Watching TruTV

[CrimsonSoul]

So I was watching TruTV earlier in the week and was watching a court case over a self-defense shoot. It wasn't the case that disturbed me, the man was found not guilty, but what those in the studio said. They had a former prosecutor on that said when the guy came up and pointed the rifle at him he should have called 911 instead of pulling his handgun, and that this obviously wasn't self defense because he shot at the suspect 5 times (I believe it was a 10 round mag) and only the first shot was self-defense and that every shot after that was him trying to murder the man that pulled up on the ATV and pointed a rifle at him.'
Is this how most prosecutors are or was this person just overly Californian?

[PeteCamp]

I smell the Republic of Kalifornia. Shoot to stop the threat. If the first shot made the guy DRT, then perhaps the other 4 shots were too much. But reason would suggest that if the deceased didn't want to get shot at all, he shouldn't have pointed the rifle at an armed man.

[joe817]

The person was just overly Californian. How many times have we read here, AND seen on TV(I have) that you shoot until the threat stops. Period, end of story.

[shootthesheet]

That is what I would expect from any prosecutor and worse from the media. I expect them to be hostile to the point they try to destroy my life. I expect them to try to equate self-defense to murder and me to a heartless killer no matter if someone I had to stop died or not. I think it is best we all let that possible situation be a factor in our decision to carry a self-defense gun. I think it as important as weighing if we can shoot someone if forced and deal with the chance a person we may have to defend against could die. We may lose our jobs, our reputations and even friends and family if we are forced to defend ourselves or others. We may lose state issued licenses that are crucial to our careers. All that on top of having to deal with the knowledge we hurt or killed someone even if they forced us to do so or risk being killed ourselves.

That is why CHL is not a easy decision and it is not for cowards. No, we are not elite or better than anyone else but we make a choice to risk everything to protect the innocent and we have no department or agency to protect us and stand up for us if needed. No one pays our lawyers for us and we probably will not get paid leave to go to court. All we have is each other and the truth on our side. We could end up losing our freedom and rights because we couldn't afford a better lawyer or the one we hired has a "problem" with self-defense or guns. My point is, except that the risk of getting slammed is there and decide if it is worth taking the chance. If not, don't carry. If it is then make the decision now to do what is necessary and go on from there. That is my opinion.

[Abraham]

shootthesheet,

"but we make a choice to risk everything to protect the innocent"

I think I know what you mean, but would you mind elaborating on the innocent?

Thanks

[Stupid]

shootthesheet,

"but we make a choice to risk everything to protect the innocent"

I think I know what you mean, but would you mind elaborating on the innocent?

Thanks

Pretty sure he meant his innocent self and his innocent family members. He wouldn't know other people are innocent or not.

[LaserTex]

or....if you rounded the corner and heard a lady screaming....saw her on the ground by a dumpster...with someone on top of her...I would bet she is innocent.

or....you are sitting in Denny's with your wife and son. Waffles and bacon are yummy. Pure evil walks in and shots the cashier to make a point. Robber... 46 people are witnesses with you...and they are all innocent as is your wife and son... and yourself.

Very interesting points though - from Hero to Zero takes on a new meaning when the prosecuting attorney is done. My sister in law was the passenger in a vehicle hit by a drunk driver at 2:17 am on the day before Thanksgiving 2003 and the defense attorney tried to use the "if she wasn't out at the club drinking, she wouldn't have died ... on Christmas Day 2003. She was innocent.

Doug