Jumping In...

Over on the Northeastshooters forum, there was a lively discussion of the FL CCW who shot and killed the armed robber in Burger King that was the subject of DGC#8.

There were two basic schools of thought presented. One school of thought was basically that the CCW holder has an obligation of sorts to society in general to step in and take out armed robbers in such a situation; the other school of thought (to which I ascribe) is that unless you or yours are personally in danger, or the situation escalates beyond strongarm robbery (i.e. the goblin starts assaulting people), it's best to sit it out in a state of readiness.

There's compelling arguments on both sides, IMHO. Taking immediate, decisive action against affronts to civilized society sends a clear message to the criminal element that it will not be tolerated; conversely, simply handing over the money emboldens the criminals. I can agree with this. If more people resisted; if more criminals wound up bleeding out on the convenience store floor; if their violence begat even more violence aimed at them, I agree that we'd all be better off (well, except the criminals, but I'm not too concerned about them).

On the other hand, I can see the "wait and see" angle - but speaking only as a citizen of MA. We've been told by our illustrious Attorney General that MA discourages "self-help" as a rule of thumb - and this was in regards to a case of a man who beat up the scumbag who molested his son. There's a legal - and financial - minefield in MA with regard to self-defense with a firearm in even the most clear-cut cases; coming to the defense of a third party gets heavily into a gray area.

My position - valid for MA only - is that in the absence of a clear and present danger to myself or others, I would not confront the goblin. I would make ready to confront him, discretely readying my sidearm if possible (or at least getting ready to draw); but in the absence of additional violence (above and beyond displaying the weapon), I would not take action. Should the goblin escalate the situation - say, by assaulting the clerk or other patrons - then it's on; if it's a simple strongarm robbery I'd be better served to take very careful note of the goblin for future identification.

Once again, I stress that this is valid only in MA and other locales where self-defense is actively frowned upon. In a state such as Florida, which has "Stand your ground" laws, I would take action (at least like to think I would; I hope and pray I never have to find out). Waving a gun around - whether it's loaded, unloaded, or a BB gun - presents a danger to all and sundry; it's the threat of violence and/or personal injury or death.

But here in MA, it's very likely that, were I to be the CCW holder who shot the robber, I would be arrested, jailed, and charged with murder. The recently deceased would be fêted in the local news as a misunderstood youth who was just about to turn his life around; I, of course, would be portrayed as a vicious, bloodthirsty redneck gun owner who wanted nothing more in life than to live out my Travis Bickle fantasies and kill me some minorities. Go before a liberal judge - of which there are many in MA - and wind up plea-bargaining to manslaughter and sentenced to a decade in jail. My kids lose their father; my wife loses her husband; we lose our home in the landslide of legal bills resulting in the defense of my actions and the civil suit served by the goblin's next-of-kin.

My actions would stand a very good chance of causing my family - the very people I am directly responsible for - to suffer.

Maybe I am selfish, but I'm not putting my life, my freedom, and the safety and security of my family on the line to defend a stranger from a potential assailant. My first and foremost responsibility is to my family, me and my own. It is imperative that I be there for them, to shape and guide my children, to provide for them, to be present and active in their lives in their formative years. And I can't do this from a jail cell. I am not willing to give up everything I've worked for my entire life in defense of another not in my immediate circle.

And I hate that this state forces me to make this decision.

That is all.