Attemted Robbery/Stabbing in Myrtle Beach

[SpidyJ]

So a girl was getting some cash from an ATM near my home last night.
A punk comes up to her an says give me the cash or I'll stab you,  as he brandished a used hypodermic needle.
She being a CWP holder draws her weapon and says "I dare you!"
He says "Why you gotta do that?" and runs away.

I really wonder if it had been me would I have fired or not.
 

[Gavin_Sons]

I would have fired. As soon as he said I'll stab you it's a matter of life or death. Yes you could give up the money but who is to say he wouldn't have stabbed you anyway.

[old2soon]

THAT is a case of-don't bring a hypodermic needle to a gun fight!  Course amongst my thoughts would be-aides infected needle.  Just sayin!  RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

Shooting would probably have been justified (and here, it REALLY helps to be a girl).

But safely holding him at bay/distance and making him run involves so much less paperwork, and interrogation, and possible grand jury, and possible trial with attorney fees, and possible civil rights marches and visits from Al and Eric and a media frenzy, and a civil suit for wrongful death.  

What no one can know is if this perp later graduates to really hurting or killing someone (or more than one), in which case killing him (or seriously injuring him on his way to prison) sooner would have been a real public service.

The two times I produced a firearm in fear of my safety, that was all it took.  I didn't have to shoot them, so I didn't.  (and they never got within arms reach)  But if you are not willing to shoot, you should never draw (or carry at all).

What do you want? ..........  I want to be somewhere else.  

[JimC]

What no one can know is if this perp later graduates to really hurting or killing someone (or more than one), in which case killing him (or seriously injuring him on his way to prison) sooner would have been a real public service.

That was my thought also, next time he will wait until someone is not looking and just bang them over the head with a hammer, that way the carry permit holder would not have a chance. I'm not saying I would have shot him either, but I would not have shed a tear if she did.

Jim

[Jess from VA]

When I said it really helps to be a girl, it was not in jest.

You probably all know this, but it bears repeating.  When you consider applying force to anyone, fists or lethal, one of the many quick to instantaneous evaluations you must always make is an assessment of relative size, weight, age, strength, handicap, drug/alcohol impairment, and gender (yours to theirs).  Not only to avoid getting your ass kicked by a superior opponent, but should you prevail, how it looks under the microscope after all the reports are taken, a file is created, and then evaluated by cops and prosecutors, and ultimately judges and jurors.  

A skinny kid with a syringe might be shot dead by a female, and found justified (girls and small or old women will very often be given the benefit of the doubt).  The identical facts (and perp) applied to a grown man, in good size and shape, perhaps a veteran with some documented training, might be found to have used lethal force when it was not reasonably necessary;  i.e. given the relative size and weight, yada factors,  the skinny kid with a syringe is now not viewed as a lethal threat.  Even with a chance of aids or Hep C (after all that's just a guess or remote possibility), your stated fear of life or grievous bodily harm is now found to be UNreasonable, and it is decided your case will be referred to a grand jury and maybe a trial.  Especially if the needle is subsequently tested and found to be negative for anything but heroin.  Even though you didn't know (for sure) there was no deadly infection on the needle, it would be pretty hard to kill you with an uninfected needle if you are twice the perp's size, weight and strength.  Druggie needles are tiny little things, not like those used on horses.

If a skinny kid with a needle did not heed my pistol and charged anyway, I would be inclined to sidestep him and smash him in the face with my pistol (and I'm 62 and 5'9").  I've participated in a number of felony trials and observed many more, and I don't want to be the defendant in one if at all possible.  Remember, even if you win, you lose (grief, time and a lot of money) (and maybe a civil wrongful death case, even if you are acquitted of criminal charges).  

 

[2tonevalk]

What no one can know is if this perp later graduates to really hurting or killing someone (or more than one), in which case killing him (or seriously injuring him on his way to prison) sooner would have been a real public service.

That was my thought also, next time he will wait until someone is not looking and just bang them over the head with a hammer, that way the carry permit holder would not have a chance. I'm not saying I would have shot him either, but I would not have shed a tear if she did.

Jim

I'm a firm believer in "Kill em the first time, and you dont have to worry about repeat offenders."
But seriously, I can see her point of view.  The press would have torn her limb from limb.  That is saddest part of it all.