Featured Gunman Kills at Least a Dozen People – Armed Citizens Help Stop Him Recoil Staff August 3, 2016 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More A gunman wielding an array of rifles and shotguns shot and killed at least a dozen people in Texas on Monday, including an unborn baby, four 18 year old college students and the first police officer on the scene. One of the victims was killed at a distance of nearly half a kilometer. Over 30 people were wounded, many dragged to safety behind cover provided by an armored car donated to the Austin Police Department by a local security company. As the gunfire continued, a local man few armed citizens with rifles (reportedly including a graduate student with an M1 carbine and two fraternity brothers with deer rifles) began attempting to suppress the gunman — responding APD, Travis County Sheriffs deputies and Texas DPS troopers being unable to adequately respond with their services pistols and shotguns. Take note of that: responding law enforcement officers were assisted by armed citizens, who were later credited with saving many lives. “Find a student with a high-powered scoped rifle in his apartment a few blocks away, drive him to get it, drive to a nearby hardware store and procure some ammunition for the rifle and drive to a building just south of the tower and mall…He asks what if he should get a beed [sic] on one of the snipers,” McCoy wrote, “and I tell him to shoot the [expletive] out of him.” Officer H. McCoy, Austin PD, describing his actions during the shooting. Approximately an hour and a half after the shooting began, three police officers and one (now deputized) armed citizen confronted the gunman and killed him, ending the carnage. Gunman Kills at Least a Dozen People in Texas Take five minutes to watch this. The gunman was Charles Whitman. This past Monday, August 1st, 2016 was the 50th anniversary of the University of Texas tower murders. It was also the day Texas became the eight state in the country that allows college students to bring guns onto college campuses. Are students in your area allowed to exercise their Second Amendment right? Read about the events of that day in detail here on the Austin-American Statesman. If you're unfamiliar with the story, or would like to read a reminder, check out this piece from the Washington Post. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
