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Mom who shot intruder becomes part of national gun debate
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NRA draws attention to story as example of responsible gun ownership
- Duration 8:12
- Date Jan 10, 2013
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NRA draws attention to story as example of responsible gun ownership
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-- -- learning more now after a terrifying home invasion and after a mother uses a gun to shoot an intruder and protect the children inside of her home.
Police have released the 911 call that her husband made.
After hearing the shots fired to the phone.
Elizabeth friends live in Atlanta on this story now what happened -- have been.
Well Melinda -- was home alone with her children last Friday when she called her husband Donnie he was at work in Atlanta.
They -- about 45 minutes west of Atlanta she heard an intruder break into her home that's when she called her husband.
The phone call that you're listening to is -- 911 call between the husband.
And the operator he was on another phone with his wife.
Now keep in mind he had just taken his wife to a gun range to teacher hot -- this guy and listen.
-- -- -- A parish church black.
Remember everything that I showed you everything you are talking aren't.
She shouted shoot shoot.
Shoot shoot and to.
Shoot shoot shoot shoot photos.
-- -- -- -- She came -- he added that.
She -- at her she shot at a lot.
Now police say Melinda -- shot Paul Slater five times even hitting in the face the mug -- that we have.
Is from 2008.
-- just be clear in this Elizabeth so he's talking the 911 operator on one phone.
And listening to his wife on the other is that right.
Yes so he was the work and he had he comment -- -- for his life and he stayed on the phone.
With his wife at the time sort of getting through to her calming her down ruled that she was in an addict with her two.
Nine year old children at the time as far as an an update as Slater is concerned we did speak with the medical center.
And they can't release any information in regards to his condition we have heard multiple media reports.
That he is still alive but keep in mind he was shot.
Several times in the face in the torso area according.
To the police report in fact we have a little bit more that nine on one phone call listen here.
I hurt a lot of screaming right.
Solution she -- Notion we should -- it right right.
I heard him.
Pleading.
-- is he was that he was extremely.
Now she and her children did run to a neighbor's home after the incident and all three of them are unharmed but obviously very shaken Elizabeth Brent thank you when that story out of Atlanta.
Martha has more incredible stories -- meanwhile the NRA.
Is drawing new attention to this woman's story as an example of how guns -- protects citizens it's a hot debate.
Let's bring in Doug -- former pollster to President Bill Clinton and and Monica Crowley radio talk show host both of boxes into -- good morning you guys -- -- your fitness oriented -- what -- story I mean a interviewer to craft a scenario where you would you know make a good argument for someone -- and -- and what are the chances that she just recently went to that.
Good range for their husband that she just went over all this stuff other husband and then someone tries to break into their home but.
-- you -- what what it would take away from us this is -- to -- instantly become and I think unwittingly become an example of responsible gun ownership.
I mean the reason that they had a handgun in their home and by the way they kept it very safely they kept it in an actual -- -- was for this very kind of scenario -- -- lives and their property was being threatened -- and in this case she was working from home and they came up to the front door.
Burst into the house -- grabbed her two children Martha ran upstairs locked herself in a room and then in a bathroom.
Called her husband who called 911 they did everything correctly in this intruder came and I'm not sure whether or not he was armed.
But in any case she had every right to defend herself for children and her property and she didn't and a creepy thing is that that he he opened the door according to -- report that I read.
Where she was hiding and then she started firing at him so he was clearly looking for people.
In the house you know he wasn't just looking to come in and grab some money off the Dresser and take off dad -- -- he he -- it it appears that he intended to do harmful to end and -- the -- saver got clear of herself and her family.
That's very clear -- what Monica's that is exactly right there is a good case for responsible gun.
Ownership -- what we're talking about those of us.
Who support gun violence prevention legislation is to end irresponsible.
Gun ownership is why we need better coordination and more universal.
Background checks I really don't believe assault weapons have any place.
In.
Being owned and I think these high capacity magazine should dial.
Gun ownership is -- this woman.
Absolutely -- Herman is a hero.
And I regard her as such I'm not against responsible.
Gun ownership I'm against owning guns that have no place.
In society.
You know one -- the posit this dialogue is that it has it has dissolved into this in -- sort of frenzy you've got.
Places like gawker and this journal news printing the names and addresses in some cases of people who are legal gun owners in these different communities.
Adding that gets us away and -- you're -- us back to what the conversation is really supposed to be focused on.
It gets us away from it though Monica you know where -- -- is leading.
Yeah we're ending up focused on the wrong thing and in in few of these tragedies the word case the new town shooting in these are horrendous tragedies and everybody's heart goes out to the victims and their families in these cases.
But what usually happens is.
In response that is disproportional and is also a not a particularly appropriate because we have an emotional response.
And what we end up doing is intruding on basic freedoms Second Amendment freedoms and we end up focusing -- on people like mrs.
Herman.
Law abiding citizens rather than focusing on the actual criminals in these I mean he's -- he can't help but be struck by the fact that because she had a gun.
She was able to protect yourself and a famine as the factor regardless of how you feel.
About guns in homes that is that fact and when you look back at Adam lancet.
The only thing that stopped him.
From from emptying that gun and those bullets into more children was that he saw a policeman coming -- some of the gun.
That's what stopped him and that's what changed the dynamic in new town that morning and -- -- on the net asset that we all have to you know think about so it raises this question of arming guards in schools I mean what we're this is serious debate we really need to ask.
Did to me with the NRA said maybe a small.
Part of the problem but I don't think that armed guards.
In schools is the whole answer I think we do need to do medical help me ask you this would you want would you want to have somebody with a gun a guard.
At your child's school after what happened there.
Well it certainly has -- trying to say.
Part of the solution.
And but I don't think it's the whole solution.
I think we have to do mental health.
Counseling I think we have to control the culture violent video games and yes I think we have to do gun control.
And do better background -- and get rid of the high capacity magazines I think we need to do it all I'm glad the NRA is meeting with the vice president and I look forward to seeing the vice president's recommendation.
Monica last well we have to see him in the vice president yesterday.
And caused quite a controversy when he said that executive orders are executive authority might be invoked in this case.
To do something on gun control and I think that -- a lot of people that this administration might over reach what have to -- but.
I think acting in an extreme way -- in an emotional way as a response to these tragedies is absolutely the wrong thing and when you.