San Antonio police say a shopper who brandished a handgun during a Black Friday scuffle was within his rights.That's a helluva call for the cops even in Texas.
Officers were sent to a mall's Sears store about 9 p.m. Thursday in response to a call about a shooting.
When they arrived, they detained a man holding a black 9 mm semi-automatic handgun with a black holster.
But the man hadn't fired the loaded weapon. He reportedly showed proof that he has a concealed handgun license. Police say he didn't break the law.
The San Antonio Express-News reported that he told police he pulled the gun to defend himself because a man punched him in the face.
What do you think? Please leave a comment.
So let me get this straight. A person with a concealed handgun permit is assaulted in a mall. He draws his weapon to protect himself. The act of drawing his weapon stopped the assault, so he was not required to actually shoot his assailant. And someone called the police and reported a shooting despite no shots being fored. Do I have that correct?
ReplyDeleteI don't see the problem. That sounds like a legitimate DGU to me, and it's even better since the assailant (who SHOULD have been arrested) did not need to be shot. What do you have an issue with?
Well, I guess it depends on how that punch in the face happened. It didn't sound to me like the beginning of a lethal pummeling, it sounded more like a flare-up that left the gun owner embarrassed and ego-bruised.
DeletePunches always feel worse than they "sound".
DeleteRight--I'm not seeing how the good citizen committed a crime. Typical for you, Mikeb, you're showing sympathy for the attacker here, the attacker without a gun. You hate guns and gun owners so much that you accept one of them getting punched in the name of your agenda.
ReplyDeleteGreg, lots of people get punched with no real danger. Don't you remember when men were men and they didn't have to carry guns.
DeleteWhen men were men? Sure--back then, many carried guns. The difference is that society hadn't yet given an ear to Oprahized psychoanalyzing.
DeleteMike - I assume the crime you are mentioning is the false police report of a gun being fired. Drawing your weapon in self defense is not a criminal act, it is a legal act of self defense. Having the restraint of not shooting your attacker is to be commended, not disparaged.
ReplyDeleteGun owners need to practice better restraint than that. I don't see an argument, even one that results in a punch, being resolved with a gun. Walking away is a better alternative.
DeleteAnd lose his place in line??? It’s Black Friday!
DeleteMikeb, someone punches you in the face, and you're going to walk away? That'll get you a blow to the back of the head.
DeleteWhy is it that you have such a hearts-and-flowers view of thuggish people?
mikeb wrote: "Gun owners need to practice better restraint than that. I don't see an argument, even one that results in a punch, being resolved with a gun. Walking away is a better alternative."
DeleteThe facts are not yet in for this incident, so we can't say with certainty what happened but you are quick to assume the gun carrier engaged in any way.
But I do know this, gun owners do practice restraint. It is a common theme on gun forums - if you would bother to read them. And I can give you a personal account as well:
I am a little ashamed to admit this, but a few weeks ago, I was in a long line that stretched outside the exit door of a movie theater with my family to see Twilight on opening day. (My daughter wanted to see it.)
Anyway, as the line grew, a group of about 6 teenagers walked up and slid in line a few people ahead of us when they saw someone they knew. The lady just ahead of us said something to them about it. After a brief exchange, they went to the back of the line.
Now, before I started carrying, I might have said something to them as well. But I wasn't about to confront them on the off (small small) chance that the situation could escalate. My wife whispered to me that she was glad the other lady spoke up and we talked about the fact that I could not - and she knew why.
We are not who you think we are.
What you say FL, applies to most. But their are too many who don't live up to your lofty description. This idiot in line for shopping was one of them.
DeletePlease see my comment below ... it applies to both threads.
DeleteYep. Mike, you have failed to show how this is not a legitimate DGU. A physical assault was halted preventing further injuries. You really don't get it.
ReplyDeleteSo by your standards, there was no way for the victim in this case to do the right thing.
It depends on what you mean by "physical assault." This sounds more like an argument. As a gun owner you need to practice extraordinary restraint. You can't pull the gun at the first whiff of trouble or to settle arguments.
DeleteHere is an easy way to define it: An argument uses words. A physical assault uses fists or something else to hurt someone physically. This wasn’t an argument.
DeleteSo your saying the guy should let himself take a beating? Ok, now I understand.
DeleteNo, not take a beating, but avoid it without drawing the gun. What gets in the way is the ego. Backing down is not an option for most of you macho men, but when you're carrying it should be.
DeleteAgain Mike, you don't know the details of what happened here. You don't know how much conversation occurred before the attack. You don't know whether the guy was sucker punched. You don't know if he was standing between the attacker and his family. You simply don't know.
DeleteWhat you do know is that one man physically attacked another and the one who was physically attacked stopped the attack with a DGU without hurting anyone. Those are the ONLY facts that are known.
The difference between you and me is that with ONLY these facts on the table, you assume that the gun owner provoked or otherwise acted inappropriately and I do not. Lacking ANY OTHER facts about the situation, your assumption is to place most of the blame on the guy getting punched rather than the guy doing the punching.
Now, if other facts come into play, then all bets are off. But until we know more, I will never understand why you pre-judge the guy getting beat rather than the guy giving the beating.