RadioBanter - View Single Post

July 22nd 03, 07:00 AM

On 22 Jul 2003 04:25:54 GMT, ospam (Larry Roll K3LT)
wrote:

If an armed robber walks into a Seven Eleven and points his gun at
Mr. Singh behind the counter, does Mr. Singh have the right to pull
*his* gun and kill the robber? Remember two things -- 1. You don't
believe in killing. 2. It is impossible to pick up a gun, point it at a
human being, and pull the trigger without the rational expectation that
you will kill the person you're aiming at. Now, please answer the Q.

1. This happens more often than many people realize. The legal
complexities of the situation are myriad and, as I understand it,
hinges largely on whether or not the intended victim (Mr. Singh) had
legitimate reason to believe that he was about to be shot no matter
what else he did.

2. There are some states in which Mr. Singh could splatter the
robber's brains all over the counter with the reasonable expectation
that a grand jury would refuse to indict him afterward. In Texas, a
guy shot a would-be carjacker to death a few years back, and the grand
jury refused to return an indictment.

Beyond those considerations, there are two differing responses to the
above situation.

The liberal response (common in New York, where I live): "Well, that
isn't enough information to properly answer the question, we need to
discuss the applicable statues where Mr. Singh's business is located,
along with about a hundred other considerations, and we'll get back to
you with an answer in about ten years.

The conservative response (common in Texas, where I believe Kim
lives): BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! (Sound
of magazine being ejected and a fresh one rammed into place, followed
by the sound of the slide racking another round into the chamber)

Mr. Singh: "Did he move or was I seeing things?"

Mr. Singh's 16-year old son: "He moved, dad, I saw him!"

Mrs. Singh: "I think our son is right."

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!

Mr. Singh's 9-year old daughter: "Nice group, daddy!"

73 DE John, KC2HMZ