HankT
State Researcher
imported post
Heroism? Bravado? Self-defense of another? Over-reaction? Good citizenship? Hapless vigilante? Gun-first guy(GFG)?
Goof with a gun? (Well-intentioned or Rambo-style)
You decide...
Certainly, there are some lessons in this case for us in the gun carry community.
Our Voice
Vigilante justice not best way
Recent incident sounds more like bravado than genuine self-defense.
September 16, 2009
You might feel sorry for Charles Webb.
You might be thinking: man, this guy was just trying to help an older lady in trouble and now he's in trouble himself.
You might be thinking he deserves a medal, not a felony charge that says he put people in jeopardy with a lethal weapon.
Stow those thoughts for just a few minutes though and consider:
- Both the purse-snatcher and accomplice who Webb confronted got away;
- Webb didn't get a good description of them;
- Webb allegedly fired his 9mm handgun at least five times on a Friday evening, in an area with businesses and traveled by other cars and people;
- Webb initiated a high-speed chase;
- Springfield Police and prosecutors now have to spend time with the case against Webb, instead of handling other criminal investigations.
Yes, when you take the law into your own hands, even if you mean well, you can end up wasting the time of those same police you were trying to help.
This case has already gotten a lot of attention, and it will likely get more. You'll probably hear people defending Webb by citing a citizen's right to defend himself or others against a threat. You'll also probably hear others decrying his actions, concerned about the danger of vigilantism.
That's OK, and a good discussion to have after an incident like this. However, if the police descriptions of what happened are correct, this was less a case of self-defense than it was bravado -- and dangerous bravado at that.
This case is also likely to start a lot of chatter and debate over concealed weapon permits, because police say Webb had a valid one.
Springfield Police Chief Lynn Rowe points out, though, that the permit really had no bearing on this incident.
Missouri law allows anyone to carry a firearm in a vehicle, concealed or not, and no account of what happened Friday indicates Webb ever concealed his handgun.
Additionally, it appears Webb will lose his permit based on his apparent misuse of his weapon.
So, please, save your ammunition if you plan to use Webb to crucify those who feel the need to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
But don't try to use him as a poster boy for arguing the need for these permits either.
Let's just be happy that, apparently, no one was hurt along South Moulder and Battlefield Road Friday.
Let's hope the system also treats Webb fairly; he certainly doesn't seem to deserve jail.
And let's hope everyone who hears or reads of this matter learns an important lesson:
Unless you or someone near you faces a immediate physical threat, use your eyes, brain and a pen to fight crime, not your gun. Stay safe, and get a good description of suspects.
Then, let police do what they're trained to do -- not waste time prosecuting well-meaning but overzealous citizens.
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090916/OPINIONS01/909160383
Heroism? Bravado? Self-defense of another? Over-reaction? Good citizenship? Hapless vigilante? Gun-first guy(GFG)?
Goof with a gun? (Well-intentioned or Rambo-style)
You decide...
Certainly, there are some lessons in this case for us in the gun carry community.
Our Voice
Vigilante justice not best way
Recent incident sounds more like bravado than genuine self-defense.
September 16, 2009
You might feel sorry for Charles Webb.
You might be thinking: man, this guy was just trying to help an older lady in trouble and now he's in trouble himself.
You might be thinking he deserves a medal, not a felony charge that says he put people in jeopardy with a lethal weapon.
Stow those thoughts for just a few minutes though and consider:
- Both the purse-snatcher and accomplice who Webb confronted got away;
- Webb didn't get a good description of them;
- Webb allegedly fired his 9mm handgun at least five times on a Friday evening, in an area with businesses and traveled by other cars and people;
- Webb initiated a high-speed chase;
- Springfield Police and prosecutors now have to spend time with the case against Webb, instead of handling other criminal investigations.
Yes, when you take the law into your own hands, even if you mean well, you can end up wasting the time of those same police you were trying to help.
This case has already gotten a lot of attention, and it will likely get more. You'll probably hear people defending Webb by citing a citizen's right to defend himself or others against a threat. You'll also probably hear others decrying his actions, concerned about the danger of vigilantism.
That's OK, and a good discussion to have after an incident like this. However, if the police descriptions of what happened are correct, this was less a case of self-defense than it was bravado -- and dangerous bravado at that.
This case is also likely to start a lot of chatter and debate over concealed weapon permits, because police say Webb had a valid one.
Springfield Police Chief Lynn Rowe points out, though, that the permit really had no bearing on this incident.
Missouri law allows anyone to carry a firearm in a vehicle, concealed or not, and no account of what happened Friday indicates Webb ever concealed his handgun.
Additionally, it appears Webb will lose his permit based on his apparent misuse of his weapon.
So, please, save your ammunition if you plan to use Webb to crucify those who feel the need to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
But don't try to use him as a poster boy for arguing the need for these permits either.
Let's just be happy that, apparently, no one was hurt along South Moulder and Battlefield Road Friday.
Let's hope the system also treats Webb fairly; he certainly doesn't seem to deserve jail.
And let's hope everyone who hears or reads of this matter learns an important lesson:
Unless you or someone near you faces a immediate physical threat, use your eyes, brain and a pen to fight crime, not your gun. Stay safe, and get a good description of suspects.
Then, let police do what they're trained to do -- not waste time prosecuting well-meaning but overzealous citizens.
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090916/OPINIONS01/909160383
