July 13, 2020
By Mark Chesnut
An incident in Columbus, Ohio, in which Eldon Hawkins, an elderly man with cerebral palsy, was pulled from his vehicle and beaten by “peaceful protesters” proves not only that all protesters aren’t peaceful, but also that carrying a firearm for protection of self and family is the only way to escape a violent crowd intent on hurting you.
The attack, which was captured on video, shows the man accidentally driving too close to the rioters and getting surrounded by them. When he tried to back up very slowly to escape, he accidentally hit a bicycle that had been pulled up right behind him.
That’s when the crowd began beating on his car, smashing his windows and looting his trunk. When he exited the car to try to reason with them, he was taken aside and physically assaulted, as were some peaceful protesters who tried to help him when they saw things turning violent. In the meantime, several other violent rioters demolished his car.
Columbus police have posted the video of the attack on their YouTube channel and are asking anyone who recognizes the violent attackers for information on their identities.
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“The video documents people engaging in violent behavior directed at a victim with Cerebral Palsy and his vehicle, as well as others who actively came to his rescue and attempted to stop the violence,” CPD said in the message accompanying the video. “Columbus Police is interested in identifying persons of interest responsible for the violence as well as eyewitnesses to include those who came to the victim’s rescue. As documented in the video, many bystanders were recording what unfolded. The Columbus Police asks anyone with info or video evidence regarding this incident to come forward.”
The video was posted at AR15.com, and those viewing it were outraged—just as they should have been with such an attack.
Comments ranged from, “Eventually, we’ll see video of the wrong guy being chosen,” to, “One shot and they will all want to be somewhere else screaming that they are victims and have PTSD.” Another viewer of the video posted, “I think a jury in my state would believe that guy’s life was in danger and, therefore, game on. I would.”
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Comments aside, suffice it to say that a person in a similar situation with a firearm and the knowledge of how to properly use it is in a far better position to escape such an attack unharmed than an unarmed victim is. While it’s likely that someone using a firearm in such a case would be roundly trashed in the media in this era of coddling violent criminals in the name of “protests,” this incident seems like one of those situations where the old axiom, “Rather be judged by 12 than carried by six,” might be most appropriate.
Armed self-defense laws and Second Amendment rights don’t go out the window just because people call themselves peaceful protesters. And while there are many peaceful protesters demonstrating throughout the country, it’s the violent criminals in their midst using protests to commit violent assaults that we all must watch out for.
Freelance writer and editor Mark Chesnut is the owner/editorial director at Red Setter Communications LLC. An avid hunter, shooter and political observer, he has been covering Second Amendment issues and politics on a near-daily basis for the past 20 years.
