Friday, December 28, 2018

I dunno

I like the fact that justice was served, but...

Two dudes stole some nail guns from a store to then hawk at their fence for drug money when they were confronted by 6 armed citizens.

You all saw that story.

The thieves wouldn't surrender, but the honest citizens shot out two tires.  The bad guys were apprehended down the block because they had two flats.

The gun owners, presumably 'law abiding' CCW holders, disappeared into the woodwork.  Cops would like them to come forward.

First, I'd recommend NOT coming forward.

Second, I am little hinky about confronting criminals of my own volition.  Moreso about discharging a firearm in public because of a situation they put themselves in.  Which is why the quotes around 'law abiding'.  They sorta aren't anymore, now, are they?

Shooting near someone to defend property isn't really what CCW is for.  Property crime is taken care of by police and insurance companies.  That's one side.  The other is the bad guys are violating society's rules and disrupting the community with their property felony.  Who knows where they escalate from there.  Now that community has a reputation about stopping criminals in the act.  Not a bad reputation to have.  If nothing happens to the gun wielders.

Thank goodness no one was truly injured.  Including probably the guy that stood in front of the car with a weapon drawn and rolled on the hood in the excitement.

If someone had been hurt then they should stand by and take the responsibility and the consequences.  Now?  I wouldn't trust the local authorities not to jack all six of the vigilantes up.  So, keep yer heads down self-appointed Batmans.  It might be good that you did that, but probably not, and try not to do it again.  Prolly lose your CCWs just to make an example of you.  Might lose your gun rights forever.  If they catch you.

Oh, defend you and yours from harm with every means at your disposal.  Let the tools of your hardware store owning buddy go.  No one will starve to death if you do. 

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

OK, I can understand - maybe - "gifting" a couple flat tires. As for achieving that, none among the 6 had a lock blade or fixed blade knife? With the right tool, all 4 go flat, and without much noise. None knew how to do an elbow strike to break side window glass? Or had a tool of sufficient construction to fracture tempered glass?

Depending on the vehicle, if there are openings in the wheels (spokes, slots, whatever) a length of solid metal rod, or with 5-spoke alloys, a 2X4, does a fair job of immobilizing the vehicle or at least severely limiting mobility to a few feet in either direction (pro tip: start with the non-driven wheels....).

And, there might have been no need for much action at all - among the 6, none had a cell phone with a camera? Photos of the license plate and driver and passenger through the side windows would have eventually led to the thieves, although that would have meant violating Rule 1 by interacting with the Geheime Staatspolizei, although it should have been possible to download the pics to a store owner's device (PC, laptop, phone) except that some people have location services turned on in their phones, so the original pic gets data-stamped with identifying info.

As for any "future conversation," it's long been known that prudent people avoid interactions with the Gestapo because nothing good ever comes from it.

Ominous Cowherd said...

Law abiding is how you lose your freedom and your civilization. What these six did is how they keep both.

Ritchie said...

I believe your analysis is substantially correct. At such a point, what further service could the state provide?