AMonger
Veteran Expediter
You remind me of an article I read. I had written a letter to Combat Handguns Magazine, and they published in their section where they analyze self-defense situations to demonstrate when using a gun is or isn't justified. The letter following mine was written by the type of security guard we all wish was flipping burgers for a living, as long as they're not ours.Broken window or not, the best thing legally is to drive away. Remember, YOU are the one escalating the use of force when you shot first and and ask questions later, and you WILL have to answer some hard questions later. Later when you are in a cell, and the other person is dead, then you will realize just how stupid it is to be acting macho, when driving away would have you driving merrily along to your pick up or drop off point.
He wrote that his state, forget which dumb@$$ state it was, doesn't/didn't allow individuals to carry except for guards and cops and such, and for guards, they had to be on-duty at the time. So Nimrod states that he considers himself on-call 24/7, so he always carries. He says he was at an ATM one night, an enclosed one, when some drunk or punk appeared in the doorway. He says he hit CANCEL on the transaction, pulled his gun and announced, "I AM IN FEAR FOR MY LIFE. MOVE, OR I'LL SHOOT YOU!" Right away, I'm going, "Rrrrriiiiiiiight."
I wish i had had an opportunity to speak with Numbnuts. I'd explain to him that while saying that you're on-call 24/7 may our may not work with a cop in a state in which they make a point of denying your right to carry, it certainly won't after a shooting, when they tear apart your every action and inaction to determine your motive and maybe hang you for it. They'd call that carrying an illegal weapon and add it to your charges.
Second, and more important, if you've got time to make announcements about how you are in fear for your life, you're not.
This was just a guy who wanted to carry a gun and found ways that, in his mind, got around the prohibitions. They likely wouldn't work in court, especially after a shooting in a state that doesn't want citizens armed.
Which brings us to our current situation. Calling your CMV your home and declaring that you have an absolute right to shoot anyone who breaks the plane, so to speak, sounds good, and I sympathize, but it may not, in fact, probably won't, fly in court.
Ah, extra rights...gotta love 'em. How long, service-wise, does it take to get the retired-officer dispensation? And what if they don't want just the van, but your life, or your wife's, uh, let's just say they want something from your wife she doesn't want to give? Bet you'd miss your gun then.I can legally carry nationwide, but I leave the gun at home when I'm on a run. If it gets to the point of them getting van, let them have it, that's what insurance is for.