first-hand account

Last month, Ben Goeser was shot and murdered in a bar in Nashville. Neither Mr. Goeser, nor his murderer had Handgun Carry Permits, but Nicole Goeser did… and was forced to leave her firearm in the car, given Tennessee’s current laws barring handguns from restaurants that serve alcohol. However, that law did not stop Mr. Goeser’s murderer from carrying a firearm into the establishment, nor did any other laws stop this disgusting criminal from shooting Mr. Goeser repeatedly, for no good reason whatsoever (police believe the murderer was infatuated with Mrs. Goeser).
A few days ago, Nicole Goeser left the following two comments on a forum I read occasionally:

I am Nicole Goeser. The widow of Benjamin Felix Goeser. Please read…….

My husband was gunned down right infront of me at Jonny’s Sports Bar here in the Nashville area. I cannot talk about the specifics of the case but I can tell you how I feel about the Restaurant Carry Bill that is awaiting Governor Phil Bredesen’s signature……

The current legislation before the state of Tennessee is vital to the safety of it’s citizens. My husband Ben Goeser was murdered right infront of me on April 2nd 2009 at Jonny’s Sports Bar. Please contact your State Representatives including Governor Phil Bredesen, and tell them about what happened to Ben. If I could have been allowed to carry my gun that night (because I do have a permit) perhaps I could have saved him. I can tell you that the odds would have been more in our favor. I had to leave my gun locked in my car in the parking lot that night because we have a law in place right now that makes innocent people “targets” and “helpless” and at the mercy of people with horrible intentions. People that have gone through PROPER TRAINING, A COMPLETE BACKGROUND CHECK, registered their weapon and have the permit should be allowed to carry a concealed gun for their own protection and protection of loved ones as long as they are NOT under the influence of alcohol. Just remember….when seconds count, the police are minutes away. I am proud of all police officers and the risk they face everyday but those officers CANNOT be everywhere at anytime and everytime. Many times the police get there and someone has already been killed. That is what happened to my wonderful husband Ben. Bad guys don’t care about Laws. Let good citizens have the ability to protect themselves and their families. I never want anyone I love to be a target again. Never again. Proper training is key. Properly trained individuals will not take a risky shot and act irresponsibly, if they do and someone innocent is hurt or killed, they will face justice for it. It’s not good people that we need to fear, it’s bad people with the intent to kill innocent individuals. I would like to point out that less than 1% of any gun crimes are ever committed by a permitted individual. Let’s face it, look at the DC gun death rate, it is one of the HIGHEST in the country. There are NO GUNS ALLOWED THERE. Innocent people are murdered there at astounding rates. How can that be if strict gun laws keep us safe? Please, help me wake these lawmakers up. I need your help. If there is anything you can do for me….please do this. Do this for Ben.

Sincerely,

Nikki Goeser

… and …

I have emailed both Governor Bredesen and his wife. I have also put in a phone call to his office asking if I could briefly meet with him to tell him my story and why this Restaurant Carry Bill is so important and needed. I have however not heard a word. I suppose it makes politicians a little nervous anytime their is a widow around. They are afraid we will be unsensible and overly emotional etc etc….. I have a very good head on my shoulders and I understand the gravity of the situation. I was afterall there when my husband was butchered right infront of my eyes. I am holding up as well as can be expected. I try to do what Ben would want me to do….and that is, take care of myself, get some psychological counseling, be with close friends, take my multi-vitamins (he always hounded me to take them , go to a church that makes me feel good, remember him and appreciate the wonderful love we have for one another, go after my dreams and stand up for what I believe in. My husband bought me my handgun for my birthday last year. That gun should have been used to save his life. It is my goal to help get people in a different mindset. Instead of fearing guns, fear the person behind that gun. A gun cannot pull it’s own trigger. People have car accidents and die and you don’t see people crying…..”NO MORE CARS! LET’S GET RID OF THE CARS!” If someone was killed by being bashed in the head with a hammer you would not hear people saying “No more hammers!” Construction workers would have a pretty hard time building without them It’s not the object, it’s the person. I carry my gun with me most places (where I can legally). I would never hurt anyone with my gun ever unless I felt that my life was threatened or someone elses life was threatened. There are so many people out there that are NOT educated on guns and are afraid for the wrong reasons. uuuuhhhggg.

Nikki Goeser

Obviously, I do not have the means to confirm the identity of the poster or the veracity of her words, but I see no immediate reason to doubt either.
Update: The validity of these comments, and the identity of their poster, has been confirmed to me by someone who met Mrs. Goeser in person.
I find that there is little I can add to Mrs. Goeser’s comments, except to say that my sympathies and prayers are with her.