Again...
Where I and others are coming from, is the fact we are in settings that do not allow any weapons.
Metal detectors, wands, subject to search, even dawgs and vehicles subject to search.
In a court of law, anything can and will be defined as "weapon".
20 oz bottle of water of Dr.Pepper, a little boy's toy truck, umbrella, purse, sunglasses, shoe, hands, ink pen, order of chili cheese fries, USB storage drive...vehicle antenna busted off in a parking lot, between structure and where one parked, AA mag-lite...keys...
I know.
I know from having btdt, and being on a jury , and assisting both prosecution and defense , and being asked to assist in investigating for an insurance company, expert witness and ...
I do not care what teh Intrawebz sez.
When one has been in a situation, and others, be these on-lookers, or first responders, such as Security, Police, Fire, EMT, anyone shows, they are going to see items, and others are going to be asked what they saw and what happened.
Pay attention please.
True.
Lady has a CCW, and small child, with a baby bottle with juice.
Child in store buggy, obtained from parking lot.
Get the kid in buggy, with bottle and head toward store.
Youth comes out from a larger vehicle, obstructing her view...she was paying attention to surroundings.
He had a knife, and stated his intent.
In fear of her life, and that of her child, and immediate threat of injury to her and that child,
Her weak took that bottle from her kid, and into the face of said youth, allowing her to draw her CCW, and keep in close to body!
Just as she was taught to do by private persons. Same as one would in retention.
Youth took off.
Security called Police.
Kid was scared , crying, favorite bottle with character on it...
What was seen, was a mom using a bottle to hit a guy that rushed up and stated verbally his intent, loud enough for on-lookers to hear.
Non of these saw her gun, it was that close to her body, where she had control and distance.
Report taken, no charges against her, and she gave 'script of youth.
This is what hso, JShirley, Ken, Jeff and others , including myself are attempting to share.
I assure you, in a court of law, that water bottle is going to be called a "weapon".
a. Bottle of water is going to be explained, that is what the person was drinking, or carrying at the time the incident occurred.
What a prudent person would do in this situation.
b. Same bottle , except filled with Parson's clear ammonia and same incident occurs.
Your butt is going to be nailed to the wall.
Bottle of water, soda, or juice is one thing, Ammonia is going to escalate :
Beyond a reasonable doubt.
"Just what the heck was he/she doing with Ammonia in a bottle for water?"
"Is that not pre-meditated?"
"I don't think this is what a prudent person would do..."
Focus shifts from the alleged attacker to you.
You better have a good attorney, and a darn good reason to of have ammonia in a water bottle, with paracord tied around the neck.
Going across the street to take some ammonia to a neighbor is one thing, having tied some string onto that bottle so it could be carried without getting ammonia and smells on nice clothes as you did is one thing.
College campus for instance, you damn well better had been taking that down to the restroom to clean ink off something when the attack occurred, or else the person accused of attacking you is not going to be found guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt".
I strongly recommend folks go sit in a jury trial and observe.
Civil or Criminal, either one will inform one of what really goes on in the real world.
Seriously, you want to really learn what is going on in your location, go sit in on a jury trial.
