Gun Control & RKBA
Related: About this forumValid defensive gun use?
Sounds like this guy did all the right things - I'm curious as to whether anyone here disagrees, or thinks he should not have been armed?
Richard Hess, 42, is facing several charges including aggravated assault and making deadly threats.
His next door neighbor, Seth, told ABC15 that he and his fiancée were eating dinner Monday night when they noticed Hess glaring at them through a window with what they call a "crazed look in his eyes."
Next they say Hess broke the window with his fist while holding a knife and telling Seth over and over, "Today is the day you are going to die."
Police say Hess later told officers he believed his neighbors were terrorists who were trying to kill him by sending poisonous gas through the vents.
According to police, Hess also said, "God told me to do it."
"My fiancée was hit with the glass and I went into protection mode," Seth said. He said he locked the door, called police and pulled out his gun in case Hess made it inside.
Hess is now in the Maricopa County Jail while Seth and his fiancée have moved out of their apartment and say they are not going back.
Had Hess made it through the door, while threatening to kill this couple, would you have a problem with Seth having acted as "judge, jury, and executioner?"
TheWraith
(24,331 posts)It's a shame though that the guy and his fiancee have effectively been scared out of their home. I hope they feel less impacted after things calm down.
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)911 had been called, their exit blocked, if he had made his way inside and was killed, it would appear to have met the legal and ethical tests for lethal self defense.
Serve The Servants
(328 posts)Arctic Dave
(13,812 posts)Or is this a capt obvious post?
discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,482 posts)..."Off the crazy."
Add it up:
threatening + unstable + breaking in + armed = target
no hesitation and even less remorse
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)By god, how many chances do you think you'll get to shoot a man. Even though things worked out OK, don't waste a chance to squeeze the trigger and watch brain matter spatter. (sarcasm thingy)
discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,482 posts)None Have a nice day.
discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,482 posts)...I don"t advise head shots unless you're very close or very good.
yamihere
(10 posts)ellisonz
(27,711 posts)hack89
(39,171 posts)discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,482 posts)Serve The Servants
(328 posts)Hess threatened to kill Seth and had a knife. BOOM! Head shot! Now call the cops, and while you wait for them to arrive go finish the rest of your dinner before it gets cold.
That being said, killing someone because you fear getting a busted nose and a bloody lip is totally unacceptable, IMHO.
discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,482 posts)...the first shot should be center of mass.
TheCowsCameHome
(40,169 posts)They'll probably elect him governor.
oneshooter
(8,614 posts)How would have you handled it differently?
Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas
melm00se
(4,997 posts)- Is the person armed? Check
- Is the person an imminent threat? outside the house blocked by a locked door? no; had he made it thru the door? yes
- Would a reasonable person define this person as a threat? yes, the comment "Today is the day you are going to die." would make that pretty clear.
- Would a person be justified in shooting (and potentially killing) the threat? again, if the attacker was outside and barred from entry, ethically no. legally? not sure, depends upon the state laws (in NC, according to my CCW class, no...but the laws recently changed so it may be). Once the attacker enters my home? sorry charlie but you are going to acquire a serious, if not lethal, case of lead poisoning.
RegieRocker
(4,226 posts)ManiacJoe
(10,136 posts)That is the standard for self defense.
Jeopardy - Hess made verbal threats to kill.
Ability - Hess had a deadly weapon (knife).
Opportunity - Hess remain outside the house, thus he did not have the opportunity to harm anyone inside the house. If he had entered the house, Hess would have met the criteria.
Once AOJ has been met, legally you are OK using lethal force for self defense. Whether or not doing so is good tactics for the situation is a different conversation.