Posted on 04/04/2015 8:26:47 AM PDT by marktwain
The young woman shown above was clearly justified in shooting the ex-boyfriend who attacked her. There were witnesses. She repeatedly attempted to disengage, and only resorted to shooting after being repeatedly attacked. From clicktohouston.com:
The woman said she was forced to shoot her ex-boyfriend in the leg because he was threatening to hurt her. Houston police said the man started following the woman near Highway 59 and South Gessner Wednesday morning and things escalated from there. Investigators said at one point he forced his way into her car and tried to crash it.
"He came banging on the window, he forced her away from the driver's side to the passenger side, then he became the driver. Once he was inside the vehicle, he was hitting her in the face, and other stuff ensued, and she pulled out her weapon and shot him in self-defense," said Clint Ponder, with the Houston Police Department.
Justified.
It is to bad we let the government get so far down the gun control road in this country. We need an immediate return to maximum firearm freedom, minimum gubmint interference.
Yes. She was justified in her shooting.
I contend that on freerepublic, she is Not Guilty.
If you are going to shoot anybody, shoot to kill. If you are willing to use a lethal weapon, then use it for its intended purpose.
Not criticizing, just saying.
Poor thing looks stunned and in shock while sitting in that car. She shot him in the leg. The fact that she protected herself is good. However, I have to wonder what will happen to him when he is released from the hospital and subsequent police custody? If she was my daughter, she would be packed up and sent to a loving relative to keep her safe. The ex has proven himself to be violent. I just hope there isn’t any further violence perpetrated upon this young woman.
If you are entitled to use deadly force, you probably shouldn’t be shooting someone in the leg. Although it isn’t clear whether the car was moving at the time.
How do you know what her intentions were? I contend that she was driving, fighting and apparently also shooting to defend herself. Did she close an eye and aim while using a good stance with both hands on the gun? I doubt that too. But your comment can be found on every single FR self defense shooting thread unless the bad guy took two in the chest and one in the head.
BUMP
It does seem like she talked to the police before seeing a lawyer. What happens if you have a vehemently anti-gun prosecutor and you confess to some minor technical violation of how you were carrying or use the wrong words like being in fear of your safety rather than fear of your life? Shut up and talk to a lawyer before talking to the cops...even in Texas.
Again not judging her, just a general statement. If that was all she could hit, well, so be it.
The decision to draw a weapon indicates a willingness to use lethal force. The possession and use of a firearm is very serious and should be treated as such.
Unfortunately, we have heard any number of people calling for police to shoot with the intent to wound. We also know that is unsound advice for any number of reasons.
Again, the general rules are to not draw a gun unless ready to use lethal force, and don’t own a gun unless you know how to, and are prepared to, use it.
This would be one of those "Had to be there" situations where a split second
judgment call was required involving personal safety also.
She missed his balls, aim for the balls!
Yes, she may have hit him in the thigh and been aiming a bit higher and toward the middle.
Still, it was probably a strategic error to leave him alive at this point.
Wasn’t there, just offering general guidance.
What is really needed (and would have been especially appropriate in this case) is the implementation of principles such as those shown here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bm3GgDxPOM
“If you are going to shoot anybody, shoot to kill. If you are willing to use a lethal weapon, then use it for its intended purpose.”
I believe that the above advise is unsound for a number of reasons.
First, every credible trainer that I know of advises people to shoot to stop the attack, not to shoot to kill. Shooting to stop may kill the attacker, and it may not. Shooting to kill shows a very likely illegal intent.
Second, the intended purpose of deadly weapons is highly debatable. If their purpose is to kill people, the vast majority fail miserably.
I contend that the purpose of deadly weapons (and all firearms) is to project force. In interpersonal relationships, it is to gain compliance, one way or another.
This seldom, but sometimes, involves killing.
She needs counseling, not handcuffs
“He came banging on the window, he forced her away from the driver’s side to the passenger side, then he became the driver”
That doesn’t make any sense. How about, lock your door. Actually that particular vehicle locks as soon as you put it in drive. But whatever. You’re in a damn car. Drive away.
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