Guns save lives. We say that over and over, and we provide a mountain of data to prove it, but some people refuse to see it that way. They look at the numbers and apparently read it as “Blah, blah, blah” or something. So we tend to share stories of people defending themselves to prove that it does happen and isn’t some clever manipulation of data.

You know, like this woman in South Carolina who killed an alleged attacker with a shotgun.

Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler said a Gaffney man was shot and killed during an alleged home invasion early Friday morning.

Fowler said a woman shot and killed Charles Shannon Alley, 41, of Tansi Trail after he forced his way into a home while armed and began fighting with another man in the house.

“According to witness statements Alley knocked on the door of a residence armed with a shotgun at 112 Piney Knob Drive in Gaffney about 3:25 a.m.,” Fowler said. “When a male answered the door, Alley allegedly pushed his way inside and began to fight with the resident while threatening to do harm to another male and female also present. While engaged in the altercation, Alley was allegedly shot in the head by the female resident.”

Tim Anthony, the homeowner, said when he opened the door, two men tried to force their way in.

“I went to crack the door open and they barged, at least two of them, barged through the door and knocked me through the wall,” Anthony said.

Anthony said his girlfriend fired two shots at Alley while they were struggling in the middle of the living room.

Frankly, I can’t feel a lot of sympathy for the dearly departed. If he tried to force his way into someone else’s home, he got what he deserved.

More importantly, Anthony and his girlfriend are fine, and the attacker isn’t.

This is what happens hundreds of thousands of times every year. People use a firearm to end an attack, keeping themselves and others safe, far more often than a gun is used to take a life. Though, it’s important to note that many aren’t like this one; in most cases, the weapon isn’t even fired.

Regardless, guns save lives. In this case, it saved two lives. Anyone who doesn’t think that Charles Shannon Alley, based on what witnesses are saying, didn’t want to hurt people is deluding themselves. He wasn’t alone, and his companion may well rethink his life choices after seeing his partner get blasted by a woman with a shotgun.

Additionally, this is a signal to other would-be home invaders in the area to reevaluate their methods.

Let’s be clear. We’ll never end crime.

However, if criminals decide it’s too risky to confront citizens directly, they’ll hopefully either find lawful employment or at least start resorting to crimes that don’t risk the average citizen’s safety.

Cases like this don’t just keep these two people safe; it works to keep a lot of people safe.

It’s just a shame it was necessary at all.