Cant agree more. Happy anniversary!
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Sue the parents, but for what?
You can’t get blood from a turnip.
You’d probably never find a lawyer to take your case unless the kid’s parents were very wealthy.
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@Matt74 thank you for bringing this up. Im my mind, the problem is more complicated than disparity of force, or a moral dilemma. The gangs of inner city youths have powerful allies, a domestic terror org, and politicians looking to score points on divisions in society. These powers will attack your jurors, will put your family in danger, will pressure your employer. You don’t stand a fair chance where you are.
I am going to side with folks who recommend moving out of harm’s way. Move out of Sodom and Gomorrah.
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I understand your pain – part of old age. But it’s better than the alternative.
In the last year, I replaced both knees and a hip, Living with the pain was not an alternative.
I lived and worked in DC for a while. I was panhandled every day, twice. Once as I exited the Foggy Bottom metro and once as I returned to the metro to go home. The firearms I owned were illegal in DC, 'cause the city council considered folks like me to be criminals, not the bums who harrassed us every single day.
When I moved to New Jersey, my guns were still illegal. I regularly commuted into New York where I got out at Penn station and entered the arm pit of downtown NY.
There was absolutely nothing I could do to change DC, New Jersey or New York, so I moved back to Colorado where I was raised. No crime in the part of Colorado I settled in. People leave their cars running when they go in the grocery store or the Post Office. Try that in New Jersey. And, I’m not a criminal 'cause I own firearms. I have a range in my backyard.
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I took it as questioning me and questions are okay and answers to questions are even better!
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@Zavier_D
With no regrets! Maybe some remorse. An OATH taken shall not be disregarded!
To all on this topic - It’s a sad state of affairs. When being a bad ass and having street “cred” is the most important thing in life to kids. It’s on TV, in the movies Hollywood makes and the video games they play. Liberalism has turned the criminal into the victim who is justified in his/her actions from having been victimized FIRST. Satan’s minions are always someone’s innocent little angels who can do no wrong! The decline of western civilization.
When in doubt, fear is still subject to the beholder. What scares some people won’t scare others and it’s better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6. God knows the truth! That’s the only judgement to worry about.
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I do empathize with you. I remember when I first inquired about applying for a permit at my local Sheriff Department. The Desk Deputy stated to me, “if you are not sure of whether you have what it takes to pull the trigger to save your life, then don’t choose a gun.” It’ll get you hurt or even worse.
I never forgot that advice. He even referenced (unfortunately) wayward youth. If it’s not worth dying over, it’s not worth killing over. Isn’t that what we teach? The only moral issue is whether you did everything that you could to preclude having to resort to lethal force. Pepper Spray was mentioned. Maybe spray them all really good and supplement the act by telling them that it could have been their life instead of Pepper Spray, had it been someone else. The aftermath is certainly something to consider; you may have to relocate. Best to you, my friend. I do not envy your deliberations. Definitely contact one of our USCCA Attorneys for the specifics pertaining to your state. I hope you never have to use your firearm.
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You know, I never thought about it until just now. When I was a knucklehead growing up in Detroit; I never thought about assaulting an adult. In fact, adults were never anywhere in my psyche! It was always people my age or very young adults still trying to be kids. It was as though dealing with an adult was Sacro religious in some way. Definitely bad karma or other expressions representing recompense or reaping what had been sown, etc. Today, there is no conscience whatsoever, and that’s frightening. Because you’re right, if you do justice, the family will definitely describe or portray that miscreant as someone who may have been troubled, high-strung or misunderstood but who was just getting their act together, and they even attended church last week, etc. But denial is their company keeper in those moments, and they will be looking for monetary compensation for someone that in reality they didn’t even want to be around or trusted in their homes for fear of what may have followed them. The slope is real slippery.
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@David237
Very, very slippery! Damned if we do and damned if we don’t!
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A long time ago I drew my gun and the carjacker ran. I did not have to shoot. Is that brandishing?
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I am never going to only rely on mace and/or a taser.
To many times I’ve seen them not be effective.
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Nope! You saved a life.
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I understand where you’re coming from. For those who care not to delve in lethal force as an only option, for them it’s better than nothing.
Personally, I am not out to harm anyone which is why I go out of my way to be very nice and respectful of everyone I meet. The reason is, I know something they don’t. Also, it’s because when they cross the line, and I have to engage, then I deal with the situation righteously. I don’t play. This keeps me morally intact. Carrying multiple levels of deterrent is something that I am not interested in as it increases my responsibility and my liability. Furthermore, time is something I don’t have. If I have pepper spray, brass knuckles, a steel baton, slap jack or even a knife, it eats into my time, and if I make it through the incident without opting to echelon those implements, now I will have to explain why I used a firearm. So, no, I will maintain an Avoid/Deny/Defend mindset as I go about my business, and one implement as a force multiplier will hopefully be sufficient.
Not everyone sees it my way, and for them Pepper Spray might be a suitable choice or their go to. I’m cool with that, if they are. But if it’s not smart to bring a knife to a gun fight, why would you bring Pepper Spray? But that can be a whole other discussion. I’ve said my .02ct.
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IMO If you were threatened with death or serious bodily harm, even if charged, you likely would be acquitted, if it went to trial.
The key issue would be if you could describe why you were in fear of bodily harm and it would not hurt to be the first one to call 911.
Surveillance cameras could be your friend or enemy!
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It is not. You drew the weapon to stop the threat, good for him, he stopped. Your intent wasnt to scare him with laser, etc threat display, right? That would be brandishing.
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I would think that a factor in determining whether using lethal force to defend oneself would be the number of assailants. Obviously, the more young people in the mob that’s attacking you, the less your opportunity to escape, or walk away with minor injuries. One 14-year-old attacking you might not seem too intimidating, but six 14-year-olds could be quite terrifying. Plus you don’t know what weapons they have.
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First of all, this whole situation is wrong. And if you are with your family in a place like that you need to have a plan. If there is time to pull out pepper spray, then you have time to pull your firearm. Remember it takes an average of 19 paces to get to you to pull out a firearm. And if you are dealing with a swarm of high school kids that think they are untouchable they are coming after you. So, plan for the worst and hope for the best.
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A firearm is always last resort move. First move should be avoidance. I know that isn’t always possible but being situational aware will go a long way in keeping you safe
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Every self defense incident is different. And different States have different laws, and different DAs with different legal philosophies regarding armed self defense. The best we can do is know our own State’s laws, and pay attention to how self defense cases are prosecuted in our jurisdictions.
In Florida, brandishing involves threatening without being a response to a reasonably perceived threat of great bodily harm or dearh. The burden is on the prosecution to prove that a reasonable person would not have felt a threat of great bodily harm or death.
But in Florida, deadly force in defense of property is another story. I cannot legally pull my weapon on someone trying to steal my car unless I am in it at the time, and they are trying to get me out with force. So it all depends on the specific circumstances of each incident.
This is why self defense legal insurance is very advisable. If arrested, you WILL need legal representation experienced in use of force defense in your jurisdiction.
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