Was this a BG or a dunce ?

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I've been trying to understand how this all works. Please walk me though it.


So the citizen draws his gun on some guy and says "Halt" or whatever. The guy steps forward so he shoots him. Well, he should have known better, I guess.


So what then? Does the citizen pick up his brass and leave? I mean, if he calls the cops, they're going to show up and find him there with a dead guy and they're naturally going to wonder what happened.


So they ask, "How'd this guy end up dead here?"

"I shot him."

"Why?"

"He tried to kill me."

"Did he have a gun?"

"No."

"A knife?"

"No."

"Well, how did you know we was going to kill you?"

"Well, look at him. I mean, he looked at lot tougher when he was alive."

"I guess we'll never know."

"Nope. I guess not."

"Well, here's the medal we hand out to citizens like you. Have a nice day."

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And you just claimed to have been a Sheriffs Deputy? Something smells of cow patties. Tell me Mr. IwasAsheriffsDeputy, what was your agencies policy regarding firearms during felony arrests? You see, every agency I've ever worked alongside or even know says weapons out for felony take downs. Can you explain how you apparently don't know agency firearms policy in post #79 yet claim to have been a deputy?

LightenJoe wrote:

JWarren:


Somebody on this BBoard asked me for my experience and age and I tried to give it briefly. What are your background, experience, and age?

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A fair question, and I'll do my best to answer it objectively and let others draw their own conclusions.



Born in Louisana, reared in rural MS. I am 36 years old.

I went to college and through my undergraduate studies, I got bachelor's degrees in Biology, Philosophy and Religion, and Literature. Years later, I received my Master's in Issues and Crisis Management in Public Relations.

I was a fraternity member in my undergrad years.

After college, I became an Investment manager, and that career path took me to live in New Orleans, Houston, New York City, Orlando, and finally back to MS. It was about a 13 year journey.

I own a private investment management firm with a boutique clientele.

Now, to fill in a few gaps-- as it pertains to this subject matter:


I first began shooting firearms at 7 years old. I bought my first Ar-15 at 15 years old (with parents' supervision.) I got my first revolver when I was 16 years old (again with parents' supervision.)

The first time I was ever put in a position where I had to make a decision regarding firearms in self-defense was to protect my sister. I got home from school earlier than she did, and I was on our front porch waiting for friends to arrive. She stopped her car at our mailbox as she drove up and two men on motorcycles pulled in and quickly grabbed her and threw her to the ground. By the time I was able to respond, they had already ripped her cloths off to the point that she was topless and she fought as they were pulling her pants off. I could hear them laughing.

They stopped laughing when I leveled that AR-15 on them. I kept them laying on the ground in our front lawn until the police came.


The second time was a year later when my sister had an abusive boyfriend. He made the mistake of striking my sister during an arguement I was present for. After I warned him to leave, he threatened me. He was forced to leave a moment later by my Ruger Security Six .357. He was unarmed, but I had no intention of fighting a football player when I was 135 pounds at the time.

The third time involved a strange incident in Orlando. A wanna-be punk decided he would try to pull me out of my jeep because I was "looking his direction" at a stoplight. I rolled up the window. He started beating on it. I couldn't drive off due to bumper-to-bumper traffic. After realizing he was about to break out my window, I rolled it back down. This is when this unarmed man grabbed me by the throat and began to squeeze it. It ended when I brought a Glock 19 to bear. He dove into what I assume was his girlfriend's car and she wove out of traffic and ran the light. I waited for the police at a gas station at the light, and observers collaborated my story. No charges. But they did send a unit to the registered location of the car (a bystander got the tag.)

I put the final one on this thread earlier.


I've not been in that many fist fights outside of the ring. In fact, I have been in two fights where I was a central party. Now, I have broken up MANY fraternity fights, but that is hardly the same.

The first fight was in a bar in my undergrad years. I was drunk and I had it coming to me. A girl who have flirted with me earlier was dancing with a guy and I cut in on them on a dare from my party. Predictably, I got punched in the face. I landed a few as well. Then someone must have poured some water on the bag of freeze-dried bouncer because they were everywhere. We both got tossed out on our butts. After a few minutes, we both realized the girl we fought over had a new romantic interest, and we both felt more the fools that we were. We introduced ourselves and it turns out he was on leave from the Navy. He and I promised the bouncers that we would play nice if they'd let us back in, and they did. He joined our party and it was a fun night.


The second fight was less of a great outcome. It seems that the girl I was dating had a secondary motive to make her former boyfriend jealous. It worked. He came over at an outdoor party with a few friends. Regardless of what you see in the movies, one against a few doesn't work that well. I figured I was about to get the hell beat out of me. I tried to talk my way out of it, and was doing my best to meander towards my car so I could politely leave.

Then I made a BAD mistake. I turned my back to them. About the time I realized how bad of a mistake I made, I gritted my teeth in anticipation for the blow that I knew was coming. As predicted, I was struck in the head with a long-neck beer bottle used as a "club."

This is where it got surreal. It turns out that only the ex-boyfriend attacked. Through instinct, I retaliated and it resulted in his arm being broken along with his jaw. I may have failed to mention that I am a second degree black belt-- and back then I was in pretty good shape.

For some reason, the other three did not advance on me. I kept repeating "I don't want any trouble guys. I'll just go away." as I backed up until my rear hit my bumper. I was in the car and gone very quickly after that.

The girl made up with her boyfriend. Probably out of sympathy for his new condition. They deserve each other.



My observations/learnings/experiences on fighting:


Frat Boys fight fair. Good ole Boys don't.

One of my first lessons about a "fair fight" was in that same town I mentioned above with the beer bottle. I watched a few good ole boys beat down a guy who was from out of town for messing with one's girlfriend. After they got him down, they then beat him with a 2x4. He was put in ICU, but he lived.

Conversely, practically every Thursday night in college, I had to help break up fights with my fraternity and rival fraternities. Typical crap. A lot of drunken sloppy punches and a couple wallowing on the ground like pigs. I got a lot of nice shirts ruined in college.


Fighting in the ring is nothing like fighting on the street.

Fighting in the ring is harder. There are rules you have to follow. And each round last 2 minutes. Matches can go several rounds. Fighting in the ring is about endurance and conserving your energy. Since kicks take up so much energy, you want to get them in as soon as possible in the round while you still have energy. You don't really care if they do any real damage. You just have to get six in per round or you get disqualified. The only real benefit to fighting in the ring is that you learn to take a punch.

If you have a fight on the street that last more than 2 minutes, you have already lost.


I failed to mention my physical attributes.

In High School, I was scrawny. I was 5'7" and weighted 135. I had a 28 inch waist and 40 inch shoulders.

In college, and in my fighting years, I was still 5'7", but I was 155 pounds with a 30 inch waist and 42 inch shoulders.

Today, I am still 5'7" (go figure) and weigh 168. I have a 31 inch waist and 42 inch shoulders.

Only now I have a bad ankle and a torn up right shoulder from kickboxing. I am no where near the shape I was in college from years of working behind a desk. I can defend myself if I need to, but I have very little desire to blow out my ankle or shoulder again.


I'm sure I left out some things that may or may not be relevent, but there I am-- for whatever its worth.


-- John

JWarren:


I mentioned brevity in the hope you would emulate mine.



ClickClick:


As I explicitly stated, I worked in a jail (like 99.999%* of Sheriff's deputies). I never arrested anybody in my life. I baby-sitted murderers and muggers and serial rapists etc. My gun hung in my locker in the basement. I dealt with every rancid scum imaginable and all I had was a friendly smile.


*I knew you'd want the exact number, JWarren.

JWarren:


I mentioned brevity in the hope you would emulate mine.

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hehe.. it's not one of my stronger attributes.

*I knew you'd want the exact number, JWarren.

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Only when they make claims like the one I mentioned earlier.




EDIT: BTW....


I am headed to FL in the morning for a few days. If this thread carries on, I'll be absent. I don't want anyone to think I am ducking anything. Its a Thanksgiving tradition in my family. But I will be checking in the morning, and when I get back.

-- John

This thread gets more interesting/inane by the hour!

ihopewewin said:

A. I love how people are talking down to me because of my age yet they have no idea what my age is.

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And.... his public profile says:

ihopewewin said:

...I'm a student currently trying to get through high school... So far i'm only able to spread my own opinion to peers.

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Peer - Noun... a person who is equal to another in abilities, qualifications, age, background, and social status.

Hmmmmm..... its interesting to see who are considered "peers".... its inane that this has become part of this thread. Can't wait to see what comes up next!

What am I doing? Where is that IGNORE List!

So the citizen draws his gun on some guy and says "Halt" or whatever. The guy steps forward so he shoots him. Well, he should have known better, I guess.

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This is getting tedious. Once again, Lightning, that's NOT what was said. What was said, was that if an individual who had no business coming closer to me kept advancing on my position despite repeated warnings (both friendly and stern) they would have a firearm added to the warnings. IF and ONLY IF they did not stop, they MAY be on the receiving end of bullets.

So what then? Does the citizen pick up his brass and leave?

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Of course not. Why in hell would that happen? Do cops pick up their brass and leave after they shoot someone? No, they call for backup. Which is what any citizen in the same situation would do - call the police. I think you're really stretching for a point to make here, Lightning.

I mean, if he calls the cops, they're going to show up and find him there with a dead guy and they're naturally going to wonder what happened.

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Right. Which is when you tell them that the man approached, asked for directions to an address over 100 miles away, and after you had answered him he continued to approach you. At that point, you warned the man that you could help him no more and wanted him to leave. He continued his approach, so you warned him again, adding that you would defend yourself if he didn't stop and go away. He ignored your commands and continued his approach, so you drew your weapon and gave him a final command to go away. When he did not, you felt threatened and you shot.

Any officer will understand that whether he was armed or not, the man knowingly disregarded multiple warnings (including the threat of deadly force) and continued his approach. In many, many areas that in itself is enough to clear a person in court as far as shooting in self defense.

So they ask, "How'd this guy end up dead here?"

"I shot him."

"Why?"

"He tried to kill me."

"Did he have a gun?"

"No."

"A knife?"

"No."

"Well, how did you know we was going to kill you?"

"Well, look at him. I mean, he looked at lot tougher when he was alive."

"I guess we'll never know."

"Nope. I guess not."

"Well, here's the medal we hand out to citizens like you. Have a nice day."

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That's a pretty awesome piece of scripting there. What it is attempting to prove, I'm not exactly sure. The fact is, anyone who is involved in a self defense shooting should do two things immediately afterwards - call the cops, and lawyer up. Period. The only things the responding officers need to hear is "He was approaching me in a threatening manner, and I warned him multiple times to leave the area. He would not stop approaching me, and I felt that my life was in danger. I'd like to speak to my lawyer now please."

And as mentioned many times before in this thread - being unarmed does not prevent you from being a threat. That goes for real life, and for court. There have been many instances of self defense shootings where there was NO specific weapon provided by the attacker, simply because in many areas, and in many cases the attacker themself is the weapon. The fact that you've consistently and (seemingly) purposefully ignored much of what I and others have to say to you in the posts on this thread causes me to wonder exactly where you're getting your information from, and what type of life experiences you've been through to form such improper opinions.

I would only like to add that what person in their right mind, w/o ill intent, continues to advance on an armed stranger who is specificly warning them away? From both a common sense and legal standpoint someone who continues to close under the "actually stated" circumstances would certainly be considered a threat by pretty much any reasonable person.

Regardless, you're standing there with a gun in your hand and a dead guy with no weapon at your feet. I don't want to be there. You won't like it either. I recommend handling the guy by some other means.


With the usual provisos of unless you're a woman, or you're handicapped, or the dead guy is Andre the Giant, etc.

Regardless, you're standing there with a gun in your hand and a dead guy with no weapon at your feet. I don't want to be there. You won't like it either. I recommend handling the guy by some other means.

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Even with at least one witness (the wife) there at the scene to back up your story to the cops? And unless it's 2 a.m., there's usually at least one other person in the parking lot of most big box stores. Security cameras too.

So the cops show up and there's a dead guy at your feet, with no weapon. We've already established that a badguy being in possession of a physical weapon is not the end-all-be-all requirement for a not guilty verdict in a self-defense case. Why do we keep coming back to it?

Re: Retreating with your gun:

A gun is not a magic wand. You don't wave it at somebody and expect them to obey your every whim.

IN the case of a person who is ignoring multiple requests, then commands, to stop and stay back, when DO you figure you are out of options?

For a clear cut example of this, one need only watch the movie Heat
Specifically, the scene where DeNiro has just murdered Waingro in the hotel and is trying to leave. He is ambushed by a police detective with a gun standing behind him. DeNiro walks backwards until he is in contact with the gun, hands up, and keeps backing up until the detective is forced back, then DeNiro overpowers the detective with a flashlight.

If you present a gun but allow yourself to be forced back, and back, and back, eventually you will have your back to a wall.

What do you do then, when you are out of options?

If you clearly and calmly order the subject to back off with a gun in your hand, and they continue to advance, odds are they aren't trying to sell you Girl Scout Cookies.

If you clearly and calmly order the subject to back off with a gun in your hand, and they continue to advance, odds are they aren't trying to sell you Girl Scout Cookies.

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My point exactly. For some reason, certain members who've posted so far insist on bringing up the fact that the badguy has no weapon. I (and others) have been trying to explain that sometimes the most deadly weapon is the badguy himself. Especially when allowed to come into such close proximity where fists become the weapon of choice.

As I explicitly stated, I worked in a jail (like 99.999%* of Sheriff's deputies). I never arrested anybody in my life. I baby-sitted murderers and muggers and serial rapists etc. My gun hung in my locker in the basement. I dealt with every rancid scum imaginable and all I had was a friendly smile.

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Here in Tn, the Sheriff's dept. hires both deputies and jailers. Deputies are patrol officers, Jailers are the folks that tend to the jails and inmates. Both are commissioned, but only the Deputies are issued weapons and have powers of arrest.

Jailers are also not required to attend a police academy. Deputies may be hired and work for a period of no more than one year before they are required to attend and graduate a state-accredited police academy. If they don't graduate, either their employment is terminated, or they can sometimes go to work as a jailer.

Also, I'm not certain, but I don't believe the jailers have the in-service training requirements that a Deputy does.


J.C.

I love how you tried to defend the age comments yet once again you still don't know how old I am. Not to mention obviously i'm more mature then some on this thread because I don't resort to name calling over the internet. Sad what this thread has come to and I will no longer be a part of it. Waiting on thread lock.

Until you draw your weapon, you're an unarmed defender.

Ihopewewin, there are two options here:

1) You really are a high school student and don't have much real world experience compared to others in this thread

-or-

2) Your are a liar and your word can't be seriously considered

It's you choice now which one you want to stand by.

My "condition orange" situation occurred in a scuzzy area of downtown Seattle. I usually avoid such places, but was there pursuant to a scheduled surgery. Two young men approached me, one with a skateboard over his shoulder. The other hit me up for money while the Skateboard moved to flank me on my left as he shifted the 'board into what appeared to me a position prepatory to swinging it. (Note- a couple of weeks before a person was killed by a blow to the head with a skateboard in that area, among several other lethal assaults.) I put my hand on the .38 in my back pocket and took a stance that would allow me to shoot either one first while giving them an unfriendly facial expression and saying nothing. A competent criminal can "read" the potential victim, and they read me right. The one who wanted money mumbled "All right then" as they moved off. Was I being set up to get smacked with the skateboard? Don't know, but I'm glad it didn't come down to finding out. I DO know I'm also glad I had the gun. BGs or dunces? If they were BGs they were smart enough to know who not to attack.

I really believe in the tactical value of pocket carry. It forces you to carry a smaller gun*, true. But the ability to have your gun in your hand under all conditions is (I think) of enormous value.


With any other carry mode, you can't put your hand on your weapon without starting a gun fight. I mean, if you show your gun first and the other guy shoots you, what can you really say? You threatened him with a gun.


With a gun in your (strong-side front) pocket, though, you can have your gun in your hand in condition yellow in the mall, in the grocery store, whatever. If the other guy goes for this gun, you've got the jump on him.


*when I think of pocket gun, I mean a gun that you can hold in a shooting grip and then draw easily from a normal pocket. I could wedge a pretty big gun into my pocket, but with my fist around it, I couldn't easily draw it.

I think I'll weigh in here. Before I do, I guess I need to post my CV, so some folks will understand from where I draw my conclusions.

I have been shooting for 24 years. I've been shooting handguns for 21 of them.

I am an NRA certified Pistol Instructor. I am also a TN Department of Safety certified Handgun Carry Permit Instructor. I am, obviously, a TN carry permit holder. In fact, I've had prmits issued by 5 states (TN, ME, NH, FL, and PA) over the last 11 years.

I spent 8 years in the Army, 2 as an Infantryman, and 6 as an Artillery Forward Observer. During those 8 years, I've had the opportunity to visit Macedonia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. I've had guns pointed at me (and shot in my direction), and I've had to draw my weapon on other people in the service of this country.

After leaving the military, I worked as a Private Security Officer / Bodyguard in the Nashville area. As such, I had to take classes on the laws of the State of TN relating to self-defense ad defense of others. I was also certified to carry both chemical spray and batons. During that time, I again had guns fired at my direction and had to draw my weapon in response to threats.

I now work, in addition to teaching Carry Permit classes, as the president of a small firearms manufacturing company. I also work part-time for a local bar as the doorman.

That said, let me add my points:

It can be justified to use lethal force against a person who is not carrying a gun, a knife, or a bat. Those are just tools. The real weapon is the persons mind. A trained, or untrained but determined, individual can kill someone with their bare hands. Of course, they might also be a poster / lurker here, where they learned all about the finer points of carrying a S&W 642 in their pocket, using a good holster which properly conceals their firearm. Or, they might have a knife somewhere.

We had a student involved in a lethal force encounter several years ago. He stopped at a gas station one evening, to buy a soda. As he was getting into his truck, a young man opened the back door and climbed in, telling the driver to drive away. The driver drew a gun from under his seat, stepped out of the vehicle, leveled the gun at the would-be carjacker, and ordered him out of his vehicle. The young man refused, telling the driver to get back in and drive. The owner of the vehicle again ordered the man out of the truck, an order which was again refused. The young man then made a sudden movement, reaching between his legs, towards the floorboards. The owner of the vehicle shot the car-jacker three times, killing him. When the cops arrived, they asked him what happened. He recounted the episode, telling the cops "He went for a gun. I was afraid for my life. I thought he was going to kill me. So, I shot to stop the threat." The cops searched the backseat, but couldn't find a gun. The driver of the truck was home within an hour, the shooting ruled justified.

The cops are going to take more than the obvious factors into consideration. If the person who used lethal force is an upstanding citizen, with no criminal history, that'll be important. If the shooter is obviously shaken up, that will be considered. If the shooter and the deceased are not familiar with each other, or have no history of problematic interactions, that's going to weigh in on the DA's mind. Or, if there is a history of the deceased harrassing the shooter, that'd be considered. Or, if the deceased is acting irratically, or as if they are mentally imbalanced, there's the likelihood of past records.

In other words, not everything is cut and dry. There are extenuating circumstances to most every situation. The important thing is how the person who just defended his / her life articulates their story to the cops.

The driver of the truck was home within an hour, the shooting ruled justified.

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Happy ending. I wonder if it's ever turned out different?


Technical issues: How does a shooting get ruled justified in an hour? Who "ruled" it? It generally takes longer than that just to see the magistrate. Was this guy's dad the chief of police? So, no legal jeopardy and six-figure litigation loomed over this guy for years?


What bad thing would have happened if he had not shot the guy? I mean, those of us still in high school are burdened with conscience, etc.


I heard of this one guy who jumped out of an airplane with no parachute, landed in a tree, and walked away with no major injuries. Me, I'm staying in the plane unless it's going to crash; if it does look like it's going to crash, I'm strapping on my chute; if I don't have a chute, jumping out doesn't sound that much better than riding the plane all the way to the ground.

LJ,

The lead detective examines the evidence and decides that there was no crime committed, that's how it's justified quickly.

Here in Tennessee, we have some wonderful legislation that protects us from legal jeopardy if we have to use our gun to stop someone from committing various violent felonies, car-jacking being one of them.

From your comment about being in high school, which, according to your earlier posts, we know to be untrue, it is readily apparent you are simply being facetious and will continue to argue no matter what logic, criminal statute, or statistics are brought forth in evidence to counter your point. Arguing with you is like talking to either a brick wall or a stubborn child.

The simple fact is, not every situation is as cut and dry as you'd like it to be. Life is dynamic and fluid. Situations can differ for a myriad of reasons, which would be far to various to enumerate here. Obviously, none of us can speak for every incident where lethal force might be applied. However, there has been precedent set for using lethal force against an attacker who, it turned out, didn't have an obvious weapon. Therefore, arguing that you'd go to jail anytime you did so is both illogical and silly. Just like saying you'd go scot-free anytime you did so. No one here has said you'd be good-to-go EVERY time. Yet, you're willing to argue the opposite until you're blue in the face.

Personally, I'm willing to take my chances that a Grand Jury is not going to return a true bill or that the DA won't even prosecute. Why? Because I know I'm not about to draw my weapon and use it unless I can absolutely articulate an imminent fear of death or serious bodily harm to myself or another person. Oh, and I'm fairly articulate.

You might want to contact the sheriff's department where you were formerly employeed and ask them why they turned you loose without fully teaching you the laws regarding self-defense.

It generally takes longer than that just to see the magistrate.

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Joe, the department I worked for had commissioners ( magistrates, I guess you'd call 'em ) on call 24/7.
During my 2-1/2 years on the night shift, all we had to do was pick up the phone and dial 'em, and they were immediately available. Many times ( a busy night, for instance ), the phone call wasn't even necessary, as they were already sitting in dispatch shooting the breeze with the dispatchers.

The longest it would take to get a decision from them on something questionable was about 20-30 minutes, and that's if they were either busy finishing up business from a prior incident, or it was really a weird situation and they had to look something up or call someone else. ( This last very rarely happened )

Also, don't forget that charges don't have to be filed right then, on the spot. If the DA looks things over and decided the person should have been charged, he can always do it later. ( And waiting when things are "iffy" is always better for the department than jumping the gun and having to deal with a false arrest. )



J.C.

Well, perhaps my concerns are unfounded. Hallelujah. But I remain unconvinced. While I have some difficulty imagining a lone, unarmed nutjob causing me a serious problem, I still find it easy to imagine a dead one with my bullets in him creating serious difficulty.


My sheltered life may be partly responsible for this, I'll admit. But I've lived in many bad neighborhoods and dealt with a fair number of difficult people. Never needed to shoot anybody who didn't have a weapon (usually didn't have a gun myself anyway).


It occurs to me that some people may be relying to much on a gun, so that it becomes Plan A. Some of these people may have no other plan. That may never be a problem for them, but I strongly recommend having some other Plan A when dealing with unarmed belligerents.

Joe - I think part of the problem is that you're relying too much on the idea that an attacker without a knife/gun/club/etc is unarmed. People have been killed in fistfights for thousands of years, just as easily as they have been with weapons. Those of us who refuse to allow an attacker to get close enough to us to strike us recognize this, and choose to allow ourselves the use of tools that give us an advantage in a bad situation.

Joe, I gotta ask... How is having a knife ready and available for immediate use really any different from "the ability to have your gun in your hand under all conditions"?

Seems like pretty much the same thing to me, especially since a folding knife won't generally come out of your pocket in a "ready to use" condition like a gun will.

And as far as plan "A" goes, for me, plan "A", "B" and probably even "C" involve avoiding getting attacked at all. However, once the attack looks imminent and unavoidable, whatever weapon I have does indeed become priority-one, with whatever else that's working as backup becoming next in line if that fails to stop the threat.

In other words, it goes something like:
First, avoid a physical conflict.
Second, be prepared to handle a worst-case situation if that fails.
And last, start "repelling boarders" when things do "go south".

So, where none of us are allowed to start shooting or stabbing just because we think we may be attacked, there are no laws that say we are required to stand there unprepared and take a beating, either.



J.C.

If you can prove to a jury that you were so scared of an unarmed person when you're a perfectly fine not disabled man then congratz to you because you must be a pretty good actor. If you're that scared of other men then how do you manage to walk around and do every day task with this fear.

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I'm a little late to this thread, but I'd like to comment on these statements.

Firstly, the self-defense laws in Texas and Louisiana (the only ones I'm familiar with) do not require that the person defending themselves do so only in the presence of disparate force, only that there be a threat of serious bodily harm or worse. Having said that, it is the prerogative of the local district attorney to decide whether to prosecute that person or not, whether that person feels they were within the bounds of the law or not. So while a "no retreat" law appears to protect a person from prosecution and subsequent trial in certain events, it really doesn't. In other words, even a seemingly legal self-defense event could still end up in a jury trial. This is highly dependent upon the political climate in the location of the event. A good example is our politically gauche district attorney in Harris County, who tends to prosecute first and consult the law later.

Regarding the comment of being "scared" of other men, the gentleman was describing a single incident, not his entire life experience.

I think that each situation can only be judged by the person(s) who are/were actually there. IMHO, no one posting on this board has sufficient evidence to determine whether or not a self-defense response would be justified in the events that were described, nor can we determine whether the gentleman lives his life scared of his fellow man or not.