Poll: Man shoots and kills murderer, released pending a grand jury review

[SilentCom]

By what I read, it seems like the tow truck driver was defending himself. They were doing their job and the assailant clearly over-reacted. If he was so upset, he should have tried to resolve the situation in a reasonable matter instead of shooting at the tow truck workers.

 

[dj Facchiano]

well sure he was in the right if he was defending himself... BUT, why did he a have a gun with him? Is it normal for tow truck workers to carry guns with them on the job? I THINK NOT!!

 

[Snooder]

I'm coming down mostly on the side of yes. As far as I can tell, if there had been gun control laws, the man who had his car towed would not have been the sort to illegally own a gun, so with simplae gun control laws the entire incident would have been avoided.

However, since America will insist on arming its citizens as best it can, it was perhaps fortunate that the truck driver simply shot back.

I have no problem with someone utilising self defence, even lethal self defence, against someone who has proven willing to kill or wound. Generally I think that the self defence meted out should be proportionate to the amount of danger the defender thought he was in. If someone threatens you with a knife, you are in mortal danger, and thus if you kill your attacker then it's fine by me.

But I think that giving your citizens the legal right to own instruments of death is just asking for trouble.

And what if the first guy didn't have a gun, but was 6 foot six inches and armed with a baseball bat? He's just as deadly then, but if the tow truck driver was 5' 4" he'd be dead now.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

I'm coming down mostly on the side of yes. As far as I can tell, if there had been gun control laws, the man who had his car towed would not have been the sort to illegally own a gun, so with simplae gun control laws the entire incident would have been avoided.

However, since America will insist on arming its citizens as best it can, it was perhaps fortunate that the truck driver simply shot back.

I have no problem with someone utilising self defence, even lethal self defence, against someone who has proven willing to kill or wound. Generally I think that the self defence meted out should be proportionate to the amount of danger the defender thought he was in. If someone threatens you with a knife, you are in mortal danger, and thus if you kill your attacker then it's fine by me.

But I think that giving your citizens the legal right to own instruments of death is just asking for trouble.

And what if the first guy didn't have a gun, but was 6 foot six inches and armed with a baseball bat? He's just as deadly then, but if the tow truck driver was 5' 4" he'd be dead now.

What if the first guy was 5' 4'' and the truck driver 6' 6''? Would the first guy have been so willing to get into it if he didn't have a gun?

'A pussy can become a tough guy, if he's got a gun in his hand.'

But really the argument is pointless, because every anti-gun argument can be countered by the pro-gun argument almost by simply reversing the wording as I did.

I'd rather not let this devolve into an argument please, so let's just agree to disagree.

 

[Aur0ra145]

That's what happens when it's easy to get a gun like that.

Yeah it happens in countries where guns are illegal, but much less.
America is the 1st or 2nd country with more citizens in prisons and with more murderes, easy guns are one of the reasons.

The truck was right in this one though, but if guns were illegal probably none would have died.

No, California banned most guns but you can get an AK 47 (illegal even with the 2nd amendment) easily.

Hmm, I own an AK-47, I even shot it on Saturday. Bought it in a gun store. There is nothing illegal about it. You fill out the paper work, FBI (or state agency) does a background check, you get your firearm.

Even if I wanted a full-automatic AK-47 (mine is semi-only) you can purchase one with the proper B-ATF Class III license and tax sticker. I can provide more sources if you desire.

http://www.westernfirearms.com/wfc?set=02

 

[Aur0ra145]

That's what happens when it's easy to get a gun like that.

Yeah it happens in countries where guns are illegal, but much less.
America is the 1st or 2nd country with more citizens in prisons and with more murderes, easy guns are one of the reasons.

The truck was right in this one though, but if guns were illegal probably none would have died.

No, California banned most guns but you can get an AK 47 (illegal even with the 2nd amendment) easily.

Hmm, I own an AK-47, I even shot it on Saturday. Bought it in a gun store. There is nothing illegal about it. You fill out the paper work, FBI (or state agency) does a background check, you get your firearm.

Even if I wanted a full-automatic AK-47 (mine is semi-only) you can purchase one with the proper B-ATF Class III license and tax sticker. I can provide more sources if you desire.

http://www.westernfirearms.com/wfc?set=02

Oh they come in semi automatic? Ah, Its the fully automatic rifles that are illegal. Some mods for guns are also illegal.

Yep, they come in semi-auto. Fully-automatic firearms are illegal if they are possessed by a person without a Class III license (or a Class II Manufacturers license.)

They may be banned by law in California, but they are a weird state when it comes to assault rifles. Like, you can't have pistol grips on rifles and stuff like that. Your magazine size can't exceed 10 rounds and stuff like that. But you're right, there are a lot of attachments that California flat out banned. They are strange when it comes to firearms.

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

This is clear cut.

The driver's life was in danger as evidenced by the fact that the gunman gunned down his partner on the spot.

The only debate is whether the driver intended to shoot before the gunman did. Even then, it doesn't matter. He did what he had to do.

 

[AbsoluteVirtue18]

The man had just seen someone get shot and killed right in front of him, and was convinced he was about to die. So he defended himself. Was he in the wrong? Hell no. Would I have done the same thing? You're g**damn right I would've.

 

[Astoria]

Sounds like self defence to me. Talk about overreaction much. What kind of person shoots when their cars being towed?

 

[Vuljatar]

Absolutely, unquestionably yes.

Shame he didn't open fire before his partner died.

Also this.

 

[Smiles]

What a fucked up world we live in where a man can justify to himself killing another man because he took away his car. I have even less faith in humanity now.

 

[Caligulust]

What a fucked up world we live in where a man can justify to himself killing another man because he took away his car. I have even less faith in humanity now.

What's your opinion in the case of Helen of Troy?



Anyways, it's good somebody survived that encounter. He carried his gun for a reason.

 

[Kingpopadopalus]

The situation was one where the man felt his life was in danger and that the only feasible course of action was to take the life of another, less sane individual, The tow truck driver exercised self defence.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Shooting in Texas... how is this even news, there were 5 people shot while I was just writing this post, another 5 before you read it.
It's still wild west down there, and many people will die before civilization graces them with it's presence.