[Sebastian the Ibis]

Interesting story to be sure, However I am especially thrilled that the judge has raised her children so well.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/11/1772297/citizens-collar-suspected-thief.html#storylink=omni_popular


Well done everyone.

[paintballdude902]

haha good for them

[Big_E]

Interesting story, had strangers been wrestling around my property I would have handled it the same way.

Lol, at first I thought this would be a "walks into a bar" joke.

[DasFriek]

2 guys wrestling on my front lawn and im popping popcorn and grabbing the lawn chair.
When my families life or I am in danger then my gun comes out.
Or if i see one of those 2 guys life in danger as in a weapon coming out then i may pull my gun. Im joking about the popcorn, Id most likley separate them and restrain who ever tries to run.

But until that day happens its all guesses on how id react, But i hope i do the right thing is all.

[Bones11b]

I love hearing stories like this from here in South Florida. Sometimes it seems all we get are negative firearm related news stories.

[doc2rn]

Just gotta love Vets that do it the old fashioned way.

[pacerdude]

That guy picked the wrong camera to steal. I'm glad it all worked out well for everyone.

[cbrgator]

Was the homeowner really justified in pulling his gun in that situation? In what way was he in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm?

[Bones11b]

Florida law allows you to carry openly on your own property. It also allows you to step in on behalf of others. I'm not a lawyer of course and am only going by what I was taught in my CCW class and my own studying of firearm laws in my state.

776.012 Use of force in defense of person.--A person is justified in using force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other's imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if:

(1) He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony; or

(2) Under those circumstances permitted pursuant to s. 776.013.

[Old Shooter]

Was the homeowner really justified in pulling his gun in that situation? In what way was he in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm?

Sounds like it may have been a pretty good fight and the home owner might have figured one or the other of them was gonna get some great bodily harm and felt justified in intervening. Being an veteran of Iraq fun and games he may feel differently about getting involved and his ability to do so than some of the rest of us. Sounds like he did good.

[wishin]

Well done everyone.

Ditto. Great real life story!

[Sebastian the Ibis]

Florida law allows you to carry openly on your own property. It also allows you to step in on behalf of others. I'm not a lawyer of course and am only going by what I was taught in my CCW class and my own studying of firearm laws in my state.

776.012 Use of force in defense of person.--A person is justified in using force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other's imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if:

(1) He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony; or

(2) Under those circumstances permitted pursuant to s. 776.013.

Pointing a gun at someone in a threatening manner is a 3 year mandatory minimum felony in Florida. So you have to be 100% sure that the above applies to you. I would not draw a gun on a couple of strangers fighting in my front yard. I'd call the police, stay inside and have my gun at the ready.

When a Judge is one of the participants and you intervene on her side, then you wont have any problems, but here the vet did not know that until after the gun was brandished.

[4v50 Gary]

Terrific story. That guy has some pretty hard luck.

[cbrgator]

Florida law allows you to carry openly on your own property. It also allows you to step in on behalf of others. I'm not a lawyer of course and am only going by what I was taught in my CCW class and my own studying of firearm laws in my state.

776.012 Use of force in defense of person.--A person is justified in using force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other's imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if:

(1) He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony; or

(2) Under those circumstances permitted pursuant to s. 776.013.

I'm with Sebastian on this one. It seems to me that unless one of the men in the altercation brandished a weapon, or one of them began repeatedly stomping on the face of the other (or some other grossly serious action beyond a typical fist fight), I am not pulling a gun on anyone. Drawing a weapon is to save a life, not police property.

I am glad everything worked out for the homeowner, but I personally find his behavior to be rather risky.This situation is just like the famous "Get off my lawn" scene from Gran Torino. Loved the movie, but I'm not so sure Eastwood was right to pull his M1 out.