Quote:
Originally Posted by Ducimus
Following the hypothetical you've given, if someone pulls a knife on me in an unprovoked attack, do I feel a have a duty to retreat?
No, i don't. They attacked me. I have a right to defend myself.
Now, since I know this whole conversation is going to lead into guns (again), ill expand on this further.
As i stated I have a right to defend myself, so i feel no duty to retreat. In fact i think it's assine to suggest otherwise. It leads into the whole, "criminals rights take greater priority then your own" discussion. However, I also feel that using a gun is the absolute last resort in personal defense. I will try anything and everything else, before using it. If the opportunity presents itself to run and get away from the situation, then I will. If i can't get away, then I'll be forced to use the last resort.
In summary, I have a right to defend myself. All i want is the threat to stop. The situation dictates my response, but the most lethal response, will always be the last resort, when there is no other option.
EDIT:
As an aside, if someone comes at you with a knife, running away may not be an option at all. It's been proven that an assailant can cover the distance of about 21 feet in just a few seconds. Trying to run may only result in a knife in your back.
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I was going to argue with you until I saw your edit. Someone pulls a knife, if would be a case of self defense. Still, it's a tough call, I wouldn't shoot unless I felt I had no choice.
I did a lot of stupid fighting back in my 20's, mostly when I hit the country bar scene, a mix of urban cowboys, bikers and rednecks, mixed with a lot of decent city folk. I boxed for years and did several tough men contes thought I was a tough guy. I wouldn't say I started fights, just seemed to find myself in them. The last fight I got in got bad. I went with a girl to a club and her ex showed up. He was a rookie cop and she said was a bad ass. Course I got about have lit as usual, was just standing there with my drink when I got a shove in my back, causing me to dump my drink all over myself. He gave me a big bump from behind as he walked by. I didn't do anything, but moments later I saw him and the girl go outside, so I followed. I did walk up to them in the parking lot, he pulled his club out as I got close and we just came together. It didn't seem like a bad fight, got him in a headlock and went to punching his face, we rolled a little and the bouncers broke us up. I was shocked when I saw his face, teeth hangin out, blood everywhere, his face swollen up. Worse, the idiot had a gun in a ankle holster. A bouncer said he was going for it and took it. Guess I was lucky he didn't shoot me. Even worse, the police showed up, guess who got arrested.....me.
Lucky for me the girls sister was out there and agreed with my story that he swung first with his billy club and the judge dropped charges. Still, the idiot remained on the force.
I'm not totally sure of "stand your ground" seems I heard even if you start the fight, but later take a beating and feel your life is in danger, you can use deadly force. Could that same cop I was beating have shot me and claimed self defense today? I know the majority of fights I was in or saw, people got hurt much worse than GZ. Hate to think every fist fight today, a person could claim he was scared and kill someone and get away with it. I certainly believe anyone has a fight to meet deadly force with deadly force, but not so sure I agree with stand your ground, seems that's just an excuse to progress the situation to something much worse, then claim self defense.
Certainly you have the right to stand your ground on your property, in public, I think you're obligated to walk away, not stand face to face egging the situation on, better to call the cops. If you can't retreat, then I think we have plenty of self defense laws.
Seems to me, "stand your ground" is the same as the "stand up against bullies" concept that many of our fathers taught us we had to do. I know about every bully I stood up to resulted in a fight. Not really a big deal in my day, you took your lumps and moved on, but today people throw bullets, very dangerous IMO.