got a visit from the state police

[MSGT-R]

No one has ever told them no before; not even the parents.

[ka64]

Originally Posted by Alpo

Next time, if there is a next time, you call the cops. Get your side of the story in first.
"Sumbich tried to attack me and I pulled a gun on him. His kin pulled him away, and there was no shooting, but I figgered I'd let y'all know".

Don't know how it is in WV, but here the cops would have arrested you for aggravated assault, and you could have had your lawyer fix it.

ALWAYS, no matter what you call the Cops IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rocketman1]

Glad everything turned out all right for now.
You should have called the cops as soon as you got home. This could very easily have gone the other way for you. If you pulled a gun, then you were in fear of your life, but since you didn't call the cops it could have been perceived that you were the agresser and not him. If there is a next time, you need to call the cops before they do.

[JLA]

I probably would have just picked the trash up myself, cussing under my breath, as I needed the exercise anyway. Seems easier than chasing down the owner of the garbage and far better than having to kill an idiot over some trash. though I agree it would have been one less dumbass in the world.

[flboots]

If you think there is going to be retaliation,go to the cops and fill out a no trespassing warrant against him.

[mjp28]

Well good for you -but- be real careful especially in the near future.

Got dogs? Motion sensors? Deadbolts? All that, good to have anyhow.

And of course keep your powder dry...and cops on speed dial.

[bustedmp]

I have to agree with the OP, if he would have just cleaned it up himself and said nothing, that just makes it ok for them to do it again because they know you won't do anything about it. If he had just called the cops, they may not have done anything about it. We have got to learn to stand up for ourselves, and not rely on others to solve our problems. Sure pulling the gun may have been extreme, but the way most young adults have no respect for anything now days, how was he to know what the kid was going to do to him. The castle law with a stand your ground clause is put in place for reasons like this. If you feel threatened, you have a right to defend yourself. I live in town and deal with trash on my property all the time, most of the time I pick it up because I rarely see who throws it there. If I see the act, you bet your butt I speak my mind about it. You can't let people walk all over you.

[soundguy]

Originally Posted by Alpo

Next time, if there is a next time, you call the cops. Get your side of the story in first.

"Sumbich tried to attack me and I pulled a gun on him. His kin pulled him away, and there was no shooting, but I figgered I'd let y'all know".

Don't know how it is in WV, but here the cops would have arrested you for aggravated assault, and you could have had your lawyer fix it.

we still have stand your ground law/expanded castle here in florida.. it survived the review as of this week.

I'm guessing, with all the details 'on the gorund, so to speak.. that the LEO would have made a similar call here.

still.. NEVER hurts to get in your side first.

and I agree... this isn't over yet.

[Alpo]

I don't know. That "stand your ground" thing is dependent upon "I feared for my life". So, he bows up and comes at me and I shoot him, whether I kill him or not, and "I feared for my life". But if I don't shoot, then it apparently wasn't that dangerous.

[Big Chevy]

Originally Posted by JLA

I probably would have just picked the trash up myself, cussing under my breath, as I needed the exercise anyway. Seems easier than chasing down the owner of the garbage and far better than having to kill an idiot over some trash. though I agree it would have been one less dumbass in the world.

+1

[soundguy]

Originally Posted by Alpo

I don't know. That "stand your ground" thing is dependent upon "I feared for my life". So, he bows up and comes at me and I shoot him, whether I kill him or not, and "I feared for my life". But if I don't shoot, then it apparently wasn't that dangerous.

the actual 'test' comes down to 3 questions

1, am i allowed to be here

2, am i breaking any laws

3, am I in fear of harm

big article in our local paper about castle today since the gov's revie comittie just cleared it for no changes.

it's pretty broad.

IMHO.. that guy's mother saved his life by stopping him


smart move.

glad it turned out ok.


I, without a doubt, will draw a CCW weapon to defend myself. I'm not a wuss.. but I refuse to willingly take a beating, and risk permanent injury or death.. because some buffooon has less self control and brains than the average citizen.

When a person is charging at me telling me he's going to hurt me.. how do I know he's just going to hurt me. what if he hits me in that special spot that kills me or injuries me permanently.

i'm sorry. 'your' rights stop, where my nose begins.

all that said....

I consider a situation that drawing a CCW in a self defense setting, that STOPS a situation with no shots fired, and all go home safe.....

I call that a WIN - WIN situation for all involved.

I've got no problem using my ccw to protect my life... made that decision the day i filled out my CCW application.

I've also got no grudge, or anything to prove and no problem re-holstering it, unfired, when i draw, and tell the perp to stop or I will defend myself...., and he actually DOES stop....

[wv hillbilly]

Originally Posted by bustedmp

I have to agree with the OP, if he would have just cleaned it up himself and said nothing, that just makes it ok for them to do it again because they know you won't do anything about it. If he had just called the cops, they may not have done anything about it. We have got to learn to stand up for ourselves, and not rely on others to solve our problems. Sure pulling the gun may have been extreme, but the way most young adults have no respect for anything now days, how was he to know what the kid was going to do to him. The castle law with a stand your ground clause is put in place for reasons like this. If you feel threatened, you have a right to defend yourself. I live in town and deal with trash on my property all the time, most of the time I pick it up because I rarely see who throws it there. If I see the act, you bet your butt I speak my mind about it. You can't let people walk all over you.

i can barely walk with a cane. so i used just enough force to defuse the situation

[soundguy]

people that threaton viloence have no reasoning capabilities.

to run at, to attack a person of limited mobility.. etc.. that shows irrational thought.

I think you did the right thing drawing.

who knows what he would have done to you.

[bustedmp]

The other thing about that situation is, he had a split second to make a choice, he made it, and in the eyes of the law this time he was just in doing what he did. I don't go looking for fights, but I won't bow down and not fight for my self if needed.

[bustedmp]

If more people would be carrying, and willing to use it, other people might think before getting stupid. The fact that the kid kept coming after he peeled his piece shows that the kid just had no capacity for reasonable thought.

[soundguy]

yup!

[gvw3]

My dad always told me to never pull a gun on anyone unless you have the guts to use it. Not everyone can pull the trigger.

[soundguy]

i agree. and if you havn't made that decision BEFORE you carry.. it's often too late.

need to have that all sorted out ahead of time...

[Jerryboy]

if you found his address, you could've just gathered up the trash, then gone to his house and dumped it on his porch.

[tcox4freedom]

Originally Posted by Alpo

Next time, if there is a next time, you call the cops. Get your side of the story in first.

"Sumbich tried to attack me and I pulled a gun on him. His kin pulled him away, and there was no shooting, but I figgered I'd let y'all know".

Don't know how it is in WV, but here the cops would have arrested you for aggravated assault, and you could have had your lawyer fix it.

I agree with Alpo. (Wait, did I just say that?)

Hindsight is 20/20. But, in these situations it's best just to file a report and let the law settle it.

IMHO; confronting mom or trying to find this guy to talk to him is a bad idea; unless, you are 110% certain it can be done in a mature & calm way for all parties concerned. (This guy sounds like he may a bit of a "hothead". So, the law needs to handle it.)

I would also second the recommendation to watch your back; (and everything else) for a while.

I wish you the best in this situation.

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