Wounded jeweler fights back.(EXERCISING THE RIGHT)

Nancy Uptain, the wife of the owner of Christopher Jewelry, told reporters two days after armed robbers hit the store: "This is a small family business and we had two men come in here trying to completely destroy this family's lives--they were going to take their [other family members'] lives." The endangered family members included Rusty Uptain of Chandler, Arizona, his wife, and his adult son Chris, according to accounts in the Arizona Republic.

Nancy also said about the December 20 robbery: "Rusty doesn't want someone like that to come in and take away his dreams. He's just not going to let that happen. It's because of our freedom to have protection for ourselves that this family is still alive."

According to Nancy, one of the thieves, upon entering the store, immediately shot pepper spray in Chris's face, and then chased Chris to the back of the store. She said one of the men lifted his gun to shoot at Chris, hut before he could, "Rusty tackled the guy with a gun in his hand, and (the robber) was shooting as he tackled him." Rusty then grabbed his own gun, and the two shot each other.

Detective ...