longwatch
Founder's Club Member - Moderator
imported post
From the WVCDL
1. CONCEALED HANDGUN PERMIT HOLDER STOPS POTENTIAL BARROOM MASSACRE IN NEVADA
Many states prohibit carrying in bars—and some in any establishment, including most restaurants, that serves alcoholic beverages. If the story below had happened in any of those states, it would likely have ended with many more dead because the concealed handgun permit holder who ended this potential massacre would have followed the law and not had the ability to shoot the killer before he killed more people. Like almost all other gun control measures, restaurant and/or bar carry bans are based on emotion and fear unfounded by fact; states that have no restaurant and/or bar carry bans have not experienced significant problems with concealed handgun permit holders committing crimes there or any other place where we can legally carry.
Nevada and West Virginia are among the states that have no restaurant or bar carry restrictions.
http://tinyurl.com/5jty7r
Gazette-Journal
May 27, 2008
Three shootings leave small town shaken
Jason Hidalgo (jhidalgo@rgj.com)
WINNEMUCCA -- Yellow police tape surrounded the deserted parking lot of Players Bar on an overcast Monday afternoon, a sign on the road informing passersby that the facility is closed until further notice.
Just a day after gunshots fired inside Players left three people dead and two injured, the facility's manager said the bar's interior has been cleaned and it can be opened at any time. But with many of its workers still "shook up" from the incident, the bar stayed closed for now, 27-year-old manager Erin Hayes said.
"I was there. I saw everything," said Hayes, who lay stomach down on the floor just six feet away from shooter Ernesto Fuentes Villagomez, 30, of Winnemucca.
"(Villagomez) looked very determined. You could see it in his eyes. He wasn't just shooting random people. He was focused on those two."
The two were Winnemucca residents and brothers Jose Torres, 20, and Margarito Torres, 19, who Villagomez shot with a high-capacity handgun about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, police said. Residents of Winnemucca, a town of 8,000 people about 160 miles northeast of Reno, still were reacting Monday to the shooting, saying they couldn't believe this could happen in their town.
"I'm just sad that something like this could happen in a little town like Winnemucca," said resident Heather Huerta, 22. "I probably would feel different if someone from out of town did it. But having local residents involved makes it scary."
At first, Hayes thought someone set off a firecracker in the bar; no warning or fight preceded the shooting. But once it became clear what was going on, everyone hit the floor, Hayes said. Including employees, about 40 people were in the bar, Hayes said, disputing police reports that about 300 patrons were in and around the bar.
"I saw (Villagomez) shoot one guy, come back around and shoot the other guy," Hayes said.
Villagomez then started walking toward the middle of the bar before suddenly collapsing to the floor. Hayes later found out that Villagomez was shot by a 48-year-old customer from Reno who was carrying a concealed handgun. Authorities declined to release the Reno man's name, only saying that the man had a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon. The man was released after authorities ruled the death a justifiable homicide.
"He was just some random guy in jeans and a shirt who happened to be there," Hayes said. "I was just glad that there was somebody there who was able to help us out."
Villagomez and the Torres brothers died at the scene, the Winnemucca Police Department said. Police said Monday that the two injured victims, a 34-year-old man and 22-year-old woman, were released from Humboldt General Hospital.
Authorities ruled out disputes from rival motorcycle gangs as a cause for the altercation. Winnemucca's "Runamucca" motorcycle event was going on at the time of shooting. Police are investigating whether the shooting was related to a longstanding feud between the families of the three people who were killed.
"We've talked to the families," said officer Jeff Murdock of the Winnemucca Police Department when asked about the feud. "(Retaliation) is a legitimate concern ... so we're out there being visible and staying close to the families and making sure we're doing whatever we can to help them at this time."
Murdock declined to comment on any previous incidents between the families. Winnemucca police Chief Bob Davidson said Sunday that the bar incident may be related to an earlier drive-by shooting.
Hayes also said she was shocked to learn Villagomez and Margarito Torres were involved in the incident because she remembered them being "nice" guys, especially Villagomez.
"Ernesto has always been polite," Hayes said. "He was always nice and courteous. He never started a fight, at least not in this bar."
Reaction from residents about the shooting ranged from surprise to sadness. Resident Pat Lee, 66, said that although the shooting was unfortunate, it has not changed her perception of the town.
"I still think Winnemucca is safe," Lee said. "I don't think it has affected my feelings about the town at all."
Zack Pruitt, 17, said the shooting was unexpected.
"I was surprised to hear about it," Pruitt said. "It's very rare for something like this to happen here."
Hayes was also saddened by the local link from the incident. Like many people in the town, Hayes -- who grew up in Los Angeles -- said she moved into Winnemucca to get away from all the troubles typically seen in bigger cities.
"I like the small town politeness," Hayes said. "I like how everyone knows you and says hi and holds doors open for you and says, 'thank you.' The fact that the shooting involved members of the community makes it even more sad. The three people who were killed have families here. And now those families are mourning."
From the WVCDL
1. CONCEALED HANDGUN PERMIT HOLDER STOPS POTENTIAL BARROOM MASSACRE IN NEVADA
Many states prohibit carrying in bars—and some in any establishment, including most restaurants, that serves alcoholic beverages. If the story below had happened in any of those states, it would likely have ended with many more dead because the concealed handgun permit holder who ended this potential massacre would have followed the law and not had the ability to shoot the killer before he killed more people. Like almost all other gun control measures, restaurant and/or bar carry bans are based on emotion and fear unfounded by fact; states that have no restaurant and/or bar carry bans have not experienced significant problems with concealed handgun permit holders committing crimes there or any other place where we can legally carry.
Nevada and West Virginia are among the states that have no restaurant or bar carry restrictions.
http://tinyurl.com/5jty7r
Gazette-Journal
May 27, 2008
Three shootings leave small town shaken
Jason Hidalgo (jhidalgo@rgj.com)
WINNEMUCCA -- Yellow police tape surrounded the deserted parking lot of Players Bar on an overcast Monday afternoon, a sign on the road informing passersby that the facility is closed until further notice.
Just a day after gunshots fired inside Players left three people dead and two injured, the facility's manager said the bar's interior has been cleaned and it can be opened at any time. But with many of its workers still "shook up" from the incident, the bar stayed closed for now, 27-year-old manager Erin Hayes said.
"I was there. I saw everything," said Hayes, who lay stomach down on the floor just six feet away from shooter Ernesto Fuentes Villagomez, 30, of Winnemucca.
"(Villagomez) looked very determined. You could see it in his eyes. He wasn't just shooting random people. He was focused on those two."
The two were Winnemucca residents and brothers Jose Torres, 20, and Margarito Torres, 19, who Villagomez shot with a high-capacity handgun about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, police said. Residents of Winnemucca, a town of 8,000 people about 160 miles northeast of Reno, still were reacting Monday to the shooting, saying they couldn't believe this could happen in their town.
"I'm just sad that something like this could happen in a little town like Winnemucca," said resident Heather Huerta, 22. "I probably would feel different if someone from out of town did it. But having local residents involved makes it scary."
At first, Hayes thought someone set off a firecracker in the bar; no warning or fight preceded the shooting. But once it became clear what was going on, everyone hit the floor, Hayes said. Including employees, about 40 people were in the bar, Hayes said, disputing police reports that about 300 patrons were in and around the bar.
"I saw (Villagomez) shoot one guy, come back around and shoot the other guy," Hayes said.
Villagomez then started walking toward the middle of the bar before suddenly collapsing to the floor. Hayes later found out that Villagomez was shot by a 48-year-old customer from Reno who was carrying a concealed handgun. Authorities declined to release the Reno man's name, only saying that the man had a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon. The man was released after authorities ruled the death a justifiable homicide.
"He was just some random guy in jeans and a shirt who happened to be there," Hayes said. "I was just glad that there was somebody there who was able to help us out."
Villagomez and the Torres brothers died at the scene, the Winnemucca Police Department said. Police said Monday that the two injured victims, a 34-year-old man and 22-year-old woman, were released from Humboldt General Hospital.
Authorities ruled out disputes from rival motorcycle gangs as a cause for the altercation. Winnemucca's "Runamucca" motorcycle event was going on at the time of shooting. Police are investigating whether the shooting was related to a longstanding feud between the families of the three people who were killed.
"We've talked to the families," said officer Jeff Murdock of the Winnemucca Police Department when asked about the feud. "(Retaliation) is a legitimate concern ... so we're out there being visible and staying close to the families and making sure we're doing whatever we can to help them at this time."
Murdock declined to comment on any previous incidents between the families. Winnemucca police Chief Bob Davidson said Sunday that the bar incident may be related to an earlier drive-by shooting.
Hayes also said she was shocked to learn Villagomez and Margarito Torres were involved in the incident because she remembered them being "nice" guys, especially Villagomez.
"Ernesto has always been polite," Hayes said. "He was always nice and courteous. He never started a fight, at least not in this bar."
Reaction from residents about the shooting ranged from surprise to sadness. Resident Pat Lee, 66, said that although the shooting was unfortunate, it has not changed her perception of the town.
"I still think Winnemucca is safe," Lee said. "I don't think it has affected my feelings about the town at all."
Zack Pruitt, 17, said the shooting was unexpected.
"I was surprised to hear about it," Pruitt said. "It's very rare for something like this to happen here."
Hayes was also saddened by the local link from the incident. Like many people in the town, Hayes -- who grew up in Los Angeles -- said she moved into Winnemucca to get away from all the troubles typically seen in bigger cities.
"I like the small town politeness," Hayes said. "I like how everyone knows you and says hi and holds doors open for you and says, 'thank you.' The fact that the shooting involved members of the community makes it even more sad. The three people who were killed have families here. And now those families are mourning."
