Police are looking for 44-year-old John David Baskins of Florence on charges of first-degree arson.
The intended victim reported that Baskins attempted to enter her residence on County Road 8 before throwing bricks through her windows. She fired several shots at her alleged attacker, though it is unclear whether he was struck.
Faced with an armed woman intent on keeping him out of her home, Baskin is accused of then resorting to setting her house ablaze.
It burned to the ground.
While this is not the most positive ending, homes are replaceable. What is irreversibly lost many times is human life, and the presence of a firearm stopped a determined home invader from entering the residence. After all, if a man is willing to set a house on fire and burn it completely down, what is he also capable of doing to the person inside?
Fortunately, the homeowner who defended herself was unharmed.
There are far too many situations where women are attacked by a jilted husband, partner or just a deranged person lacking a reason. These instances many times have tragic consequences, but this ending is avoidable.
As in this recent incident, the presence of a firearm and the guts to use it will more often than not change the mind of an attacker very quickly. Studies show that more and more women are arming themselves in these violent times, and that is a good thing.
Anyone who has a woman they care for should encourage them to be armed and properly trained. It may very well save their life.
