Where else but Florida, where a man named “Jock” pulled out his concealed carry handgun to shoot another customer while they both waited in line for pizza at a Little Caesar’s restaurant:
Police said the incident unfolded about 4 p.m. inside the Little Caesars, 3463 Fourth St. N, after Randall White, 49, got mad about his service.
Another man in line, Michael Jock, 52, of St. Petersburg admonished White.
That “prompted them to exchange words and it became a shoving match,” said police spokesman Mike Puetz.
White raised a fist. Jock, a concealed-weapons permit holder, pulled out a .38 Taurus Ultralight Special Revolver.
He fired one round, hitting White in the lower torso. The men grappled and the gun fired again, hitting White in roughly the same spot, police said.
Fortunately for Mr. White (sounds like a Reservoir Dogs reference, doesn’t it?) his wounds were not life threatening. Also, luckily, Mr. Jock’s bullets didn’t hit anyone else in the pizza place. Jock claimed he thought he saw an object in White’s hand, but then backed off that statement under police interrogation. He also claimed he was entitled to use his handgun against White under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. Police disagreed and arrested him for aggravated battery and shooting inside a building.
I’m sure before this incident, Mr. Jock was a responsible, law abiding citizen and gun owner. I’ll bet he still thinks he is one even after he brought a gun to a “potential” fist fight. I’m sure that he thinks that way even though firing his gun at Mr. White under those circumstances might have resulted in the injury or death of a bystander.
Word to the wise for Floridians and others who live in states with “Stand Your Ground” laws. Order pizza for delivery and shop online as much as you can. Because you never know when someone who feels “threatened” will pull out his or her weapon and shoot up a place where you happen to be. After all, the law says they can defend themselves, right? It would be just too bad if someone else became “collateral damage.”
Ps. Angry, irritable people who believe they are entitled to use their firearms in public are not mentally ill. They are, however, armed and dangerous.
Here’s a video of the handgun Mr. Jock used to stand his ground:
