What would you do???????

[americanbadass]

We have had a rash of gun incidents recently, with citizens that have CCW permits. I am always very curious over the details of related issues to this subject.

Here is one that peaked my interest. Recently a 64 year old gentleman arrived home earlier than usual from work (2:30 pm). He pulls in his driveway and notices a car running in front of his house, with two people in it, and his house front door opened. He immediately knows sumpin ain't right, so he pulls his 9mm out of his glove box and runs to his front porch to investigate. He observes that his front door is damaged, and a guy is coming out of his house with a pry bar in one hand. He then draws down on the perp, and the guy freezes. The homeowner is calling 911 with his left hand and holding the perp at gunpoint with his other. The perp suddenly rushes by the owner and runs down the street. During the malay- the victim fires two shots in the air. The getaway car speeds off- and the intruder runs into an empty field. This is a rural neighborhood.

When the cops arrive, the victim tells them what happend-he is immediately arrested for public endangerment, as well as discharging a fire arm in city limits. Police dogs corner the perp about two blocks away, and the getway driver is still at large.

The victim has since made a plea bargain, and other than the initial jail time-has a heavy fine and had his gun taken away forever, and suspension of his CCW.

Sorry for the long story! I am very curious about how you wise mature gentlemen would have handled this situation? Keep in mind that the victim did not aim his gun at the perp when he fired it. I do not know how I would have responded to this situation. I may have shot the guy with the pry bar, adrenalin and fear can cause a person to react irrational. I don't think the victim acted unreasonably in this case. It kinda scares me when I think of how I would have responded- this could have changed this gentlemans life forever.

[ebiss9]

Sounds to me like the guy with the pry bar appeared threatening, guess I would have defended myself right then and there!!!

[Shocker]

For what it's worth and from my training, once the perp was running down the street the danger was over. Every training I have ever seen it is specifically taught that do NOT fire warning shots. Further more, the victim drove up on the scene and was not in danger at that time. He should have backed away and called the law. If, however, I had gone to the point of confronting the perp and was holding him at gunpoint, as soon as the perp made a move toward me with the pry bar I would have been scared to the point of firing my weapon in order to stop the apparent attack on my life.

[americanbadass]

For what it's worth and from my training, once the perp was running down the street the danger was over. Every training I have ever seen it is specifically taught that do NOT fire warning shots. Further more, the victim drove up on the scene and was not in danger at that time. He should have backed away and called the law. If, however, I had gone to the point of confronting the perp and was holding him at gunpoint, as soon as the perp made a move toward me with the pry bar I would have been scared to the point of firing my weapon in order to stop the apparent attack on my life.

You have a good point Shocker- from what I could tell, he fired in the air as the perp was running by him still near his front porch, he said he feared another weapon might be retieved from the getaway vehichle!
There is a part of me that thinks he was defending his property by the engagement. I personally would have felt like a little girl- had I just drove by and called the cops, if it was my house. Reality is he should have done exactly that, and dealt with his retreat on a personal level. Interesting concept though-I think!

[Bruce]

If the person with the pry bar was inside my house when I saw him, thats where the police would have found him, dead on the floor, if I saw him outside my house and he didn't threaten me or my family I would not have fired.

[Tony T of I V E]

Just make sure the Pry bar was STILL in the perp's hand , just sayin

Tony T of I V E

[kwputt]

Don't know how the law reads in different states, but in Ohio the CCW does not carry any law enforcement privileges. Since there was no one at home that he would have been in fear of losing their life, it appears that he exercised a privilege that he did not possess. Had he written down the tag, backed off, and called the LEO, his privilege to own a firearm would still be intact.

[americanbadass]

Don't know how the law reads in different states, but in Ohio the CCW does not carry any law enforcement privileges. Since there was no one at home that he would have been in fear of losing their life, it appears that he exercised a privilege that he did not possess. Had he written down the tag, backed off, and called the LEO, his privilege to own a firearm would still be intact.

Your are right the ccw does not make you a cop on any level. But still, if I am encountering someone in the thresh hold of my front door and two people waiting for him 60 feet away-I am brandishing my weapon just to let them know I will not be rolled over. The perp had a pry bar in his hand also, so that is another factor.
The moral of the story is-if you are not in imminent danger avoid placing yourself in one.
Thanks for all your responses, this situation really got me thinking about the responsibilities of carrying a gun.

[Jenkinsrawhide]

He could always appeal to a higher court and take his chances but Shocker is right. I am a retired cop. Always remember to state that you were in fear of your life if it comes down to it.

[kam582]

I bet the burglary suspect does less time than the victim. Or at least less punishment.

[jackpoet]

Also remember, Where did the bullets come down after shooting in the air? Never, ever shoot in the air. It endangers others. That bullet has to come down somewhere. I was a military cop and was taught, don't draw it unless you are going to shoot someone. Not shoot in the air. He was wrong.

[kam582]

We probably would have never arrested the victim. Write it up and let the prosecutor decide. Our community would be upset that a 64 year old victim got arrested. Having said that, don't fire your weapon unless you have to defend your life. Even if the puke gets away, it's not worth the hassle.

[msocko3]

Shooting in the air was a stupid thing, the intruder was running away so he posed no danger to the victim. If I was faced with a situation like that I would have just holstered my weapon and call the police. It may sound harsh but the CCW holder got everything he deserved.

Now if they have a pry bar, bat, knife, anything that can be used to endanger my life and run towards me with it in a threatening manner I will consider it a hostile act and drop the sucker in his tracks.

[americanbadass]

Shooting in the air was a stupid thing, the intruder was running away so he posed no danger to the victim. If I was faced with a situation like that I would have just holstered my weapon and call the police. It may sound harsh but the CCW holder got everything he deserved.

Now if they have a pry bar, bat, knife, anything that can be used to endanger my life and run towards me with it in a threatening manner I will consider it a hostile act and drop the sucker in his tracks.

Somewhat agree, there was a lot going on in his mind, he was on his cell with 911-and worried about the other people in the getaway car (and if the perp could retrieve another weapon).
After rethinking this whole thing, he should have dialed 911 and stayed in his car, and worked on getting a plate #. My intention with this thread was to examine the way others think they would react. One thing is for sure-one never knows how he will react under the burden of fear and massive doses of adrenalin, you never know until you live it!

[msocko3]

Somewhat agree, there was a lot going on in his mind, he was on his cell with 911-and worried about the other people in the getaway car (and if the perp could retrieve another weapon).
After rethinking this whole thing, he should have dialed 911 and stayed in his car, and worked on getting a plate #. My intention with this thread was to examine the way others think they would react. One thing is for sure-one never knows how he will react under the burden of fear and massive doses of adrenalin, you never know until you live it!

Part of posessing a CCW is maintaining a cool head and clear thinking even under pressure. I had a situation last year where I thought it was going to get ugly. I was coming to an intersection when the left lane ends, I was in the right lane passing a car in the left lane. He decided he wanted to try and force me to slow down, I maintained my speed and maybe picked it up a touch. He ended up braking so he could slide in behind me for the intersection which must have wrecked his day.

I could see him in my rear view mirror making gestures at me, amazing as it sounds I resisted the urge of letting him know he was number 1. When the light turned green he was all over my bumper like white on rice. I moved to the left lane and started passing traffic to get away from him, he stuck with me. He then moved into the right lane and attempt to get up beside me, I accelerated away and kept a couple cars between us.

I was coming to the mall where I was going to have dinner at the Red Lobster, I decided I would take a little shortcut and see if he was still going to follow me. Sure enough he was right behind me in the blink of an eye. At this point I decided I was done running because speeding to keep in front of this clown was going to lead me down a bad path. So I told the wife she might have to call 911 if the clown started something. I pulled into the Red Lobster parking lot and pulled right up in front of a window where people were sitting. The clown decided he wasn't interested in starting sh!t where he could be observed and moved along.

I was armed at the time, I never thought of pulling it out and showing it to the dummy because I know brandishing is against the law and I couldn't do that no matter how much the dummy pressed me. I however had my doors locked and would have showed him the business end of the gun had he aproached my truck with a weapon or tried to break the window.

Your correct one doesn't always know how they will react under the pressure. In my case I'm use to dealing with an adrenalin rush due to my occupation. I'm a shift supervisor in a chemical plant which handles some bad actors and things can get ugly quick.

[icedad]

For what it's worth and from my training, once the perp was running down the street the danger was over. Every training I have ever seen it is specifically taught that do NOT fire warning shots. Further more, the victim drove up on the scene and was not in danger at that time. He should have backed away and called the law. If, however, I had gone to the point of confronting the perp and was holding him at gunpoint, as soon as the perp made a move toward me with the pry bar I would have been scared to the point of firing my weapon in order to stop the apparent attack on my life.

I'm with you on this one Shocker, everything thing you said is true. I was always taught, never to discharge a weapon or aim it at somebody, unless you plan on shooting them.

[Jimsjinx]

My sarcastic self, would say "Dead men don't talk." But my serious self says, I'd move. I will not live where I cannot defend my life AND my property. If you want to CCW, you'd damned well better know the laws for your resident state, county, city, etc.. I live in a state where your rights are protected in these situations. The law here in Smiths Station, will allow one to discharge a firearm on your own property, for any reason. One county over, you cannot discharge a firearm there, unless you are defending your life. Ya just gotta know more about what you're getting into. JMO jimsjinx

[Doug D.]

-"He observes that his front door is damaged, and a guy is coming out of his house with a pry bar in one hand."

I would have dropped that son-of-a-bitch like a bad habit, right in the doorway. And thats where the cops would have found him, period, end of story.

'Nuff said...

[Jimsjinx]

Hey AmericanBadass! I can't stop staring at your avitar!!! LOL "Hey, I remember those!!!!!!!!LOL Peace, jimsjinx

[slick rick]

Here in Ala [REDNECK COUNTRY] shoot em in the ass. Better to ask forgiveness than permission .