Mugged

[Anita C.]

One of the gals in the office was ALMOST mugged. She was working late and was going out to her car. A guy who had been watching her for weeks approached her & stole her purse & breifcase, knocking her to the ground in the process. An off-duty cop caught the perpetraitor and held him face down at gunpoint 'till the cops arrived to take him away. We are taking this to the limit charging him with not only the mugging but also Assault & Battery, Stalking and Endangerement. He's looking at about 30 years 'cuz of "The Big Bitch" or habitual offender (this is his 3rd trip with the courts). The creep broke her jaw & collarbone and she broke a 'heel AND 3 fingernails in the process. She's going to be ok but is bruised and has a broken jaw. Please be careful when going to your car late at night and get an escort-preferably the biggest person you can summon. He's gonna pay. Anita

[hoverfly]

He messed with a law office worker!!?? What a putts!!!!

[WarrenB]

Start packin' some heat, Anita!

[PJ]

I'm glad to hear the victim decided to press charges. And with a three time offender, he will be facing some serious confinement. A few companies around here are offering security guard escorts for their employees who work late hours. Ask your company to create such a policy. You also might want to ask the local police department to give a lecture/demonstration about what employees can legally do to protect themselves when they are alone. Although the temptation to carry weapons in situations like this might be strong, be very careful. The law states that you can defend yourself only with less force or force equal to that used by the offender. Excessive force is dangerous and can result with the victim being arrested along with the offender. The victim can get into a lot of legal trouble shooting an unarmed offender. It's possible where the victim could get more jail time than the offender. Also, there are cases where the offender ended up suing the victim and winning monetary damages. If you choose to carry a weapon (gun, knife, chemical sprays, etc.), follow all the applicable laws for your jurisdiction. You also must know what the law states about under what circumstances you can use the weapon. And for all of you gun owners, please obtain training to learn how to use your weapon. Contact your police department or local sporting goods store for more information about training.

[azraelle]

Although the temptation to carry weapons in situations like this might be strong, be very careful. The law states that you can defend yourself only with less force or force equal to that used by the offender. Excessive force is dangerous and can result with the victim being arrested along with the offender. The victim can get into a lot of legal trouble shooting an unarmed offender. It's possible where the victim could get more jail time than the offender. Also, there are cases where the offender ended up suing the victim and winning monetary damages.

If you choose to carry a weapon (gun, knife, chemical sprays, etc.), follow all the applicable laws for your jurisdiction. You also must know what the law states about under what circumstances you can use the weapon.

And for all of you gun owners, please obtain training to learn how to use your weapon.

A certain amount of giving the "benefit of doubt" to the armed defender (with a concealed weapons permit) is assumed in states that have adopted "shall issue" concealed carry laws in the last 10 years. Nevada is one of those states that have passed a "shall issue" law, although they require considerably more training before issuance than many other states. That said, statistics are showing that those who have been issued permits are more cautious, not less, when it comes down to deciding to use said weapon to defend one's (or a neighbor's) person.

[PJ]

Azraelle, you make some good points. Studies do show that a majority of conceal carry permit holders are law-abiding. I don't know if this is due to the proper training they received or to just the fact that most never get a chance to shoot someone . However, I know police officers who have spent 20+ years on the job without ever having to draw their weapon on an offender. Although my state is a "shall issue" state, when we apply for a conceal carry permit, we must provide a reason as to why we think we need it. Then the application needs to be approved by the local police as well as the state police. We also must pass a criminal records background check. At the present time, no formal training is required. However, a law is being proposed to change this "oversight". In my state, nearly 300,000 conceal carry permits have been issued and less than 200 were either revoked or rejected. So it seems like the police approval process is a rubber stamp issue. As for the "benefit of the doubt" issue, don't count on that if the offender hires a good lawyer. Only the victim's knowledge of the law will help.

[Bubba136]

When I applied for my "carry concealed" permit, I had to undergo the obligatory police background check and take a training course, too. I originally applied for the license when we lived on a farm in an isolated area, since we moved to our present house I don't "pack" it much anymore. However, it's still valid and I have it if I need it.

[JeffM]

I'm not sure whether to take you people seriously or not. People in Oz get mugged too, not as many we have a population of only about 20 million, but we dont go round asking the autorities to allow us to carry concealed weapons. And most companies here will not allow their employees to work late unless there is someone else is with them and when one leaves the other has to too, or they are accompanied to their vehicle by a security guard. Jeff

[Bubba136]

Different culture, different cricumstances and different lifestyles. Here, if the liberals had their way, no one would own any type of firearm. Then, only criminals and the police would have guns.

[Heelfan]

Well here in the UK it's even milder than your Liberals' vision: Our public doesn't carry guns (strictly illegal). Our criminals don't carry guns (except for a small minority which is rising). Our police don't carry guns (except for response units which are rising). The shooting is usually confined to Firefox and me getting our street-photos of good sightings! Cheerfully yours, Heelfan

[PJ]

I have often wondered if law-abiding citizens in the USA were restricted from owning weapons, what affect this would have on the criminals? Since most crimes carry more serious punishment if the offender is armed, would many of the criminals also stop carrying weapons? Even if the police were still armed, they would be even more severely restricted since they would be apprehending mostly unarmed offenders. With such a strong gun lobby in the USA, I suspect we will never know the answers to my questions.

[Bubba136]

The question you ask has already been answered. Without a doubt it wouldn't have any affect on criminals. Two cities come immediately to mind when you mention restricting ownership of personal weapons by law-abiding citizens. Two cities, Washington, DC and New York City both have highly restrictive gun control laws and very severe punishment if you are caught with a handgun in your possession. In Washington, DC it is illegal to possess, yet alone own, a handgun -- even within the privacy of your own home. And, Washington celebrates one of the 10 most dangerous cities in the USA. New York was known as the murder capitol of the world just a few years ago. On the other hand, sutdies of jurisdictions that have “carry conceal” laws and permit ownership of handguns, have proven time and again that statistically, the number of crimes committed actually goes down. One reason for the decrease is that criminals can’t tell if the person they are about to accost is carrying a gun. There is one city in Illinois, can’t remember it’s name, that has actually made it mandatory that every citizen living within it’s boundaries is licensed to use and own a handgun. Crimes in this community are almost nonexistent.

[Ionic]

I would rather send my good wishes to Anita's work friend and a speedy recovery to her. A broken jaw is pretty nasty and no joke. /I

[Bubba136]

Of course. Let's all hope that justice prevails.

[unknown]

The shooting is usually confined to Firefox and me getting our street-photos of good sightings!

*Bum-bum-bum--bing!*

[Anita C.]

The perp (Legaleze for "Perpatrator") went to arraignment and was charged with the whole ball o' wax. Both he and his lawyer were slack-jawed when all 7 of us from the office showed up. His Lawyer wanted Personal Recognisence (No bail). We asked for, and got $750,000.00. His Lawyer wanted to play "Let's Make A Deal". We told him "No". Because of discovery we "shared" 16 pages of deposition, 38 photographs, toxology reports, the police and hospital reports. When convicted he'll get a total of 34 years. He won't be elligible for parole 'till 2025. . . He'll be 61 then.

[raincat]

Way to go, Anita!

[JeffM]

Anita how is your work colleague getting on. Did she recover well enough to enjoy her Xmas. Certain hope she did.

You said

The creep broke her jaw & collarbone and she broke a 'heel AND 3 fingernails in the process.

Heels can be replaced or new shoes bought, jaws and collarbones do mend and can be hidden while mending, but what of her finger nails are they growing back to how they were?

In other words is she getting back to how she used to be both in image and mentally?

I am sure all of us here wish the best for her recovery back to normal.

Jeff

[Anita C.]

Her recovery is coming along quite well. Yes, she was home for Christmas which is more than can be said for the perp . . . he spent Christmas in the housgow awaiting his next court appearance in February. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

[genebujold]

The size of a person means nothing. It is just as easy to "take down" a large person as it is a small one. If you know what you are doing.

Gotta love martial arts training eh?

Chris

You bet! In college during Spring I was violently, physically attacked by a 247 pound member of the football team over a fairly ridiculous matter involving the day of the week, the hour, his frat rules, and the fact that I'd left my jacket in their frat house. He was all muscle. I weighed 164 pounds at the time.

Shortly before his second punch to my kidney (the first was a doozy, the second could have been a killer), I took aim and struck at his jaw, breaking it in three places.

I met up with him more than a year later. Despite the fact that he had to sit out the fall season, he apologized to me for his behavior!

He then asked me how it was possible that I broke his jaw. I told him "I don't know! Didn't think I could break anyone's jaw!"

Ladies, take heed - the nature and direction of force is far more important than it's magnitude.

Take martial arts.

[Anita C.]

He plead "Guilty" on ALL charges! He might get a parole meeting sometime in 2031 . . . if he's lucky!