What are your thoughts on self defense?

[skippythwndrdog]

When it justified?

Is it ever justified?

How much force is enough?

This article got me to thinking:

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/3734253/detail.html

I think the P.O. did the right thing under the circumstances.

[istruthfull]

1. everyone

Everyone should be able to protect their family and themselves. You don't kill when maiming is sufficient, you don't maim when wounding is sufficient, you don't wound when hurting is sufficient, you don't hurt when you can walk away.

[Qutzupalotl]

2. If it comes down to him or me dying,

I'm going to make damn sure it's him and not me.

That's my rule of thumb. For police officers (I am not one), it's more difficult to instantly deduce when a person is a threat, and to what extent. But any assault on a police officer is a crime, and force is sometimes needed and warranted.

[Kolesar]

3. I would kill someone coming after me with a club

Especially considering that the man could have stayed in his Honda.

[FatSlob]

4. Nobody here would object to this shoot.

1st things first...get home alive.

[Semi_subversive]

5. If it had been me

I'd have fired when they started to drag me out of the car. This guy showed great restraint.

[greendeerslayer]

6. thoughts

I'm licensed to carry a handgun in my state so I've thought about this a lot. If someone is stealing my stereo or truck they can go ahead and I'll just call the cops. But if I believe my life or the life and limb of family is threatened I will shoot to kill without hesitation.

[FatSlob]

7. To answer the questions...

When it justified?

When being attacked or threatened

Is it ever justified?

HELL YES, see above.

How much force is enough?

Enough to stop the threat.

[goju]

8. He had it coming

Wanna be a tough guy, dont expect you will be the only one.

I went through something similar a couple years ago. No shooting involved but it was a road rager. Poor guy :)

[Speak no evil]

9. Taking life is very serious, but self defense is justified

There are those that argue you and I don't need guns to protect ourselves because that is the job of the police.

The police are very busy and respond to the most serious crimes first. This means they investigate homicides first, burglaries second and prowlers last. If the prowler you call in turns homicidal, the cops will investigate your case according to priority - it is up to you to prevent your case from becoming a homicide investigation.

Think about it another way; if you are not willing to work at saving your own life, why should a cop risk his life to save yours? It is much safer for the cop to investigate your death than to try and prevent it.

The fact that a home owner may be armed makes prowlers think twice before forcing their way into a dwelling known to be occupied because they are afraid of being shot. If the home owner is disarmed by law, the reduced risk of criminals being hurt on the job makes burglary and robbery much more attractive.

Even if you don't want to own guns, the fact that some of your neighbors do reduces your risk of being accosted in your own home.

[Jack_DeLeon]

10. Thats definately self defense...

A while back here in Houston there was a similar incident.

I dont remember what started it but in the end someone stopped in front of someone else at a traffic light, he got out and started pounding on the other guys windows with his fists and cracked the window. The guy in the car shot him through the window and it was ruled self defense.

So if you can shoot someone pounding on your car while you are in it, you can definately shoot someone who has pulled you out of you car and is beating on you.