Comment

Trayvon Martin and the Pro-Gun Right Wing Lobby

168
Birth Control Works3/19/2012 5:16:18 pm PDT

re: #163 Daniel Ballard

Good point. Mild to moderate physical violence is no reason to shoot. Trouble is you could die from a head smack on the sidewalk after a simple punch to your nose. California specifically excludes “an attack with fists” from lethal self defense. As a self defense trainer I have to carefully instruct my students. I would often bring in an attorney who specializes in the field. I had to explain that if the attacker died it would likely be a murder or manslaughter investigation. That’s the safe assumption.

I want to say I disagree with “stand your ground” in public or common areas. Short of multi angle video and sound, it’s just your word vs a dead guy.

I wholeheartedly agree with it in the home. California has the misnamed “shoot the burglar” law. (If it’s a burglary no one is home. If I am home it’s a robbery) I’ll not leave a spouse or guests or children behind and retreat. Hypothetically-Come into my home with a weapon to rob or rape and you better flee when I tell you to at the top of my lungs from hiding. If you don’t bail out it’s likely a gunfight.

If the average man punched me, he would do great harm. I don’t have the civil right to stop him?