Old Men as Victims

James Pickett was minding his own business on Saturday, February 9, 2008, when Paul and Holden Perry showed up at his door. They had a knife. "He just came through that door, stabbing and beating," said Pickett. The two criminals may have had plans to kill Pickett. They definitely had plans to injure and rob him.

The 80 year old North Texan had other plans. He had a gun. James Pickett pulled his handgun from a pocket and began to fight for his life. The Perry brothers immediately saw they had misjudged their intended prey. They turned tail and ran like the cowards they were. A bullet barely missed Paul Perry's spine. Paul Perry is in the hospital. Holden Perry is in police custody. Both brothers face assault, burglary and robbery charges. They should be facing attempted murder charges.

"The only problem was I run out of bullets," Picket said.

The news media is making a point to say Pickett is "a WWII veteran, former firefighter and lifelong John Wayne devotee." That is well and good. Criminals should be advised that he is no different from many old men. James Pickett has lived his life, he has lived his life honorably, he despises criminal youth, and he has accepted that he will die. He knows it is not a matter of how we die, but rather how we live. And that is a man you do not want to jack with.