December 23, 2006, 06:34 PM | #1 |
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Shooting the Bad Guy
I live and work in the St. Louis, Missouri area, the highest ranked crime area in the nation and getting worse by the day. As a matter of fact, I live and work in the "heart" of the major crime area(s), namely East St. Louis and North St. Louis, respectively. I work at a hospital in North St. Louis and drive through dangerous neighborhoods at 4:00 A.M. to work. In the previous 5 years I've had several close calls. I can not know the intentions of my experiences other than they were targeted at me and/or my car. In each instance I used "situational awareness" to drive/run away from the threat, and it was successful. The last thing I desire to do, and only do as a last resort if my life is in danger (they can have my property, it can be replaced) is pull my weapon out. If ever my weapon is removed, it WILL go BANG!
This might sound rash or uncaring, but I carry a CW for personal defense of myself and my family. I do not carry it to protect another person or business. If I witness something that appears to me to be a crime, I don't know all the details and it would behove me to stay out if it. If you shoot someone, you can expect to get arrested (right or wrong) and get finger printed, charged and interrogated. If you're lucky the charges might be dropped or go to trial. Rest assured the low life scumbag relatives will sue you for wrongful death, and it will cost you dearly financially to defend yourself even if you win in our liberal courts. Check this out. Where I live, if armed people break into your home, you are not allowed to defend yourself and family. You must make every effort to collect your family and "retreat" to a safe room and lock the door and call for help! That's the law. I would suggest that situational awareness, responsibility and personal liability rule the day before the gun goes BANG.... |
December 23, 2006, 06:48 PM | #2 |
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You don't sound uncaring. FWIW I think your pretty much on the money, in your tactics and reasoning.
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December 23, 2006, 08:05 PM | #3 |
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Yap. Dennis, you're right on. Laws are the same in Cali, so far as I know, regarding having to retreat (even in your own home) before using deadly force to defend yourself and family.
I live in a loft with only one door, so that does simplify home defense for me if someone enters and is armed or threatening as there's nowhere for me to retreat to. But if you live in a house with several entrances/floors/rooms, that can make for a different scenario. If I were you, I'd work out a routine for you and the family to retreat/escape and mark a point of no return where your weapon should be live as there's no other recourse. If I apply for a CCW here, it'll be for the same mindset as you express. I'm not looking to be a vigilante, just defend my life and my families.
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December 23, 2006, 09:02 PM | #4 |
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laws
That is the way the laws used to be in GA...but they recently changed.
Before the law changed, if someone broke into your home, but did not directly and immediately threaten you, you could not defend yourself with lethal force. One night while I was at work, my wife heard someone trying to break in. We live outside of a small town....(in the country). I was at work...She called me first, then called 911. I beat the cops to my house (I had to go farther) and saw a guy running across the yard. I chose to get the details of the guy and then check on my family first instead of confronting the perp. The guy had continued to jimmy the door even when the lights came on and my wife loudly talked on the phone. If the guy had gotten inside, he KNEW he had to confront people..but did not care. My wife can shoot and had a gun nearby..but was too worried about the kids and the cops to get the gun first. About this time the cops arrived...yeah..really. Anyway we were warned against confronting a robber with lethal force by all but one officer..even to the point of being warned that if I shot a guy to death in my yard after all of this I would be charged. NOW, however, the law has changed...I can legally carry a gun(subject to interpretation of Cops and judges)..but the best part is that if I feel that I am confronted with a direct threat to myself or others, I can now use deadly force to defend myself.HALLELUJAH!!! I do not go looking for trouble, but when it comes to my house...and could kill my wife and children..or me...I will defend myself. I can even live with charges as long as my family lives. |
December 23, 2006, 10:38 PM | #5 |
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Not directed at any comment in particular, but I am not sure it is a good idea to tell the world what you will do or not do in a specific situation. The "net" is not a private discussion in your living room among friends. It is like going on Larry King Live with a megaphone. If you do end up in court, and it becomes known that you post on gun sites, your postings can be located and could be used against you.
For example, saying, "If I draw my gun, I am going to use it" or "I will kill anyone threatening my family" could be taken as irresponsible or as a predisposition to kill, and could hurt in court. They could be used to show that you were not defending yourself against an unprovoked attack but were "looking to" shoot someone. So I advise caution in posting, even when I agree with your basic right to self-defense. Jim |
December 23, 2006, 10:55 PM | #6 | |
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Dennis, I think you are pretty much right on target as well. It sucks that your state law makers are too stupid to give you guys the right to defend your homes without retreating first. Heck, in Florida, you don't even have to retreat in public of threatened with deadly force. We have our fair share of crime in Miami, but it sure as heck did not rank #1 like St. Louis. I am glad you have a strong aversion to using force and are not one of the internet commandos just "waiting for an opportunity to shoot someone". Good luck to you and I hope things get better. If not, move to a state where they respect your right to defend yourself.
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December 23, 2006, 11:15 PM | #7 |
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Easy
Using a sceen name other than your own is not going to stop law enforcement from tracing your online postings and chat if probable cause exists to go after it. Such as---well---an investigation into a shooting. The internet is not anonymous.
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December 24, 2006, 12:29 PM | #8 |
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The law is totally incomprehensible. Here in WA State a few years back a man had the house next to his where he stored some of his goods burglarized by one of his son's friends. (This is from memory. I don't have the article in front of me. Besides, what you see in the newspaper usualy has no resemblance to what really happened.) He laid in wait with a 12 ga. for the next occurrance, which was soon. When the perp realized he was confronting an armed defender he beat a hasty retreat. The guy with the 12 ga. shot the kid in the back, killing him. Then he told the cops he shot the kid in the @ss to teach him a lesson. I would have expected the shooter to be in deep kimchee, but he wasn't charged. Of course, I don't have all the facts and there was another perp outside, so he may have made the case that he was outnumbered, and hence in fear of harm. I think I would allow a fleeing perp to go, since I wanted him to leave in the first place, and once he is on the way out proving intent to do harm is a lot harder. The shooter in this one lucked out.
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December 25, 2006, 06:07 AM | #9 | |
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December 25, 2006, 09:01 AM | #10 | ||
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By the way, as for the interrogation you claim, learn and know your rights. If you have been arrested, then you don't have to allow yourself to be interrogated if you don't want such activity. Due process may or may not cost you dearly as claimed. It all depends. However, it is better than being dead. Here is a great example... http://www.startribune.com/467/story/875873.html Quote:
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December 25, 2006, 10:13 AM | #11 |
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Before the new no retreat laws
most practical states said you did not have to retreat not only in your home but on your own property. The problem comes in with use of deadly force, you have to show that you were in fear of your life or in danger of being badly hurt or the same for someone else who is with you. In S.C. not only is your place of business considered 'your home' but also a public rest room.
The real change recently in the law is not so much no need to retreat, even in public. But that if you are not prosecuted or found guilty then you can not be sued in civil court either. |
December 25, 2006, 01:37 PM | #12 |
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I would far prefer to leave than to use deadly force against someone in public, but with arthritis in my spine and knees and both big toes fused trying to run would simply invite the assailant to shoot or stab me in the back. I couldn't outrun a drunk on pogo stick, but I am a competent shot with a handgun and I will not allow anyone to do me harm. In my home I will not flee naked into the night so that sociopaths may sack my domicile and assault my wife in peace. Shooting anybody is not high on my list of things I want to do and I don't go looking for trouble, but I will defend my person, home, and loved ones with all the skill and vigor I can muster.
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December 25, 2006, 06:09 PM | #13 |
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Sometimes, the price is very high that one must pay for living in a state run by Democrats .
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December 25, 2006, 07:19 PM | #14 | |
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Just thought I'd throw that out there. |
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December 26, 2006, 06:48 AM | #15 |
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Dennis2, my advise to you would be to just move. Why live in a city like that? There are far better places to live than St.Louis.
Jobs are not that hard to find. Look here www.indeed.com
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December 26, 2006, 11:41 AM | #16 | ||
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December 27, 2006, 09:58 AM | #17 |
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"dummer"!!! I love this stuff!
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December 27, 2006, 10:34 AM | #18 |
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Well Put J.k.........................
!!!!!!!!!!!!
Life Is Short........... |
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