Exercising the Right
Retired Special Forces
Kens5.com reported on July 22 about a 78-year-old San Antonio homeowner who was forced to take an intruder’s life. Seventy-eight-year-old Bill MacWithey is a retired Special Forces lieutenant colonel and author of over a dozen military-themed novels. MacWithey was home with his wife when they heard someone pounding on the door. The veteran explained to News4 in San Antonio that he had only seconds to react. MacWithey’s wife grabbed the phone to call 911 to report a possible break-in. The pounding got louder, and the door handle broke from the force of the intruder beating on it. MacWithey’s wife handed him a loaded gun and his military training kicked in. With the intruder in the doorway, MacWithey fired at the man, whom he described as a “huge guy.” MacWithey told News4 that there “was no way to stop him but to shoot him.” The bullet hit its mark, and the intruder collapsed at the scene only to later succumb to his injuries. Police soon arrived and discovered the body of the suspect. MacWithey regretted the suspect’s death but felt that he was left with no other choice. “You have a right to protect yourself,” MacWithey told News4.
Retired San Antonio Police Officer Gilbert De La Portilla explained that using deadly force in a self-defense scenario such as this requires rapid response skills. “It’s just very quick, you need to make that decision,” De La Portilla told News4. “When fear kicks in we just don’t know how we are going to react,” he added. De La Portilla suggested that homeowners should make sure their homes are secured with good locks and proper lighting, as well as practice using their guns at least three to four times per year.
Have Faith
FOX59 in Indiana reported on July 6 about a 17-year-old girl whose quick thinking might have saved her life. Faith Shilkett was home alone in the middle of the day when the sound of her dog’s barking alerted her to a stranger standing in front of her house. Faith described the man as “big.” “He was muscular. He looked like he could do damage if he got a hold of you. I was scared if he got in, he could’ve hurt me,” Faith told FOX59. She quickly ran through the house and made sure all of the entrances were locked. The young girl also went into her mother’s bedroom and grabbed a gun. By that point, the man had gone around to the back of the house and tried opening the deck door. After the suspect couldn’t get it to open, he went to the garage door and began moving the handle. Faith yelled at the man from inside the house while he entered the garage. “I stayed back here and I started yelling ‘I’m here. I have a gun. I’m going to shoot,’” she told FOX59. Faith immediately called 911 and waited for police to arrive. She heard the sounds of the man moving around in the garage, and then saw him flee to a nearby vehicle and drive off.
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