In Omaha, Nebraska, a father had to pull his lawfully owned firearm, and having been a concealed carry permit holder for about four years, he commented, “I never, never ever expected to ever touch my gun. But I’m exceptionally thankful that I had it.”

Scott Tafoya’s wife and 2 daughters were there to get a special outfit for one of his daughters’ baptism. “Every indication said our lives were in danger and I was going to do everything in my power to make sure we got out of there OK.”

“I knew that if I ever pulled that out it would truly be a life and death situation and I would deal with the consequences later,” he said.

Although he’s a legal concealed carry permit holder, Westroads Mall is a weapon-free zone. Weapons free zones are areas prohibited to carry a legally owned firearm but also commonplace for shootings to take place. There is a lot of controversy over gun-free zones and many people consider they make the zones less safe not safer.

As soon as the police arrived, he unloaded it and put it back in the holster, where it was very visible that the slide was locked open. I put my permit in my hands and my hands above my head,” he said. Scott said police allowed him to leave without facing any charges. Scott said, “I don’t condone anyone breaking the law. I made the decision that was right for my family, and I stand behind it. I may still get in trouble for it, if I do, it was worth it,” he said. Tafoya said gun-free zones put people at risk. “I do not want to be carrying a weapon ever. It’s not comfortable, I don’t like it, I wish there was not a need for it,”

Get trained and be prepared to protect the ones around you.

By Brian Armstrong

CCL Firearms Instructor

Redline Concealed Carry