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Story: Violent crime fell again last year
More crime data: Details for Hampton Roads cities
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The drop in crime
is an extra 5 to 7 percent of our working population sitting home on the defensive.
Concealed, crime prevented.
Once quite a while ago when my children were much younger my wife, children and I were approached late at night after a family event. After the rejection for money the situation became hostile but a quick view of what was holstered under my jacket and the person in question was gone.
Oh, my hero!
Would you have actually used what I am assuming was the gun holstered under your jacket? Would you have drawn and fired a weapon in front of your wife and kids? Would you have killed another man, in front of your innocent family, all because you didn't want to surrender a few measly dollars to some punk? Think about it.
Appeasement doesn't work
Based on your statement I'll assume that you would have given up the "few measly dollars" (it doesn't sound like you would have been armed). Of course that doesn't mean the "punk" would have left it at that. You could fork over your wallet and still end up dead. A simple mugging can get worse in a flash; you have no idea what their motive is. Appeasing bullies and thugs only emboldens them and your particular attitude marks you as prey. The original poster took a preemptive move to show the thug what he was up against. It seems to have de-escalated the situation without bloodshed and yet you still complain.
Like most people, I would not kill a man over a few dollars. But I would kill in self defense or to protect my family; without hesitation. Doing it in front of my wife and children wouldn't be a factor because being traumatized by that event would still be preferable to being harmed or killed. You go ahead and be a victim. You can't make the rest of us do it.
TO each his own
I would not have displayed my firearm to deter a criminal. Brandishing is unlawful.
Had I felt my life or that of my family members to be threatened with immediate serious harm, I would not have given up the tactical advantage of surprise by warning him. If telling him to go away and leave me alone was insufficient to end the threat, I would have simply shot him until I was confident he no longer posed a threat. He would not have even known I was armed until he saw the flash. If he backed off, he would never have known was armed.
If others choose to place their lives at risk by giving up tactical advantage, that is their choice, but I would not risk my life, nor especially those of my family, by giving a criminal an even chance.
So, a word to the wise, don't threaten an apparently unarmed stranger, it might be me and I might think you mean it.
Pathetic
What would you have done?
personal responsibility
First I want to say "God bless You"! for taking care of your primary responsibility to protect your wife and children. Who knows what this thug might have done un-checked! Our Founding Fathers had far greater vision, than the gun-banners of today, when creating the 2nd amendment right. These criminals are far more aggressive than the "pan-handlers" of yore. I had a similar experience, and doubtless, it would have progressed to violence, had I not been armed. The fewer accounts of resistance they are met with, the bolder they get! Bearing arms, has been leveling the "playing field" since the bandits of history. Th0ose who would relieve us of these rights, cannot fathom the pain of living with the knowledge that you were unable to protect your loved ones, because you were unprepared.
p.s. protect what is yours i.e. your family, and your rights ! ! !
1st amendment and the law
Forget the right to carry arms. Crime is all about education. Those without it eventually commit crimes either violent or subtle like cheating on taxes because they sincerely think it is ok because everyone does it.
The only way to keep people informed is through the media, which has an obligation to report facts and not generate them.
This latest report on crime clearly states it all, however the media creates rules that will not allow it to actually print the facts.
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??????????????
It seems YOU need some education. How 'bout Real World 101? These thugs have been offered education, they chose the alternative, i.e. it is much easier to take from others, than learn to work for and earn!
The individual, in the letter preceeding yours dispatched a bad element, by simply displaying his intent to protect his family with force. This alone was enough counter-incentive to re-think his criminal motives, and there consequences! You, in an uneducated attempt to protect these thugs, would relieve this American of his RIGHT to protect him, and his family from the robbery, rape, maiming, and/or murder, of those dear to him! You should pray forgivrness (if you have faith), or thank your "lucky Stars", if you do not, that if you were in harms way, @ the hands of these animals, someone like this man (or I) could be near by, to assist you !
I fully support VA's gun
I fully support VA's gun laws and feel right at home with my fellow law abiders carrying concealed. I believe it is a determent to crime, and preserves a cherished freedom provided by our second amendment.
I personally don't feel the need to be armed, but fully respect people who feel they have a need to do so legally. So please indulge me if I pose a case scenario tied to a recent crime.
Recently at the oceanfront somebody was attacked by an individual with a samurai sword. Would any you CWP carriers feel compelled to draw and stop this crime ? Would you be willing to take on the role of a police officer and try save this victims life? Would the law be on your side if you asked the perp to drop his weapon, and if he continued his attack, you attempted to pick him off possibly killing him ?