**Two Tennessee men face eviction after defending their homes and families from car thieves who opened fire. These heroes took action and now face potential homelessness, raising questions about the rights of law-abiding citizens.**
On May 22, Terrance Montgomery and Cedric Verner, residents of a Raleigh, Memphis apartment complex, defended their homes from would-be car thieves. Montgomery received a call from a neighbor who alerted him that his girlfriend’s red Hyundai, previously stolen and recovered, was being targeted again. Wearing flip-flops and armed with a gun, Montgomery confronted the suspects in a white vehicle.
The criminals opened fire in response to Montgomery’s weapon, nearly hitting children sleeping in a nearby apartment. Both Montgomery and Verner, whose children were endangered, exchanged gunfire with the assailants. They insist they acted in self-defense, firing four to five shots in response to the suspects’ aggression.
Neither man has been charged with a crime. But now, they have received eviction notices from their apartment complex, accusing them of being a nuisance and threatening the safety of other residents. “We were protecting ourselves,” said Montgomery.
Verner, frustrated with the situation, claimed that a representative from Avery Park, the leasing company that owns the apartments, told him he “can’t stop anyone from coming on the premises and trying to steal anything” from him.
The two men are fighting the eviction in General Sessions Civil Court, forcing a judge to decide on the matter before they can be forced out of their homes. The suspects from the white car remain unidentified, and Avery Park has not responded to requests for comment.
**Justice must prevail for these brave men, who were merely defending their families and property against criminals. The question remains: Why are law-ab