I do not own a gun.
I am, however, glad that Dr. Lee Silverman does.
The good doctor, as we all now know, very likely saved lives when he pulled his own weapon and stopped Richard Plotts from doing even more damage after the troubled man pulled out a gun during an appointment with Dr. Silverman last Thursday at the Wellness Center at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital.
Dr. Silverman's reaction, unfortunately, came too late for caseworker Theresa Hunt, who was shot at point-blank range by Plotts.
Both Yeadon Chief Don Molineaux and Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan said they believe Silverman's action saved lives.
I will not disagree with them.
I don't know if I am ready to join those forces who insist that the only way to take down a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.
But I am glad Dr. Silverman did what he did, even if it was in apparent violation of hospital policy.
Plotts was a convicted felon who was not legally entitled to possess a gun. How's that working out for us. It is not the first time he's broken this particular law. His long criminal record includes charges of a convicted felon in possession of a gun.
That's the problem with using laws to deal with the gun problem in this country.
If someone wants to get a gun, they will do so. Passing a law is not going to change that.
So where does that leave us?
I'm not sure.
Except for this.
Thank you, Dr. Silverman.
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