I would have hit him a LOT harder than that with the chair - could have ended things immediately.

These days, I'd wonder if he'd be hit with some assault charge for attacking the robber without being directly threatened. Later on if the robber got hurt badly or permanently, would his family could sue him for that assault?

quote:

Originally posted by bryan11:
These days, I'd wonder if he'd be hit with some assault charge for attacking the robber without being directly threatened. Later on if the robber got hurt badly or permanently, would his family could sue him for that assault?

Civil suits are a risk of our society. But no criminal charges would be filed here in Utah. Even Lethal force is acceptable if someone else is in danger of imminent bodily injury or harm.

Now, with California's "duty to retreat" laws, maybe.

I wonder if Starbucks will compensate him for his injuries?

quote:

Originally posted by Tailhook 84:
Personal Lessons Learned from the video:

1. Don't go into battle wearing flip-flops.

This is something I’ve been thinking about for a long time as I watch people and wonder about the whole preparedness thing that gets discussed so often here. Most of the ones I see wearing flip-flops aren’t, of course, any more prepared for bad things to happen than having their water bottle or coffee cup pacifiers to keep themselves hydrated and their smart phones so they can record whatever calamities befall them, but what about the rest of us?

We wouldn’t leave home without a gun or at least some sort of weapon any more than without our pants. The more thoughtful carry extra ammo and flashlights, and probably a utility knife of some sort. But do we venture forth with just a scrap of rubber or plastic away from being barefoot?

I don’t often tell war stories, but one of the first lessons I learned in Viet Nam was about that. Being in intelligence, our compound was near some others, but completely separated. During the first attack on our area, I did what all the other CI agents did: donned helmet and flak jacket, grabbed my M16 and bandoleer of magazines, and slipped into my shower shoes (as we called them then). After the incident I realized how flimsy and unstable the flip-flops were and realized what it would have been like if we’d had to retreat through the jungly vegetation, war debris, and barbed wire barriers that surrounded the area.

That sobering thought led me to say, “Oh, hell no!” about ever leaving my room in flip-flops again. Strangely, none of the other people in my little unit ever seemed to think about that. It never became an issue, but I vowed that if the commies got me it wouldn’t be because I couldn’t move as fast as my well-protected feet could carry me. The same is true today.

I have never worn flip flops and rarely even sandals. Even scandals must have sturdy straps.

quote:

Originally posted by bryan11:
These days, I'd wonder if he'd be hit with some assault charge for attacking the robber without being directly threatened. Later on if the robber got hurt badly or permanently, would his family could sue him for that assault?

I don't know about the law in Cali, but in Texas the law allows this. Very clearly. Here, force can be used to prevent the risk of injury or death, or even taking someone else's property.

quote:

Originally posted by PorterN:
Now, with California's "duty to retreat" laws, maybe.

...which don't exist

Fresno PoliceChief Jerry Dyer: "Tut, tut. Tut, tut. Tut, tut, tut, tut-tut."

quote:

Originally posted by 9mmepiphany:

quote:

Originally posted by PorterN:
Now, with California's "duty to retreat" laws, maybe.

...which don't exist

In the mind of the judiciary, they most certainly do.

quote:

Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
Watching that video, the perp held on to the gun for a while. The whole thing could have gone either way for awhile. Good on the guy for taking action but he really should have ended it with the first blow with the chair.

It looked like the force of the blow got him in the back. The head or neck would have made more sense.