What Kind of Advice Is This??

[Mute]

Bottom line is that it's not a clear cut, either/or situation. If one shoots an unarmed person, he may be charged with murder he may not. If you believe that anytime you shoot an unarmed person, and feel justified in doing so, you will eventually be exonerated, then you're wrong. You may be exonerated. You may not. However, if I were on a jury and your only explanation for shooting an unarmed man was that the other guy wanted to fight, you had better be able to demonstrate that you tried to avoid the fight AND the other guy wanted to do more than just teach you a lesson.

People get into fights all the time. Not all of them leads to death or even serious injury. If you shoot an unarmed person, you had better be able to demonstrate that your situation is not like one of these fights.

 

[Byron Quick]

I've been in serious fights. I've been left with my left leg temporarily paralysed, a concussion, and a head laceration on a street at night. A car went by and missed my head by about four inches. I could hear gravel crunch under the tires. I've been hit so hard in the head that a tight fitting ring was slung off my finger...got a concussion and retrograde amnesia from that one. I've detached a retina belonging to one of my opponents...barehanded.

I can document that I've had three concussions with my medical record. Two of these were received from unarmed individuals. One from a club. Also documented. I can document the possible sequelae and complications from both single concussions as well as multiple concussions sustained over time. As can any neurologist or neurosurgeon testifying in my defense. I can document that I have an open laminectomy from T1 to T4. (A portion of four vertebrae has been removed. My spinal cord is only covered by fascia and scar tissue in this area.) My neurosurgeon can testify that being punched in the head and neck area would likely be conducive to bad things such as paralysis occurring. I had a stroke last February. My left ear has constant tinnitus and hears mainly buzzes. I can't run. While I have practiced martial arts for years...my balance is rather iffy today. I seriously doubt my ability to remain on my feet during a scuffle even if my opponent did not touch me. I would probably fall on my butt just trying to keep facing him.

So, I'm not fighting and I believe that I can articulate to a jury why, as a reasonable man, I had to use a gun to prevent an unarmed assailant from subjecting me to grave bodily harm. I don't think it will be cheap but it's cheaper than being paralyzed. Cheaper than being beat to death, too.

That said, I have a vested interest in not going where fights happen. In being non-confrontational and polite. I find that hard to do at times with some folks. I'm working on it.

 

[spacemanspiff]

now see, the difference byron, between yourself and the Rabbi, is that you see the need to be non-confrontational, polite, and dont go where you are likely to get in a bad situation if you can help it.

what we'd like to impress upon Rabbi is that the use of deadly force is but one option amongst us. and a responsible person realizes that just because you think you are justified in following a course of action doesnt mean its the only way to go.

a crude analagy would be that when you are at a four-way intersection, you have more than one way to choose to go. sometimes the path to the right or left may be blocked, but it isnt blocked all the time, nor should you insist that you are under no obligation to go any other way than to the left. its a choice. if you choose to only take left hand turns, be prepared to accept the consequences when a jury of your peers decides that you could have taken a right, or just went forward.

 

[confinedbythecurtain]

Im with Oleg

Someone wanting a fight that bad probably has something up thier sleeve.

 

[m60a3]

I would rather go to prison than have someone beat me up take my gun away from me and shoot me in the head. Just my own personal feeling. If I'm armed than anyone attacking me is equally armed and I act accordingly.If you threaten me when i'm with my wife or children I will kill you as fast as I can. Nothing personal its my job. On the other hand I've been training in armed and unarmed combat for a long time and what I consider a threat and you consider a threat may be two very different things.