| The Rock was patrolling the well-to-do | | | | if he would have had a gun he might have at |
| neighborhood, which bordered a high crime | | | | least been able to scare them away by firing |
| area in the major midwestern city. The | | | | a shot at them. "They may have turned or ran |
| veteran policeman felt relaxed as he drove | | | | away instead of trying to fight-gun-to gun" |
| through the beautiful tree lined streets that | | | | the Rock said. He also told him that with a |
| were home to some of the grandest houses in | | | | gun he could have made a powerful stand in |
| the country. His relaxation ended quickly | | | | the bedroom as they were breaking down the |
| when Dispatch cracked out a call of a | | | | door. |
| possible home invasion right around the | | | | |
| corner. Patrolman Thomas Rakoczy was only | | | | Thankfully, the four criminals were caught a |
| seconds away. He was known as the Rock | | | | few weeks later and sentenced to around 15 |
| because he was as hard, strong and tough as | | | | years in prison. Later, the father told |
| one. He was the kind of cop you wanted at | | | | Rakoczy that all through his life he was |
| your home if you needed serious help. | | | | against guns and thought they were a terrible |
| | | | problem in our society. However, after what |
| The Rock arrived at the home and began to | | | | he and his family went through and after a |
| evaluate the scene as he walked toward the | | | | lot of soul searching and thought, he had |
| door. He entered the house and soon found | | | | changed his mind. He said he now understood |
| two adults and two teenage girls tied up. | | | | the need and availability for the best |
| Other officers also arrived and no one else | | | | protection available for people, which are |
| was found in the house. Rakoczy began | | | | firearms. He eventually bought a gun, |
| untying the family, starting with the man | | | | received training and said he was ready to |
| first. As he was untying him the disheveled | | | | protect himself and others if need be, for |
| middle-aged man hurriedly spouted out what | | | | the rest of his life. |
| had happened. Four men had broken down the | | | | |
| front door (in broad daylight) and started up | | | | There are of course horror stories on the |
| the long staircase leading to him and his | | | | other side of the gun controversy. Ones such |
| family. | | | | as children gaining access to unsecured |
| | | | firearms and accidentally injuring or killing |
| He said he saw the men coming up the stairs | | | | others or themselves. And of course there |
| with guns in hand but he couldn't do anything | | | | are the stories of troubled individuals using |
| to stop them. So he quickly gathered his | | | | firearms to cause mass casualties and deaths |
| family and locked them in the master bedroom. | | | | in public places. However, there are the |
| He said they found them hiding there in less | | | | very real stories of people protecting |
| than a minute. | | | | themselves with firearms against burglars, |
| | | | rapists and other predators. There's no |
| As he continued, he started to cry and told | | | | doubt firearms are the best self-defense tool |
| how they all were immediately tied up. Then | | | | available for the private citizen. However, |
| they started leisurely burglarizing the home, | | | | and this is a big however, firearms come with |
| seemingly in no hurry whatsoever. After they | | | | many different levels of serious |
| bagged-up everything they deemed worthwhile, | | | | responsibility. |
| things really got bad. | | | | |
| | | | The father who changed his views on firearms |
| They took turns raping both daughters in | | | | shows us there is more than one side to an |
| front of him and his wife. The man was | | | | issue, which may change as time, |
| beside himself as he told what had happened. | | | | circumstances, knowledge and experiences |
| The Rock told me the mother was so bad off | | | | evolve. This story can help us understand, |
| she was almost totally incoherent. She | | | | that all of us, no matter what are feelings |
| hadn't been physically touched, but she | | | | are on this controversial subject, should |
| witnessed what happened to her daughters. | | | | step back and listen to those with differing |
| | | | views with dignity and respect. All |
| The father kept repeating that he just | | | | differing people have viable thoughts and |
| couldn't do anything to help them. Nervously | | | | ideas and should be reasonably listened to. |
| he asked, "Officer, please tell me, if I | | | | Whether it's the hugely important issue of |
| would have had a gun do you think I could | | | | how mentally unstable individuals can be |
| have helped my family"? Rakoczy didn't want | | | | weeded out from owning firearms to the many |
| to render his opinion at such an emotional | | | | other issues people differ on. Respect and |
| time, but the man pushed him. "I want the | | | | true empathy for others views are the |
| truth, could I have helped"? After more and | | | | cornerstones to building workable solutions |
| more prodding, the Rock finally told him that | | | | for all. |