Grandma with a gun again. Laugh or Cry.

The official reaction has begun, and Grandma Beatrice Turner -- who pulled a pistol, fired it, and scared off a thug who broke into her living room -- it s getting her hand subtly slapped by Des Moines bureaucrats in charge of diminishing public safety.

Let's start on a positive note, smiling approvingly at street cops who answered the call:

In most shootings, police confiscate the gun while they sort things out. Not on Tuesday. According to Turner, police helped her reload the handgun and left it in her possession. "There were about six officers here," (Beatrice. 89) said. "All of them were hugging me and telling me how brave I was."

That was about the limit of governmental good sense. County Attorney John Sarcone decided not to prosecute, but he couldn't resist a sniff of disapproval. He said homeowners shooting at home invaders was very, very unusual. He stopped short of giving evidence that he bestirred what neurons he possesses into making the connection between a low rate of blasting home invaders and the high incidence of home invasions, including many enhanced by beatings, murders, and/or your occasional case of rape, either planned or opportunistic.

However, Police Sgt. Lori Lavorato -- the department's shrieksperson -- deserves most of our scorn unless she's just mouthing idiocies under orders from Higher.

She "issued a caution about the use of deadly force."

The warning was, as you would expect, aimed at law-abiding folks, experience having shown that warning thugs not to use force tends to be a less-than-ideal anti-crime endeavor. Sgt. Lori continues:

Turner "took the course of action she felt she had to," Lavorato said. "By no means do we condone shooting at a burglar.

What do you condone, Lori? Maybe a call to 911 while the guy is ripping your stepins with one hand while holding a knife to your throat with the other as you hope the arrival of police will be somewhat more prompt than usual?

More: But she could have become a victim in a situation like that."

Lori, gol dang it, when it's Oh Dark Thirty and when a stranger has smashed in the door of your living room and won't leave even after you tell him nicely to get out or get his balls shot off you are ALREADY A VICTIM. Pardon me for shouting. I just feel somewhat strongly on the point .