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December 12, 2007

"He was a man in black, but he sure wasn’t Johnny Cash."

You know, I really hate how the word "hero" has become frankly debased in our society. Damn near everyone who does anything is called one now. Well, here's more on two folks who've earned that title in my book

Larry Bourbannais had decided after the Columbine massacre what he would do if he were ever in a similar situation, so when shots rang out in the church he attended, the heroic Vietnam veteran acted decisively.

“I promised myself after Columbine, and I told my four daughters, that if something like that every happened and I was there, I would go after the shooter, because you want to protect people,” the 59-year-old Bourbannais told TODAY co-host Meredith Vieira on Tuesday.

Bourbannais had been in a cafeteria in the sprawling church grounds eating a hamburger on Sunday when he heard gunshots. As others fled the church in terror, Bourbannais hurried toward the shooting scene, constantly asking, “Where’s the shooter? Where’s the shooter?”

...At that point, another security guard, 42-year-old Jeanne Assam, arrived with her gun drawn. Unlike the male guard, she was using hers.

“They were engaged in a firefight. He was firing. She was firing,” Bourbannais said. “And she was completely exposed. I was in Vietnam for 14 months in combat, and it’s the bravest thing I’ve ever witnessed. She kept yelling, ‘Surrender,’ and returned fire the complete time.”

Read the whole amazing story.

Real heroes, folks.

God bless them, as he blessed the folks at that church by putting them there.


(Thanks to Lawhawk for the pointer)

Posted by Mr. Bingley at December 12, 2007 12:28 PM

Comments

Why does it take so long for such a fantastic story to get told?

The press is incompetent. Unbelievably so.

Posted by: Skyler at December 12, 2007 01:38 PM

Well, Skyler, you know we can't have these stories getting out about armed private citizens preventing crimes and saving lives, now can we?

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at December 12, 2007 01:44 PM

If Spider really DOES go out there to propose to her, I'd totally be there to witness it. Holy crap.

Posted by: nightfly at December 12, 2007 02:53 PM

::sniffle::

Oh, my goodness. Astounding.

::sniffle::

Posted by: tree hugging sister at December 12, 2007 03:01 PM

*wild applause for Jeanne and Larry*


No surprise the media is keeping this story low key. Can't have the public knowing that armed citizens are an effective counter to lone homicidal nuts.

Posted by: Gunslinger at December 12, 2007 04:57 PM

Esp armed church members.

Posted by: Crusader at December 13, 2007 12:39 AM