http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43794799/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/
Quote
Congressman, grandson fight off armed intruder
77-year-old Rep. Boswell wrestles man who attacked his daughter at Iowa farm home; grandson grabs a shotgun
DES MOINES, Iowa — An eight-term congressman from Iowa helped fight off an armed man who invaded his farm house in Decatur County and attacked his daughter on Saturday night, according to a statement from his office.
The attack occurred around 10:45 p.m. on Saturday at a farm in Lamoni, where Rep. Leonard Boswell, a 77-year-old Democrat who represents Iowa's third congressional district, was spending the weekend with his wife, Dody, 77, daughter, Cynthia Brown, and grandson, Mitchell Brown, 22.
"The intruder entered the front door of the farm house and physically assaulted Cindy while demanding money at gunpoint," read the statement from Boswell's office.
After hearing his daughter's screams, the congressman "entered the walkway of their house and immediately went for the guy's gun and was wrestling with him. They were both on the ground," Boswell's chief of staff Grant Woodard told local news station KCCI.
While the two scuffled, Boswell's grandson Mitchell grabbed a loaded .12-gauge shotgun from a nearby room and confronted the intruder, who then fled into the surrounding field and reportedly was still on the run.
"That was my daughter. This guy had his hand on her throat and a gun to her face. If he was going to shoot somebody, I preferred that he shoot me," Boswell said in an interview with easterniowagovernment.com.
Boswell praised his entire family for their "grit" and "determination" in fighting off the attacker.
"The congressman just did what anybody would do if he knew his family was in trouble," said Woodard. "He jumped right into the situation and helped his daughter."
Boswell lives in Des Moines and owns the farm in southern Iowa. He is recovering from a broken rib suffered during the incident.
"I wanted a piece of him. He was threatening somebody I care for very much," Boswell told reporters at a Statehouse news conference, according to easterniowagovernment.com.
The Decatur County Sheriff's Department and state and federal authorities are investigating. The sheriff's department said Saturday that the intruder had not been caught. The attacker is still at large.
Decatur County Sheriff Herbert Muir said "we might" have a suspect in mind. "We have a direction we're going," Muir said, according to easterniowagovernment.com.
"The congressman says the military is the best training for situations like this," said Woodard, referring to Boswell's 20-year military career. "It's a wakeup call to everybody to take precautions and do what they need to do to keep their family safe."
Normally, tackling a person with a firearm is not considered wise, but kudos to the grandson for thinking quickly. I have to guess he saw some opening that allowed him to intervene without getting the woman killed. Otherwise, he could have made it worse.
Should have pumped a couple rounds into the intruder.
How much is a gauge?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 19, 2011, 05:25:15 PM
How much is a gauge?
In theory, a 12-gauge shotgun has a barrel that could take a ball weighing 1/12th of a pound; a 20-gauge 1/20th of a pound. A .12-gauge would be more commonly referred to as a large 8-pound cannon.
:lol:
An informative thread :cool:
Quote from: grumbler on July 19, 2011, 05:46:47 PM
A .12-gauge would be more commonly referred to as a large 8-pound cannon.
:lol:
Quote from: grumbler on July 19, 2011, 05:46:47 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 19, 2011, 05:25:15 PM
How much is a gauge?
In theory, a 12-gauge shotgun has a barrel that could take a ball weighing 1/12th of a pound; a 20-gauge 1/20th of a pound. A .12-gauge would be more commonly referred to as a large 8-pound cannon.
If only Nelson had had men of his caliber at Trafalgar....
Well if the assailant ran off into a field a cannon might be the appropriate weapon to stop him.
Old man must be in great shape for his age.
Hilarious gun gaffe. :D
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 19, 2011, 05:59:21 PM
Quote from: grumbler on July 19, 2011, 05:46:47 PM
A .12-gauge would be more commonly referred to as a large 8-pound cannon.
:lol:
You can see why the perp ran so fast.
One gets this image of the youngster in full Napoleonic rig and finally getting to use his replica Gribeauval 8-pounder :D
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on July 20, 2011, 05:20:26 PM
One gets this image of the youngster in full Napoleonic rig and finally getting to use his replica Gribeauval 8-pounder :D
A traditionalist who refused to convert to the 6-pounder of the System of Year XI. :yes:
Intruders have been taken in to custody.