John Lott's Website: 12 Year Old South Carolina Boy Saves Family by Brandishing Gun

Greenville, SC
12 Year Old Points Gun at Burglars; Group Takes Off
July 10, 2006 09:40 PM
An accused group of thugs-- thwarted by a 12-year old with a gun. It happened in Greenville when police say five masked men stormed into a house and started beating up the child's father.

FOX Carolina's Jamie Guirola reports, Try and picture it. A 12 year old walks into the living room, sees his mother frantically protecting the baby, and several strangers attacking his father. The 12 year old rushes out of the living room-- but comes back pointing a gun at the five suspects. As of Monday night-- all but one are in jail.

These are the alleged home invaders without their masks. The youngest barely seventeen, the oldest just 20. George Dickert didn't have time to think about their ages when he tells us they broke into his home and tried to rob his family.

George Dickert/Victim: "F*$# you! That's what I was thinking."

Sunday night, George says, one of the suspects in the group followed him into his house after he smoked a cigarette. He tells us the man pulled out a gun, threatening him. When George reached for a different gun in self-defense a fight broke out.

George: "I work five days a week and my wife works six days a week. We're an honest couple. We do what we have to do to make a living and some idiot decided he wanted what I had."

When the struggle started, police say, two other men came into the house and started beating on George. That's when George's 12 year old made the move credited with scaring the accused thugs out of the house-- and stopping the burglary-- without even firing the gun.'

George: "He did what he had to do to protect his family last night. And a 12 year old child should never have to go through that. Even if he does know what to do, he should not have to do that." . . . .

Thanks very much to Darren L. Higginbotham for sending me this link. As I wrote in The Bias Against Guns, the media is very reluctant to publicize these types of defensive gun use stories.

5 Comments:

Anonymous said...: Now in today's world, which of these stories is more newsworthy? An off duty cop doing his job, or a 12 year old saving his sibling and both his parents? I mean, sure neither story probably should be in the news but in this day and age of sensationalist reporting, it is amazing we don't see more stories of cases like this family's.

I can see it in the CNN back room now:

I am sure Nancy Grace would have a hay day interviewing everyone ever so remotely related to this victim's family (the boy's old kindergarten teacher's roommate, the father's boss's exwife, etc.) we could make it last at least a month long continuing story, heck we got over a year out of that Aruba girl....oh wait, the gun PREVENTED the crime...So the boy didn't get shot and killed...that means the gun was used by the good guys ... oh well, that would have been a good one but throw that one away, my boss would kill me if I put that on the air.; 7/11/2006 12:00 PM
Anonymous said...: Interesting. I am currently working in Greenville. The other night, one of my friends was saying something like "I don't see the need for a gun." Maybe I'll bring this story to his attention the next time I see him.

It sure is interesting how whenever you talk to a liberal about defensive gun use, they always argue that defending yourself makes the situation more dangerous. I guess that isn't exactly correct if a 12 year old boy can stop multiple armed intruders.; 7/11/2006 2:55 PM
John Lott said...: Dear Last Anonymous:

I certainly do hope that you bring it to your friend's attention.; 7/11/2006 8:52 PM
George Mills said...: A 12 year old in North Carolina has a right to defend his family without fear of prosecution, but here in NJ it doesn't matter what justification you have. You will likely be charged with weapons possesion, and your legal firearm will be confiscated. In the Peoples Republic of NJ, first and foremost you have "a duty to retreat".; 7/12/2006 9:06 AM
saturdaynightspecial said...: "It sure is interesting how whenever you talk to a liberal about defensive gun use, they always argue that defending yourself makes the situation more dangerous. "

Why ? Because they're brainwashed; they are not rational. When you have been brainwashed by the newsmedia you do not have the ability to be objective and to tell the truth or to describe reality accurately. For example, believing that police are actually more responsible than law-abiding, peaceful citizens; that's non-sense.

Some people don't believe it's possible to be brainwashed or that a person can brainwash another. But gun phobes and opponents of guns are the proof. Self defense is just common sense (natural).; 7/13/2006 5:20 AM