7 years ago today: January 12, 2017, former felon Thomas Yoxall, thanks to restored gun rights, saves the life of an AZ State Trooper by shooting his assailant

Citizen who killed trooper's assailant: "I was put there by God."

*8 years ago

This is hopefully a story many individuals here remember. A convicted felon who served his time and probation, and turned his life around. In 2003, he appealed to a judge to have his felony conviction erased and have his gun rights restored. That judge did both.

14 years later, after dutifully carrying and training with his firearm for years, Yoxall was the only driver out of many to stop and assist an AZ State Trooper who had been shot and was being beaten to death on the side of the road.

Yoxall gave a heartfelt press conference a few days later which is worth listening/watching if you have not already. One primary reason for this conference was to acknowledge his past as a convicted felon and to recognize he does not look like the stereotypical law abiding gun owner.

I believe this is an important reminder to all us: we all come from different backgrounds, and regardless of how we look or how we speak, the right to keep and bear arms and lawfully defend ourselves and others crosses all barriers that might otherwise exist.

Thank you to people like Thomas Yoxall who take that right seriously, and who train their bodies and minds diligently for a day which hopefully will never come.