(The Center Square) – The shooting of an alleged armed robber by an Illinois concealed-carry license holder at an Orland Park gas station highlights the potential role of lawfully armed citizens during violent encounters, according to John Boch of Guns Save Life.
Boch said the surveillance video made the circumstances particularly clear to him.
“The thug thought he was going to win the confrontation, and he thought wrong, because of course the victim, he had a gun too, and he got a vote in the matter,” Boch said.
“Instead of being a victim, the concealed-carry holder ended up just being a witness and survived it uninjured,” he said.
Orland Park police said a citizen was pumping gas at a Shell station in the 15100 block of Harlem Avenue around 9 a.m. Tuesday when an individual attempted an armed robbery. The CCL holder fired a handgun, striking the suspect. The citizen was not injured and cooperated with investigators.
The suspect was taken to a hospital.
Boch said the incident demonstrates why he believes concealed carry can provide an option for people confronted by an armed attacker.
“It means they're not a defenseless victim and the bad guys don't get a run rough shot over them without fear of meaningful resistance,” Boch said.
“The gun obviously provided the good guy in this case, meaningful resistance against a criminal attack,” he said.
Illinois law permits deadly force when a person reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to themselves or another person, or the commission of a forcible felony.
Boch said understanding those legal requirements is an important part of concealed-carry training.
“Basically, if you have a reasonable fear of death or great bodily injury at that particular moment, you can use lethal force to protect yourself or another innocent,” he said.
Whether deadly force is legally justified depends on the circumstances of each case. The Orland Park investigation remains ongoing.
Boch said Illinois’ concealed-carry training framework addresses the use of force but said the quality of instruction can vary.
“Officially, yes, it does,” Boch said when asked whether the framework prepares license holders for armed attacks. “In the real world, it depends on how good your instructor or instructors are that are delivering the material.”
He also warned Illinois gun owners about misconceptions surrounding self-defense law.
“There are a lot of misconceptions by people who aren't educated in what the law is,” Boch said.
Boch said the surveillance video also appeared to show the CCL holder paying attention to his surroundings before the confrontation escalated.
“To the good guy's credit, he was paying attention to his surroundings,” Boch said.
“Crime happens everywhere,” Boch added. “It doesn't matter how nice your neighborhood is or, you know, how you perceive it. It's everywhere.”
The incident has renewed discussion about concealed carry and self-defense in Illinois as police continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
