given and constitutionally given rights by using fear/emotion for the elitist to “save us”. You should be telling the elitist to live by the laws they make and force us to live by instead they work tirelessly to keep us fighting among ourselves while they grow weathier and more powerful.
I agree, Stanley. This is exactly the sort of situation in which an armed citizen can and does make a difference. I’ve been in more than one of them over the years (most, nobody bothers to call the police about, who needs the hassle?). You see a story like this one in MSM and you know they’re trying to appear “fair and balanced.” You also know the item has been reported for “shock & oddity” value, when there are far better examples of successful armed citizen defense happening out there, yet most of them don’t even involve shots fired. And you also know this particular news radar blip will have the shelf life of an ice cube.
Well stated. Thanks.
You make good points about the media’s ability to frame the story, dilute or obsess information and push an agenda.
It’s obvious what the agenda is, as you well describe, but effective advocacy demands accuracy and effective headline support not seen in this specific article.
Indeed, your post well exceeds the quality of of Mr. Syrmopulos’ writing in demonstrating the validity of his introductory thesis- and makes his submission seem even weaker by contrast.
he was a criminal, they don’t care if they cant have a gun, he didn’t buy it legally, obviously. FBI definition of a mass shooting is three or more persons shot or killed in an incident, right in the article above, what don’t you get you liberal sheep gungrabber?
Cite where he bought it. what is your source?
Uhmmm…he was a known criminal, get it? To my knowledge, criminal minds don’t divulge their black market sources. Just sayin’
“To my knowledge”… uhmmm. that is not saying much. Cite exactly where he got the gun and your source.
“Cite exactly where he got the gun and your source.”
Sorry, no can do. The gun purchase was likely black market and my source is common sense–if you don’t have your own sense you’ll just have to rely on that of others 🙂
Common sense told people like yourself Earth was flat. I rely on facts. So again, cite your sources and prove it. Be my guest.
Mensa IQ here. Troll much?
Prove it right now.
…………………….^^^^^^^^^^^
Claimed Mensa level IQ on another discussion 😉
Criminals can buy guns, what makes you think they cannot? Wife beaters and people with DUI’s buy guns all the time.
If Hillaroid sneezes it is front page news and you hear it 30 times a day from every news outlet. I did not hear about this CCW incident on any news channel or outlet. That is the problem. How many people google it? They don’t know to google it because it was not put out in the media like other stories like the gun grabber stories.
It is not that big of a deal. Why should it be front page headlines? It was just a single isolated incident. it happens all the time. Big Deal.
Only fools and idiots think that removing guns from the public is a smart thing. History clearly shows that removing guns is the first step to genocide. Only idiots repeat history over and over again. The dummies that want to remove guns from the hands of those willing to protect their families and their neighbors have a political agenda because the NRA is the big money for the republican party. The democrat party does not care about you, only votes, and money, and control to stay in power. The media is controlled by the corrupt establishment elite globalists who are working on the EU and the NAU to your detriment. Taking the guns will allow those corrupt bast ards to do whatever they want with no reprisal from the public. So, it is a big deal for the fools that believe the propaganda to see the truth – that more lives are saved by good people with guns. When someone kills with a knife you don’t see outrage and cries to regulate or remove knives. When 40,000 people a year are killed in cars you don’t see cars being taken away because those cars are killers of far more people than guns. You can’t use a car to save you from genocide, but you can use a gun. The 2nd amendment is clear – you can’t infringe. All gun laws infringe so they are unconstitutional, but the globalists want to take them, so they do their corrupt thing passing laws that are unconstitutional.
Look into China’s massive lobbying efforts to have guns banned in the US. That’s a full-blown scandal in itself. Do you know how much land China already owns in the US–and how they acquired it? Our government has been signing over America’s national parks and other sizable spaces to China as debt pay-down for years. That’s why their strong efforts to remove guns from US citizens raises such huge red flags.
I am not going to cry over China removing guns from the United States.. the USA has been invading and destroying other nations for decades. You deserve it
You be glad that there are people with guns that know how to use them to help save your sorry asss in case of a gov crime wave against the public. The mafia is already running our country.
Not my country, your sorry assed country
I wonder what role the Chinese play in the globalist NWO.
Are you finished now? You need to be on SSRI’s.
LOL – good response.
But, now that Hillaroid has not been jailed for her criminal activity maybe you will agree that our establishment is above the law and is corrupt through and through.
It is not a stretch to see crimes against humanity coming if our defense is removed.
Isolated incidents are the ones that make front page headlines. Guess you just didn’t know that.
Yep.
Mama said: “Nothing good ever happens after midnight”……
I applaud the conceal and carry guy – KUDOS.
Don’t be fooled by this article and its false equivalency. In the miniscule number of times a gun carrying cowboy can prevent mass murder, the same type of individual will have been responsible for multiple deaths either through negligence, drunkenness, insanity or evil intent.
troll dude. seriously. have a nice tall glass of STFU.
I didn’t know this website was only for right wing, extremist, nihilists who wouldn’t know their a** from a hole in the ground? That is the only way Guest could call me a troll and have a leg to stand on. My take on the stupidity of open carry or concealed, is well know and it has been proven so many times with so many deaths that only fools would deny it!
Hey, far be it from me to tell you to STFU, Archie, but who are you to randomly call so many people you’ve never met here right wing, extremist nihilists? (A couple of whom may be unfamiliar with the etymology of the word but for those who didn’t have to take Latin in high school, NIHIL means “nothing”).
For example, I’m a gun-toting libertarian agnostic anarchist, if you can wrap your mind around that limited description, and I “believe” in people’s free choice to mess with me and others at their own peril. I don’t believe in “nothingness.” I believe you however, are full of emotion- rather than logic-driven mental impulses.
I happen to be one of your “fools” who “deny” that your “take” on just about anything “has been proven.” At all. The fact that you have a “take” is proof that you have an opinion; why not bewilder and befuddle us with actual facts? Because I suggest to you an actual fact from my own personal experiences: I and others might not be here typing these words were it not for a display of superior armament in situations of wrongful physical attack, when the police we paid for were nowhere within screaming distance.
It was just…us. Say it ain’t so, Archie.
It’s so.
So, Arch, you’re suggesting the perp should’ve been allowed to finish emptying his firearm till the police showed up? Maybe been given a chance to reload while everyone found hiding places?
I know you’ve said carrying openly (as do nearly all uniformed cops) or concealed (nearly all cops in mufti) is “stupidity,” but I wouldn’t call a “civilian” stopping a mass shooting with a gun “stupid.” Shooting him in the leg, however…
I hope you find yourself in a position where someone that has withdrawals from anti-depressants is having intense desires to kill people and he is there shooting at you. Then your little chicken shiit asss will be crying for someone to help you live because you are too stupid to learn how to use a weapon and protect yourself. And I hope the killer is using something other than a gun or it is a group of gang bangers wanting to kill you. You little wussy worm. You have to protect yourself – the police only clean upu the mess after it is too late. You are the type that runs away like the refugees while the real men are fighting to save their families and country. You use gun control to cover for your cowardice and fears.
My goodness, you are really mouthing off but unfortunately that just proves your ignorance. Did you even for one second consider that it might be you who is having withdrawals from anti depressants or someone like you, just an ordinary better boy hoping to have fun at a club but carrying? That’s right it could be you pressing the trigger and spraying the room. Then someone else would be wishing they were carrying to stop you (don’t mind the innocents caught in the middle)! Then others wished they were carrying to stop the other carrying individuals who couldn’t aim straight and shot indiscriminately. You really need to see a psychiatrist!
You scared little rabbits are being sold on you being safe in all circumstances when guns are removed from law abiding citizens. There is no 100% safe life. You can take away knives, cars, bats, hammers, screwdrivers, etc and those that want to kill will do so. But by taking away the survival tools that keep the corrupt government from abusing
The point I have been trying to make for a very long time is that individuals living in tyrannies may need to carry to protect themselves (check out the Central and South American banana republics) but Americans have the ballot box, which is much more powerful than a gun. However the power it exhibits is proportional to the interest the American people take in it. The more the interest, the more powerful the ballot box.
You don’t get it. The ballot box is a waste of time if all the candidates are owned by the corrupt establishment. Your statement would be correct in a perfect world with honest elections, but we have never had that. All the elections in the past 100+ years have been fixed and corrupt. Our vote is either for a dem criminal or a repub criminal that both answer to the money that put them there – the corrupt establishment globalists. You should have learned this from the corruption trying to keep Trump (not owned) out.
If I break wind and three or more people smell it, is that called a mass farting incident?
No, that’s called the Trump Campaign.
don’t be gross
Why not have fun with the narrative? Don’t let the ‘Elite’ dictate everything.
Just take the guns away from the first guy instead of putting more on the street.
Brilliant idea, a gold star for original thinking. You do it, Tethys. Unarmed, of course. Get out there and show us how it’s done.
It is that simple.
Joe, thanks for your reasoned posts. Look into China’s massive lobbying efforts to have guns banned in the US. That’s a full-blown scandal in itself. Do you know how much land China already owns in the US–and how they acquired it? Our government has been signing over America’s national parks and other sizable spaces to China as debt pay-down for years. That’s why their strong efforts to remove guns from US citizens raises such huge red flags.
I wrote something similar to another poster above, but you are vocal so wanted to give you more food for thought as you educate low-info people. Again, thanks 🙂
Who cares if China is trying to influence things in the USA? At least
they are legally BUYING the land. The USA has been actively and
INVADING other nations in attempts to change politics and leaders. It is
hard to shed tears for poor americans when you have been destroying other
nations for decades.
You are correct about the US invading, usurping, plundering, pillaging. It makes a great many of us (Americans) sick, what a handful of rapacious, soulless individuals, both locally and from abroad, have done with a once great Nation. Who cares, you ask? Everyone should. We don’t need anyone’s tears, but it strikes me as odd that anyone who feels this way should disagree with American civilians owning guns, as if this had anything to do with the increasing tyranny of the US over the world, and over its own citizens.
The Second Amendment of the US Constitution was positioned imediately second to underscore and reinforce the First: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Of course, if Congress is not consulted, anything goes.
1) “but it strikes me as odd that anyone who feels this way should disagree with American civilians owning guns” Please cite where I disagree with it.
2) “as if this had anything to do with the increasing tyranny of the US over the world, and over its own citizens” I was directly addressing the other comment regarding China supposedly “disarming” americans. The Irony is, americans are going around demanding the rest of the world disarm. They even make up lies about supposed “weapons” other countries have. americans are the biggest liars in the world. they whine about how bad their poor little lives are while they go around bombing and killing people all over the world and supporting dictators.
Someone with brain cells want to help out, here?
Thanks for noticing, Veritass. I like your description–your definition of what I try to do–as “educating low-info people.” Frequently I get pissed off, then step back and ask…is this stupidity I’m encountering here? Or is it enemy action (trill: troll and/or shill). Or is it simply lack of data or a fresh viewpoint?
Half the time I’m preaching to the choir, half the time I’m shooting at trills, and the other half the time I’m hoping to inject a little educated sense into the argument, get some interesting feedback. Adds up to 150%…wait. Okay, minus 50%, for when someone suggests to me a new viewpoint worth examining.
There are a lot of smart “low-info” people out there whom I think deserve a bit of a boost. Best case scenario is we all learn something we can chew on.
What I hate are thought terminators. DisqusKnowitAll, for example, is a step away from throwing out f*cktards at people…where readers wish some responsible adult would tell him it’s past his bedtime.
Fifty years ago I had to take Debating in high school, later Logic in college. Since then I’ve been all over life’s map. I’m still learning, I haven’t forgotten much. I still remember being ignorant, I’m still quite aware of how little I could possibly really know.
Thanks for the “China Syndrome” clue…post a link or two, I’ll take it from there.
Pffffha! Yep, and sometimes the runaway truck just happens to hit a serial killer. So runaway trucks are great! It flies directly in the face of the lamestream media’s narrative that runaway trucks are bad.