From: [self defense owner] at [shell.portal.com] Date: Fri, 16 Jun 1995 13:44:41 -0700 Subject: SDN MI Detroit 1995 06 14 Sender: [self defense owner] at [shell.portal.com] Precedence: bulk Reply-To: Followup-To: [self defense editors] at [shell.portal.com] WHAT: Woman Defends Herself with Revolver WHEN: Wednesday, 14 June 1995 WHERE: Detroit, Michigan APPEARED: Ann Arbor News, Detroit Free Press, AP Michigan State Newswire CONFIRMED: Scott at Detroit Free Press City Desk, 313-222-6600 Detroit Police Department, 313-596-2200 BRIEF DETAILS Sheila Cole, owner of a hair salon, was attacked as she was headed to the bank to deposit roughly $1000 in receipts. When the 24-year-old criminal tugged at her purse, it ripped open - and her .38 caliber revolver fell to the ground. Cole grabbed the handgun and shot the criminal twice; onlookers then "beat and kicked" him until police arrived. He was charged with robbery and is still in police custody. Cole was questioned and released without being charged. Police retained her revolver as evidence; Cole immediately purchased a replacement. "People have got to get tough with this stuff," Cole said. "All those years I've had the gun, I never, ever thought I'd shoot somebody." But, she continued, "I'd do it again. You bet I would. I'm glad I stopped him. He'll not do that again to someone else. "My advice is 'Don't be afraid to protect yourself.'" COMMENTS Another case of a woman protecting herself with a handgun. The fact that she was able to "immediately" purchase a replacement handgun indicates that she has a Michigan Concealed Weapons permit (which waives the Brady Act's waiting period). But what if she had not been prepared? What if this had been Washington DC or New York City? What if Michigan had not been "willing" to issue her a permit? In Washington DC or New York City, where handguns supposedly don't exist, this would have been just another victim injured - or worse - while the criminal roamed free to attack others. Instead, it's a Detroit success story where a private citizen used her handgun to defend herself and help the police take the criminal off the streets.