'Guns in the hands of good people'

York Daily Record ^ | 17 August, 2008 | BRIAN FENTIMAN

[marktwain]

First person account of what happened. It has the sound of authenticity. In a sane society, Mr. Fentiman would be applauded for his actions.

[AnAmericanMother]

In a sane society, people like the perps would not have been running wild threatening strangers, unless they were on meth or drunk out of their minds.

The knowledge that one will be ventilated if one attacks people on the street is very sobering to all but the most abandoned.

[JillValentine]

I wish that people who are really into Quentin Tarantino movies would read this so they could see what killing is really like. Even people with professional training will feel an emotional impact after killing someone, even if the killing was fully justified...and they don’t deliver cheesy one-liners.

[Mr. Pumblechook]

Sadly, I probably would have run away or been killed myself. Despite having a CCW, I would be utterly convinced that had I opened fire, I would be charged with murder because I did not run away.

[bboop]

Well, I certainly applaud him. Reminds me to get that gun into my car. Here in Los Angeles, of course, we are criminals if we want to protect ourselves, no CCWs allowed. (Must be because it is so safe here)//rolling eyes.

[Waco]

P-iss on the victim again, works everytime.

[Pistolshot]

You feel remorse over what happened and second-guess yourself as the entire scenario is played over and over again in your head.

He forgot to mention the nightmares that, can and do, go along with an incident, or the civil suit that follows, or the stigma, that follows you.

Best advice I can give is this.
Know a good attorney to call if you have to shoot in defensive of yourself and others.
Make sure your homeowners insurance covers civil liability.

[Travis McGee]

Good shoot.

[Daffynition]

“To ignore this potential threat would be irresponsible to the people I love, honor and care about.”

He shouldn’t have to justify his actions. Job well done Mr. Fentiman.

You have no right to expect the police to protect you from crime. The courts have ruled that the police are not obligated to even respond to your calls for help, even in life threatening situations. ‘Nuff said.

[thefactor]

would you rather be judged by 12 or carried by 6?

[thulldud]

Movies have replaced real life for most people.

[pabianice]

VERY lucky this didn’t happen here in MA. Fentiman would have been imprisoned immediately and charged with capital murder while AG Coakley paid for a lawyer for the lunatic’s family to sue Fentiman.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

I support carrying weapons. I was told a long time ago that the key was commitment. When you picked up a gun, you knew that you could possibly kill someone at any given time to protect yourself or others. If attacked, you would use your gun. Period.

The world is a dangerous place and evil in a very tangible form exists. Occasionally, evil and your path intersects.

[NonValueAdded]

Here is the lesson I take from this. The perp kept coming after the first bullet to the thigh, prior to which he had his hand in his pocket. The perp grabbed at Mr. Fentiman’s shirt but could just as easily have shot Fentiman. The lesson? If you are going to shoot, shoot (thanks, Tuco!) and shoot to kill.

[JillValentine]

Liberals are such hypocrites. They support light sentences for violent criminals, but when a law-abiding citizen defends himself or herself, it’s time to bring out the harsh sentencing.

As I understand it, there is no death penalty in Massachusetts.

[Deaf Smith]

"The lesson?... and shoot to kill."

NO

To stop the threat.

[TChris]

Being taken in handcuffs to the police station is traumatic. Waiting for three weeks to find out the district attorney's ruling on your case is also something not easily endured. Even knowing the truth was on my side with several witnesses backing my testimony, it is still unnerving.

Shame on the DA and the police for even arresting this man!

When all the witnesses tell you it was self-defense, then just write the report and let the guy go home.

[JimRed]

To stop the threat.

A living perp is a perpetual threat. He's likely to show up in your back yard 5-10 years later after his release from prison.

[cowboyway]

I would be utterly convinced that had I opened fire, I would be charged with murder because I did not run away.

Better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6.

[Niteranger68]

"The lesson?... and shoot to kill."

NO

To stop the threat.

Exactly. Killing the bad guy may be a consequence of stopping the threat, but it should never be the main objective. The very first words you say to an officer (or 911 dispatcher) after something like this are the most important words you may ever speak. LEO's are there to collect evidence and document what happened. Saying "I was shooting to kill the guy" will not help you at trial.