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Teen pulling prank killed by neighbor
The Palm Beach Post ^ | Sunday, October 26 | Sarah Eisenhauer and Cynthia Kopkowski

Posted on 10/26/2003 4:41:29 AM PST by lifacs

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To: lifacs
I agree. Excessive.
161 posted on 10/26/2003 8:13:42 AM PST by poindexter
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To: Shooter 2.5
The most stupid and ignorant advice suddenly becomes brilliant if it works

Laugh!

. . . but so true.

162 posted on 10/26/2003 8:14:08 AM PST by Flyer (You get more with a smile, a kind word and a gun than with a smile and a kind word)
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To: WoofDog123
Something I haven't seen mentioned on this thread is that the homeowner was almost certainly disoriented, having been suddenly awoken. I know that that sort of sudden-wake-up wth adrenalin, fear, etc, can seriously impair normal judgement and reasoning. It is quite different than being wide awake when the banging starts.

That is an excellent point. I wonder if the homeowner's story can be confirmed?

Another thing I wondered about was the gun. The story doesn't mention what kind of gun it was other than being a handgun. If the kid was able to run to a neighbor's yard after being shot, this was no high-powered gun.

163 posted on 10/26/2003 8:14:29 AM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: NoControllingLegalAuthority
Not everyone who knocks on your door late at night needs to be shot dead.

I know I certainly would not. I'm just not that scared I guess.

164 posted on 10/26/2003 8:14:59 AM PST by FITZ
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To: poindexter
Excessive stupidity meets excessive force.

Darwin moves in mysterious ways.

165 posted on 10/26/2003 8:15:21 AM PST by Wormwood
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To: LurkedLongEnough
Investigators questioned Levin at his home at 6115 Woodbury Road and collected evidence but did not take him into custody, Carhart said.

Evidently the presstitutes account of this event is different from the LEO's first hand knowledge or Mr Levin would be in the pokey IMO.

Stay Safe !

166 posted on 10/26/2003 8:15:38 AM PST by Squantos ("Ubi non accusator, ibi non judex.")
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To: Ditter
I agree. Kids will be kids, but what kind of dumba$$ would open the door to a suspected burgler? No excuse.
167 posted on 10/26/2003 8:15:58 AM PST by m18436572
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To: NoControllingLegalAuthority
I see. Well, how about this? "I just wanted to tell you smoke and flames are pouring out of your attic. I called the fire department but wanted to alert anyone in the house."

So was there a fire at the homeowners house that our "good citizen" felt compelled to tell him about?

How about, "Your son was injured down the street, Mr. Smith, and I thought you'd want to know immediately."

Was our "good samaritan" trying to inform the homeowner that his son had been injured?

Or was the "angel child" knocking on the door as a prelude to a violent home invasion or robbery?

168 posted on 10/26/2003 8:17:29 AM PST by Mulder (Fight the future)
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To: lifacs
It's tragic, very tragic.

But the solution is simple. Incredibly simple.

Don't go and intentionally disturb people you don't know "for fun". Leave people alone. Don't assume that someone is going to act in a particular way. Mind your own business, have the party at your house, go to the school carnival, and whatever else. That's all good. But why do you have to intentionally wake the whole neighborhood up at midnight?

Someone in that house might be sick. There may be a sleeping baby with colic who is now screaming to the top of it's lungs and suffering. Maybe an insomniac just took his sleeping pills and finally fell into slumber for the first time in three days. Someone might have had a really, really bad day for any number of reasons. You don't know.

Why selfishly interject yourself into other people's lives? Not only is it incredibly impolite, but it's risky nowadays. Is ringing a doorbell and running so fun that it is really worth that risk?

Personally I don't see the entertainment value whatesover. What do you get out of doing that?

There are other ways for kids to entertain themselves.

The shooter made a really bad decision, but he really didn't ask to make the decision. There was no good reason for him to make the decision. It was forced upon him minutes after being awakened in the middle of the night.

If you have kids, tell them to leave people alone and behave themsleves. You never know what the next guy is going to do. It's not worth it.

169 posted on 10/26/2003 8:17:56 AM PST by Stu Cohen
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To: fightu4it
"In the area of this Country where I live, if you are pounding on someone's door in the middle of the night you are going to be met with a gun. If you are 6+ foot and over 190lbs. you had better be standing way back from the door with a smile on your face."

In the 70s, I was in door to door sales and we were taught that anytime you are at someone's door, that after knocking or ringing the bell, to move back 3 steps so that you do not appear threatening and always to wear a smile. I still follow that advice now.

Standing close in an invasion of personal space that offends or intimitates the majority of people. Just doing something dumb like that could cost you the sale or the opportunity to even present your product.

Or in this case, your life.

170 posted on 10/26/2003 8:18:03 AM PST by Badray (Molon Labe!)
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To: Lancey Howard
That is a flawed premise.

Only, if you always answer the door carrying a loaded firearm. I'd say a reasonable person would conclude you ain't expecting a bouquet of flowers from the visitor. If you feel the need to carry a loaded firearm to the door for every visitor, MOVE!

171 posted on 10/26/2003 8:18:09 AM PST by NoControllingLegalAuthority
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To: lifacs
Punk should not have been trespassing on another's property. Sad that it happened. But the homeowner should not be charged.

parents, keep track of your kids and make sure they are not out wondering the streets in the middle of the night.

172 posted on 10/26/2003 8:20:25 AM PST by mrfixit514
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To: FITZ
Home invasion robberies are a bit more common today than 20 or 50 years ago.

FITZ: I know --- I think that's the real problem. Drug addicts wanting their money for cocaine and crack, violent criminals not spending much time in prison.

One of my aged aunts shot a guy who had shovelled her walk before ... this time he came 'calling' at 4 AM ... she said several silent prayers though all this - and finally decided on her final 'course' of action when said she 'remembered' that "there was money in the closet". That's where she kept her late husband's gun.

Thinking fast, 85-year-old woman kills attacker with hidden handgun

Copyright 1997 Nando.net
Copyright 1997 The Associated Press

MUSKEGON, Mich. (Jan 2, 1997 5:54 p.m. EST) -- Threatened with rape by a ransacking intruder, 85-year-old Alberta Nicles thought fast and fired faster Thursday, riddling the man with bullets from a gun her late husband had hidden in the closet.

"I shot him and he's lying on the floor dead in the closet right next to my bedroom," Mrs. Nicles said later in a 911 call from a neighbor's house. "I shot him all over."

Mrs. Nicles told police she was awakened about 4 a.m. Thursday by the intruder, who apparently had cut the phone line and was ransacking the house.

"He took her around the house looking for money. They ended up back in her bedroom," said police Sgt. Jeff Felinski.

Mrs. Nicles told police the man removed her pajama pants. Then she remembered her late husband's handgun, which was in a holster hidden under blankets in a closet.

She told the intruder there was money in the closet. She grabbed the gun, stuck it in his stomach and began firing.

The slain man was identified as Michael Moore, 32, who had assault convictions and was awaiting trial on a home-invasion charge. Prosecutors said Mrs. Nicles paid him $5 last week to shovel snow from her walkway.

"He was planning on taking advantage of the vulnerability of an elderly person," said Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague. "I think we have a very courageous woman who handled herself better than most people half her age."

Tague said no criminal charges would be filed. Mrs. Nicles could not be reached for comment. A woman answering the phone hung up.

http://www.old-yankee.com/rkba/armcit/armc597.html
173 posted on 10/26/2003 8:21:45 AM PST by _Jim (<--- Rush speaks on gutless 'Liberalism' (RealAudio files))
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To: BOBWADE
Shot in the back does makes this look bad

The article doesn't say that the kid was shot in the back. The article says the family CONTENDS the kid was shot in the back. Every time someone is shot doing something wrong the family and the friends of the dead guy always CLAIM he was shot in the back and therefore was no threat and shouldn't have been shot.

174 posted on 10/26/2003 8:22:02 AM PST by metalurgist (Death to the democrats!)
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To: Badray
In the 70s, I was in door to door sales and we were taught that anytime you are at someone's door, that after knocking or ringing the bell, to move back 3 steps so that you do not appear threatening and always to wear a smile.

Very good advice. When I have occasion to be at someone's door (even if it's someone that I know), I always step back at least 7 or 8 feet from the door. I also make sure to take my hands out of my pockets.

175 posted on 10/26/2003 8:22:09 AM PST by Mulder (Fight the future)
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To: Shooter 2.5
I believe there is similar advice in Ayoob's book "In the Gravest Extreme"
176 posted on 10/26/2003 8:22:26 AM PST by Tijeras_Slim (SSDD - Same S#it Different Democrat)
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To: lifacs
Even in Texas, with one of the most liberal self-defense laws in the nation (you can use deadly force against someone whom you think is stealing or attempting to steal property at night), this man did not use lethal force appropriately.

He deserves at least a manslaughter charge.

177 posted on 10/26/2003 8:23:36 AM PST by sinkspur (Adopt a dog or a cat from a shelter. You will save one life, and may save two.)
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To: Mulder
I always step back at least 7 or 8 feet from the door. I also make sure to take my hands out of my pockets.

And smile. Always smile ...

178 posted on 10/26/2003 8:27:54 AM PST by _Jim (<--- Rush speaks on gutless 'Liberalism' (RealAudio files))
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To: muawiyah
If he hadn't heard fire sirens, he wouldn't have heard the "loud pop" either.

The witness claimed to have heard nothing--no running footsteps, no giggling, no doorbells, no knocking on doors, nothing until the shot. Even though this allegedly had happened all up and down the block. Hmmmmmm.

179 posted on 10/26/2003 8:27:54 AM PST by Smokin' Joe
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To: Mulder
I always step back at least 7 or 8 feet from the door. I also make sure to take my hands out of my pockets.

And smile. Always smile ...

180 posted on 10/26/2003 8:27:55 AM PST by _Jim (<--- Rush speaks on gutless 'Liberalism' (RealAudio files))
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