Because There Are No Consequences

ilbob said:

I am not sure why the government should be subsidising gasoline costs for its employees.

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Not a matter of subsidizing costs, rather a case of not applying State taxes on Federal property. Same applied to liquor sales.

JTHunter said:

Who says? If they are attempting to do an "armed robbery" on you, it would be self-defense. Granted, you may be harassed by some ambitious SJW type of prosecutor and it may cost you but it can still put the "fear" back in some of these miscreants.

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Shooting someone while defending yourself or someone else from death or great bodily harm and playing judge, jury and executioner are not necessarily the same thing. One is allowed by law, the other has the potential to enter a gray area where people decide others deserve to die. The way you phrased it lacks clarity and can be interpreted the wrong way. You may not have meant it that way, but you're leaving yourself open to someone thinking you want to be a vigilante.

I seriously doubt that most armed citizens have thought through the consequences of actually defending yourself with deadly force... Everyone is aware that there will be a serious investigation of any shooting incident - and quite possibly criminal charges - against the victim if their local DA is "political".. and that you could easily end up bankrupted because of legal costs alone... Add to that the fact that even bad actors have family, friends, and associates - any one of them might just take it as a "duty" to come pay you a visit... Add to that the fact that alongside with possible criminal consequences - you can bet that if there's any possible way - you'll end up facing civil action and the proof in a civil action is a far lower standard than in criminal court...

While the criminals face less and less consequences for their actions - that might not be the case for an honest armed citizen.. I'm not advocating allowing anyone to harm you or attack you - but please remember that deadly force should be your absolute last choice if you are allowed one. Add to that, the very real possibility that your assailant might just win the fight and that's why I'd go out of my way to avoid an armed confrontation if at all possible. My years on the street taught me that the outcome of really bad situations can be so random that it's just a crap shoot any way you look at it. Maybe you survive - maybe you don't...

There are other consequences to be considered as well since a seriously traumatic event in your life can cause even a normal well adjusted person to have more than a few sleepless nights. My one and only shooting was on the street as a veteran cop (I had five years in service before it occurred) and after lots of back and forth in court it was finally ruled to be justified. It literally took me three years or so to get over it. If anyone finds a copy of the book Street Survival the chapter on "Afterburn" is well worth reading since it goes over most of the problems that officers have faced after a shooting incident - and every armed citizen should pay attention as well... In my case I grew reckless, aggressive - and jumped into situations without thinking first since "I'd been there"... I was finally able to properly adjust (and back then there was no psych help offered by my outfit - or counselling of any kind... ). As I moved up in rank I made a point of working to change that... but it took years.

Like most I cheered when the old guy behind the counter successfully fought off an armed robbery - but in the cold light of day I'm betting he wished it had never happened...

Did any of ya'll see the Vietnamese vape shop owner stop the strong-arm robbery of his shop in Las Vegas? He was being cooperative until one of the perps (all in ski masks) jumped the counter and trapped him back there. Then he pulled out a Rambo knife and poked up the would-be robber about 7 times, dragged him by the door, and called the police. It was juveniles who thought this guy was an easy mark and that there would be no consequences.

FL-NC said:

Did any of ya'll see the Vietnamese vape shop owner stop the strong-arm robbery of his shop in Las Vegas? He was being cooperative until one of the perps (all in ski masks) jumped the counter and trapped him back there. Then he pulled out a Rambo knife and poked up the would-be robber about 7 times, dragged him by the door, and called the police. It was juveniles who thought this guy was an easy mark and that there would be no consequences.

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While the "7 times" is correct, according to the article I saw, the knife's blade was only about 3" long.

Kleanbore said:

I am not at all sure that the use of deadly force was justified.

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That's what lawyers and juries are for. In any event, there clearly WAS consequences when the perps made that man react.