Byron Quick said:
So visiting fellow business owners in the locale where your own business is located is lurking in a target area.
I walk regularly in areas of town where others have been robbed. Tell me, am I 'lurking' in the 'target area.'? Should I be concerned of being accused of vigilantism if I defend myself or another in the same area where a crime has occurred in the recent past? If I see one of the victims or one of the likely future victims, I'll probably asked if there is anything I can do to help. It's known as being a good neighbor in these parts. Guess we're just unsophisticated when it comes to vigilantism. Darn, I'm a vigilante and didn't know it.
Bull, I said before and bull I say again.
You actually maintain that carrying in a area where a crime has been committed could be tantamount to vigilantism if you defend yourself with your weapon? I'm curious. Where do you carry? Crimes have been committed at some time in most areas. Maybe parts of Antartica that have never been visited by human beings might be safe for self defense under your apparent standards.
Not
my standards. And please read my
entire post before you critique parts of it. Taking statements out of context and contorting the meaning is a media tactic, and not becoming of a thinking THR poster.
You know damn well how the headlines would have read if he had shot the robber, rather than arresting him:
"Gunfight breaks out in X convienience store: one man dead, one in custody"
I said before, and
I'll say again;
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WHAT HE DID.
But this instance had the best possible outcome, and it could have ended much worse. I am not even going to speculate on the possible scenarios that could have left innocent people wounded or dead if the robber had felt cornered and began shooting.
We don't know all the details, so it is difficult to assert that his acts where either rightous or wreckless; only he was in a position to make that judgement call. But I'll ask you this: If you are in a similar situation (robbery in progress, you are not the victim) what would you do? You had better try to assess the situation and establish the threat level, and make a good educated guess at whether the perpetrator will surrender or fight before you take
any action. Because if no shots were fired before you drew on him, and people ended up injured or dead because
you escalated the situation, you had better be prepared to defend yourself in both criminal and civil court. And you will no doubt be guilty in the court of public opinion. Is it worth being drug through the mud, going to jail and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to prevent a robbery that was not even committed against you? Not to mention the guilt you'd feel if someone was injured or worse because of what you did.
Armed robberies tend to result in deaths when the situation is escalated by the victim, police or a bystander. No amount of money is worth loss of innocent life. It is usually best to let things run their course and remember details that will help police as best you can. If you feel so compelled, engage the criminal in a place where it is just the two of you and no one else is at risk.
IMO, the only justifiable reason to take action in said situation is if you have
no doubt that someone will end up seriously injured or dead if you
do not do something.
