CCW Stands up to Protect at Town Square "Shooting"

Rayvon Berton, LVMPD

​During the fears of an active shooter on the loose at Town Square in Las Vegas, a legal concealed carrier on the patio at Yard House rose up to defend his fellow diners, if it had been necessary.
 
A parent posted on Nextdoor what his daughter saw during dinner. “At that moment a man at a table next to them stood up, put his hand on his hip and told everyone to crawl into the restaurant and seek shelter and he, a licensed carrier would protect them.” Having no obligation to do so, this brave, anonymous man took charge and was ready to defend strangers against the gunman.
 
No gunman came. According to police, Rayvon Berton got into a fight at Gameworks (located across from Yard House) and eventually pulled out the gun he was not licensed to carry. Police arrested him for assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed weapon. Several others were arrested. Last year, a man was arrested for threatening to shoot up a movie at the AMC theater nearby.
 
Though witnesses reported that they heard gunshots, no evidence of that was found. Witness reports in the middle of such hysteria are often inaccurate. Imagine a giant game of telephone with lots of screaming and loud noises.
 
Town Square is known to trespass open carriers and their parent company is believed to be anti-gun. Gun free policies do not keep unlicensed hot heads like Rayvon Berton from carrying illegally or brandishing their handguns. The laws against fighting, brandishing, and assaulting others with deadly weapons certainly failed to keep Berton in check Friday night.
 
Legally armed citizens often feel themselves called under such circumstances to shepherd the defenseless as our anonymous hero would have done. You are the protector of yourself, your friends and family, and those around you. Gun free zones protect no one but criminals. Depend on no one else.
 
Thanks to Gavin for the tip.

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