Happened Saturday -- what would you do?

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I think my comment was mis understood.

I didnt want to give em the chance to pull (whatever) out of the car
 
Here in Nevada we currently have to be in immediate threat, and shooting someone in the back opens up to a wrongful death prosecution; However, the statement "I fired when the attacker appeared to be reaching for a weapon" followed by the statement "I was afraid for my life" should be a suitable defense even if no other weapon is found.

I also find humor in all the comments suggesting the derringer was inadequate. While it certainly lacks accuracy, and depending on caliber, lacks stopping power from all but the shortest ranges, it did do exactly what was necessary - IT STOPPED THE IMMEDIATE THREAT!

More often than not, any gun will be sufficient. The Neighbor in the OP's post might have missed with any handgun given the stressful nature of the encounter and lack of experience likely shared by most of us on the board.

I think the lesson here is not what you carry, but that you carry, and maintain situational awareness.
 
If you are in your house and you walk in on a burglar, he see's you and flees with Aunt Esmeralda's jewelry let him go, he is not a threat. This guy already attacked 2 people a woman and for all intents and purposes an invalid. You have every right to believe the attack is going to continue and the shot should be taken. There is only one rule in a fight, be the one still standing at the end. Leave Marquis of Queensbury rules for inside the boxing ring.
 
Even in Iowa, a retreat runaway state, it would have been a clean shoot. Even if you killed the sob.
 
I'd certainly shoot. The criminal has already demonstrated willingness to inflict serious bodily harm and his intentions by entering the vehicle are at best looking for cash. At worst, he's looking for a weapon or trying to steal the car, which will endanger other bystanders as he makes a reckless getaway.

The only circumstance in which I'd hesitate is if I'd dropped the fuel nozzle and was lying in a puddle of 87 octane. I hope then I'd have the presence of mind to stand up, and shoot him anyway.
 
I'd shoot . . . I would much rather stay alive and pay for an attorney than have my children pay for a mortician, then have to fight over my gun collection . . . but, that's just old "I want to survive" me . . . always thinking of the Kids . . . "if you mess with the bull . . . you get the horn."
 
I'd shoot aswell. This story is just another reason why I carry. You never know when the s*** will hit the fan.
 
Tall ~

Spoken like a true Montanan (born & raised near Anaconda, here). God Bless! The only "bad shot" is the one not taken when it should have been . . .
 
The answer is whatever a cop would do in this situation. Bad guy who just physically attacked you and your partner (wife) is reaching under the seat in his vehicle. Any cop I would assume would shoot, not waiting to find out what it is he's reaching for.
 
I read 16 replies before posting, so I dont know if the OP finished his story yet or not.. But, back to the question... If I have a gun in that situration, I'm playin for keeps.. I'd shoot.. You've already been assulted and fearing for your life, so I think that would constitue use of deadly force.. If you'd just been in an argument or something, and they're reaching into the back seat, ya need to wait and see what comes out.. (imo) But once he's already tried to kill you and your wife, Im fearing for my life until he's unconscious or gone from the scene.. Looking forward to finding out the outcome! Hope your friend and his wife are ok! (He must be since you said he "upgraded" weapons afterward) :)
 
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Lots of people have criticized the gun he was carrying...but a second point is that he had no backup weapon. "Two guns is one gun, one gun is no gun"....but neither does the OP relate that he was carrying a knife or any other item that he could reach in the fight. Certainly, had his wife also been carrying (as she'll be doing henceforth) that might have helped also....but had he had a second gun that he *could* reach, he and his wife might have fared better earlier on.

Fighting skills can be useful, but for us old fogeys with bad knees and arthritis from head to toe, it's probably better to be ready with a Plan B. And C. And possibly even D, if carrying all that won't cause your pants to fall down.

Springmom
 
Here's your problem;

"Nobody noticed one another."

Situational awareness is paramount. I've been training in SD for more than a little, and I can tell you that your brain is your best weapon.
 
Are you suggesting that I as an onlooker intervene or What I would do if I was the old man on the ground ?
Click to expand...

This poses a good "what if" question.. If you were an armed "onlooker" in this same situation, do you shoot the bg, or are you even allowed to shoot the bg??? Hope people are still reading the posts this far along, cause Im interested in hearing replies on this..
 
This poses a good "what if" question.. If you were an armed "onlooker" in this same situation, do you shoot the bg, or are you even allowed to shoot the bg??? Hope people are still reading the posts this far along, cause Im interested in hearing replies on this..
Click to expand...

At law, you are given the ability to defend a third party, although that defense can be very fact sensitive. Here, you would really have to be careful to know who is the BG. As a bystander, you'd probably miss the first few seconds and would just see a younger guy knocking down an older guy and maybe taking a swipe at his wife. Why? Nothing is mentioned of a robbery--which is a usual motive. Did the older guy 'write a check his body couldn't cash?'

As long as the younger guy has backed off, I'd be on the phone to 911 or make sure someone is on the phone to 911. Then, I'd be very likely to wade in and warn the younger guy off IF he goes for the old guy on the ground. And if the younger guy wants to get physical, or pulls a weapon then it's 'game on'. But if he backs off, and stays off, I'd stay put for a LEO to show up. I'd be in the middle between them, and I'd be darn sure to get his cars' license plate number.
 
He would be getting the golden ticket. Man hurt, wife punched in the face and he is reaching for? I don't think that I would have to think, I would just do. I haven't ever been in this position, so it is really hard to say, but I know me and I think I would unload when he turned to face me.:scrutiny:
 
I'd draw a bead and wait for him to turn around. If he comes up armed, I'd fire. Of course, it's impossible to say for sure until you're in the situation, but that's what I think I'd do.
RT
Click to expand...

I was going to plus 1 this one, then saw in a later post that this occured in Central Florida. FLorida has a liberal application of the castle doctrine. We have NO responsibility to retreat, even in public and more forgiving application of self-defense when attacked in public. Not quite up to Texas standards, but close enough. Number one I would NEVER be carrying just a derringer, but in this situation I would take my best shot. Or in this case, best two shots "cause he's getting both of them.

John
 
There is very little anywhere near the High Road I can say about the perp, other than what a low-life (remainder muttered in a low voice) he is...lemme see what he did

Jumped a guy from behind (think Old West "Back-Shootin' low-life Sidewinder") AND punched the Mrs. in the face. Cowardly low-life...NOT a real man.

At least the Deputy managed to catch the scum-bucket. Hopefully, Mr. No-Good-Nik will get a long and hospitable stay in the Cross-Bar Hotel.
 
Shoot, he may have his back to you but you have been assaulted, your wife was assaulted and you are still in fear of your life regardless of his current body posture.
 
you've got to take the shot. The man had assulted both him and his wife with lethal force and was rummaging in his car for his weapon so he could finish them off (steel pipe). If he had not found the pipe he may have just gotten in the car and ran them over. He had ALREADY assulted them with lethal force. It's a miracle that the neighbor and his wife survived because at their age and physical condition a choke hold or a blow to the head can easily kill you.

Shoot him. In the back in the front anywhere.
 
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