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[Eagle Eye]

In 1984 I lived in Brandon Florida, just outside Tampa.  One night the wife and I were driving home from a friends house, using a rental car.  It had Michigan tags on it.  My car was in the shop.  A pickup truck with some good ole boys thought they had some Yankees in the hood and decided to give us a hard time by tailgating us on a rural road.  I tapped the brakes just to let him know I wanted him to back off, but that was just fuel for his intentions.  Even so, when I stopped at an intersection they got out and were going to attack us with bats.  When they saw my equalizer, they thought twice and took off.  When I reported it to the Florida Highway Patrol, the officer told me they were guilty of battery.  I had the tag number so the driver was picked up that night, right out of his bed. 

According to the officer, anytime you approach someone else threatening them, it is considered battery.  Touching or hitting them would add assult to the charge.  Self defense is just that.  We do not have to be victims. 

[Midnight Rider]

run away.......run away.    har.  spyder

If I have the chance, that's what I'll do.  The last thing I'd ever want to do is hurt somebody, but I guarantee that I would have no issue killing somebody who was trying to hurt me, or especially my wife.  I'm not saying I'd react WELL to the situation, but some people don't need to be on the planet.  So far, I have not ever been put in a situation where my life was actually threatened, so I guess I don't really know how I'd react, but somebody's gonna' die if it ever comes to that.  I'd feel worse about killing a dog than I would some people...

My wife of 24 years (wife number 1...I'm on 3 now  ) took a training course with the local police dept some years back so she could at least learn how to shoot and when to do so.  The cop who taught the class told them to empty the gun in 'em if they are in your house, or even if they are attempting to come in.  He said that old wive's tale about them having to be in your house is BS...if they end up on the front porch, that's OK.  He also advised NOT to tell the LEO anything immediately after the event, other than "I was in fear for my life, or my loved one's life".  Call a lawyer and make a statement after you've had time to actually think about what happened.

[porthole]

He said that old wive's tale about them having to be in your house is BS...if they end up on the front porch, that's OK. 

The "Castle Doctrine" is not valid in all States.

[spydglide]

The "Castle Doctrine" is not valid in all States.

It will be here in a few days.  spyder

[charles05663]

In Vermont they send you to jail for protecting yourself.     If you shoot someone here trying to do you harm, I will almost guarantee that you will be tried in a court of law.  I can think of three cases in as many years where someone ended up in prison for doing so.

[spydglide]

In Vermont they send you to jail for protecting yourself.     If you shoot someone here trying to do you harm, I will almost guarantee that you will be tried in a court of law.  I can think of three cases in as many years where someone ended up in prison for doing so.

Too many places have become like that........not sure why people chose to live under those laws.   spyder

[DOOFUS]

No, I do not carry mostly.  Here's why.  A smart firearms instructor told me decades ago, " The need to carry off duty or as a civilian is usually dictated by geography.  Ask yourself, why are you in a place that requires you to carry?"  Just passing along the wisdom of another.  DOOFUS

[PASN YU]

I think maybe in the past you could say something like only go where there are good people. It's not that way anymore. There are bad people that wish to do you harm everywhere. I know that sounds a little paranoid but I prefer to be prepared and always carry. Better to have and not need then to need and not have.  

[LovemyCVOgirl]

I think maybe in the past you could say something like only go where there are good people. It's not that way anymore. There are bad people that wish to do you harm everywhere. I know that sounds a little paranoid but I prefer to be prepared and always carry. Better to have and not need then to need and not have.  

Totally agree!  We may be able to control our environment where we live but we can't control the people that pass through our neighborhood's that are bad.  So, carry and be prepared 

[mrmagloo]

I do think it's interesting that the older folks get, the scarier they perceive the world to be.

I don't think there's any evidence to suggest the world now is any more dangerous than in years gone by, except perhaps the Mesozoic era.

Just saying...

[porthole]

You see what happened in the Bronx the other day?


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[Midnight Rider]

Crime Rate[9][10] 1960 1961 1963 1965 1967 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2010
Violent crime rate 160.9 158.1 168.2 200.2 253.2 328.7 396.0 417.4 487.8 475.9 548.9 594.3 537.7 556.6 609.7 663.1 758.2 747.1 684.5 611.0 523.0 504.5 475.8 469.0 472.0 429.4 403.6
Homicide rate 5.1 4.8 4.6 5.1 6.2 7.3 8.6 9.4 9.6 8.8 9.8 9.8 8.3 8.0 8.3 8.7 9.8 9.5 8.2 6.8 5.7 5.6 5.7 5.6 5.7 5.0 4.8
Property crime rate 1,726 1,747 2,012 2,249 2,736 3,351 3,769 3,737 4,811 4,602 5,017 5,264 4,637 4,650 4,940 5,078 5,140 4,740 4,591 4,316 3,744 3,658 3,591 3,432 3,277 3,036 2,941

Crimes per 100,000 population

This table would not copy/paste formatted correctly, but you get the idea.  There was a fairly dramatic increase throughout most of the 90's, but has been steadily decreasing over the past several years.  It still remains much higher per 100K than it was 50 years ago, when I was a kid.  A great deal of the decrease can possibly be attributed to baby boomers aging...even seasoned criminals get too old to do things they might have done in their younger years.  There are other possible contributing factors as well, but some of them are socially/politically sensitive, so won't be mentioned here.  And there are certain areas of the country that have seen dramatic increases in the last few years.  The Homicide rate is about the same as it was in 1960, but any given individual is over 2 times more likely to be on the receiving end of a violent crime...same holds true for property crimes.  Ever read any research about what happens when there's too many rats in the tank?  It ain't pretty. 

[spydglide]

Thanks for the statistics TC.  I'd hate to think that I'm becoming more paranoid as I age (didn't think that it was possible for me to become more so )    I do agree that as we age we start to become more realistic and less 'bullet-proof' and some of us actually slow down and stay on the porch more than others.  Right Harry?  har.  spyder

[Midnight Rider]

Spydy...I've never been one to be overly concerned for my safety, as evidenced by the fact that I didn't even own a handgun until about 20 years ago.  And like you said, when I was younger, I was invincible...at least that's what I thought...or I didn't GAS...can't figure out which.  And, I typcially limit my social activities to those areas of B'ham that are safer than other areas.  But, I still go out occasionally to a couple of local pubs/bars to shoot pool or listen to some music, which increases the likelyhood of running into somebody that you don't need to run into.  Mostly, we just go to a couple of local places to get something to eat/drink...kind of like Cheers.  Even then, my main concern is the safety of my wife, not myself.  It's not the people my age that concern me, it's the younguns', and I'm way too old for fisticuffs.  What's the saying...Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill 

There are several areas of B'ham that I would not even dream of going into without an Uzi, but they are on the other side of town.  Traveling is my biggest concern this day and time.

[Big Dog]

For those lucky enough to carry.


http://www.versacarry.com/