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Washington's drugstore cowboys

Armed robberies of Washington State's drugstores and pharmacies are on the rise. Now pharmacists are fighting back with heat of their own. Here is a clip from Seattle's local King-5 news, including video of a pharmacist pulling a Glock on a would-be oxycodone robber.

Posted By jamesk at 2009-05-06 11:49:11 permalink | comments
Tags: drugstore pharmacy crime
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ERICA NIXON. : 2013-02-25 12:12:07
There was a lot of good points but looking in on it it was only a matter of time if the dudes best homie will rob what both of you have created and made your whole life around it and i watch documenteries a few different ones the one where families are growin in there homes and the word gets out n it will then like any other person who has any drug gold a major come up is gettin robed it happens everyday every where and unless your 100% you can pick up a gun and shoot my thought is never even be close to one cuz the other person will take that gun an shoot u with it. i have faith god will protect us the whole world is fighting to survive see i think washington has the most murders in it so why wouldnt they let us sell weed call the police thats a joke carry a gun i hope you can find a bunch of gun trained pot heads i hate to say it but i feel the same people who would get robbed even if they had guns so is this gonna be a deversion to the real issues nice cover up fuck violence but everyone of these places is a target even the big man its sad to take something that helps so many people in all different ways n turn it to a class like pills so sad im just sayin my feelings im nobody just a person who loves weed
Pharmd432. : 2009-08-06 03:17:03
Very nice site!
Sugar. : 2009-06-27 02:47:38
Whatever to all the pill-poppers and junkies up in here! And also how do you NOT know that the pharmacy assistant isn't armed as well, and had already alerted police??? haha. HELLLLLOOOO? We all have the right to defend what we feel is important. What's wrong with that?????????? I say way to go Pharmacy Man!!! We have all had enough of these scumbags running amok! Time to put 'em in check! Too bad those drugs don't kill 'em off sooner. :) The world would be a much happier place!!
Andy. : 2009-05-12 16:33:05
Why do I carry a gun for protection? Because a cop is too HEAVY to carry around all day!
Jason Stanfield. : 2009-05-09 11:54:03
First, I want to recognize KONG for a fine piece of journalism - it's thorough, objective, and thought-provoking with no implicit support or condemnation of its subject matter. National media outlets could learn a lot from this 5 minute piece.

Second, I absolutely agree with what pharmacist Mike Donahue is doing. By taking personal responsibility for the safety of his employees, he has prevented them from being harmed in this rash of pharmacy burglaries. He's not afraid of robbers, because he knows they count on business owners and employees throwing their hands up and allowing themselves to be robbed just because someone points a gun at them. Such behavior only encourages criminals, and could very well be one of the reasons behind this surge in pharmacy robberies.

Contra-Tom. : 2009-05-09 10:29:56
The robbers make the stores less safe not the pharmacists.

In this instance the the pharmacists was wrong to to brandish. He should have waited until the robber clearly was a threat and then put him down.

Tom. : 2009-05-09 07:57:54
This idea of packing heat is not too bright. These crooks have way less to loose! So, the drug makers are making a killing on these drugs on and off the street. Don't ever think that the drug popularity is not secretly promoted by these companies. (bad press is good) Like anything else in the USA. Money is the end all and be all. These drug companies, and the crooks are making out just fine. The goofs that are just tryng to make an honest buck are going to get their ass killed and nobody will care. It is all about the money. He should hang a sign on the door tat says welcome help yourself and collect from the supplier. They will be happy to help!
guest : 2009-05-09 00:21:38
Kevin. : 2009-05-09 00:02:00 "If more law abiding citizens carried guns then there would be less of these scumbags on the street."

I agree with everything you said but that part.
There wouldn't be fewer scumbags. The scumbags would just get bigger or faster guns.

Kevin. : 2009-05-09 00:02:00
What in the hell is extreme about this guy using a gun to defend his business? The anchors twice refered to the use of a gun by a law abiding citizen to defend himself as extreme. If more law abiding citizens carried guns then there would be less of these scumbags on the street. I am amazed at the ignorance of the average person who has never owned a gun. For some reason the person who has a legal right to own a gun and defend his or herself is somehow the nut. You see how fast these things happen. Calling the cops does nothing to stop this from happening. The cops show up after to take reports or draw chalk outlines around the bodies of anti-gun citizens.
JL. : 2009-05-08 22:04:14
SHOOT to stop the threat, don't draw and chase. Now that scumbag will rob & kill someone elsewhere!
GLOCKME. : 2009-05-08 19:03:24
AWESOME!

A safe American is an ARMED AMERICAN!

meat . : 2009-05-08 17:44:14
should of fired!!!
the punk lived to rob again!!
Adam. : 2009-05-08 15:53:43
Also I want to add to the "less toxic" part of the debate (heroin vs. oxycontin), a dealer who will 'cut' your dope with bad shit isn't all you have to worry about when you are injecting street drugs.

When heroin is made, there is a difficult part of the process where if done incorrectly, the batch will separate like water and oil, and can become as much as two times as potent. Severe addicts are likely to overdose, and presently less severe addicts are probably going to replace them.

chicago guy. : 2009-05-08 07:51:29
I don't understand the announcer's comment that customers are exposed to unnecessary dangers. That's due to robbers, not to the employees who are armed.
locked and loaded. : 2009-05-08 02:29:41
Idiot for leaving the store with weapon drawn. He didn't know the perp didn't have an armed partner waiting in the wings; also, unless you're a cop--YOU DON'T CHASE THE THREAT.

drugstore cowboy, fer sure.

guest : 2009-05-08 02:28:57
Idiot for leaving the store with weapon drawn. He didn't know the perp didn't have an armed partner waiting in the wings; also, unless you're a cop--YOU DON'T CHASE THE THREAT.

drugstore cowboy, fer sure.

Chemist. : 2009-05-07 22:03:19
Well done! Cops are great, but when seconds count they are just minutes away!


"Can someone explain to me why you would spend as much as 80$ on a pill when you can go buy some heroin which is stronger, cheaper, and quite possibly less toxic?"

Stronger: No, when smoked, oxycodone is much stronger. When ingested, it's time release features make it less potent.

Less toxic: who do you trust, a drug dealer who's cut your heroin with an unknown compound or a drug company who answers to the FDA

Cheaper: True

Nathan. : 2009-05-07 18:15:12
FARKING WIN!

If I ever own my own business, all of my employees will be given the option to be armed or not.

You have done well, Mr. Pharmacist.

CARRY ON!

-N8
[link]

Winks. : 2009-05-07 16:54:56
Good for the armed pharmacist! I'm certain that employees of Rite-Aid and Walgreens are forbidden to carry a concealed weapon. Those anti-gun policies should be tested. The only person responsible for your safety is you.
guest : 2009-05-07 16:17:25
"While the authorities don't advise taking up arms" That's a great suggestion since the Police are doing a bang up job guarding all the citizens of the US. How about protecting yourself and you loved ones yourself? When seconds count, the Police aren't gonna be there to help. This Pharmacist gets it.
dimwitf. : 2009-05-07 15:15:31
...because jail time costs you more than $80...?
What. : 2009-05-07 14:37:56
8000 dollars for a bottle of oxycotin? Um you're getting ripped off BIG TIME lol it shouldn't be that much
Illinoisan. : 2009-05-07 13:34:00
Too bad Illinois citizens can't carry concealed... seems to be pretty useful in Washington.
dug. : 2009-05-06 15:27:10
Convenience, social stigma, habit...
Jiggly Wiggly. : 2009-05-06 13:51:14
Can someone explain to me why you would spend as much as 80$ on a pill when you can go buy some heroin which is stronger, cheaper, and quite possibly less toxic?

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