Father wishes he had shot girl's attacker

[Spoonman]

<snip>
Otto Bruun says that at the time he fired a warning shot to ward off an intruder, he didn't realize the man had choked his daughter unconscious moments earlier.

Had he known, he would have shot the intruder, Bruun said yesterday.

"Every parent I've talked to said they would have shot him. It's the basic instinct to protect your child," said the Marysville man.

<snip>
Bruun said he has had his 9-mm handgun for 10 years. He said this is the only time he's had to use the gun to protect his family, adding, "Guns are as safe as the individuals holding them."

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=chok18n&date=20000418