National Carry AcademyGUN OWNERS ARE OFTEN CITIZENS EXERCISING RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES
June 14, 2018
In recent months, there has been a lot of bad press about gun owners due to gun violence perpetrated by criminals and disturbed individuals. People have a tendency to react to bad events by grouping everyone that owns a gun in to the same category. However, many gun owners are law abiding citizens that exercise their 2nd amendment right to carry a gun in self-defense.
If someone has invaded your home, and you fear great bodily harm or death, you are within your rights in most states to defend yourself against the intruder. The law gives everyone the right to defend himself or herself with a reasonable response.
In many states, there is a duty to retreat to safety, if possible, before using force. However, in many other states, there are “stand your ground” laws that remove the duty to retreat and allow a person to claim self-defense. You should check your own state’s laws as to what constitutes self-defense.
Here are two instances where a gun owner shot someone in self-defense.
Elderly homeowner shoots intruder
An elderly homeowner shot an intruder who broke into his home overnight in Prince George’s County. Maryland. Officers said the intruder broke into the home through the basement and kicked in a door leading to the main floor of the home. The homeowner, who heard the noises, shot the intruder two times with a handgun, according to officials.
“When I heard the door crash in, coming up from the basement I knew I was in trouble. I just sat there on the bed trying to ponder what my next move would be,” the homeowner Joseph M. Park Sr. told reporter. “I didn’t want to take a life, but I did want to disable him or to stop him from hurting me.”
Police say the intruder fled the home and officers canvassed the neighbor for the suspect. They received a 911 call at about 1:45 a.m. for a man shot in the 3800 block of Clairton Drive and the suspect was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Officials said police have obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect for first-degree burglary. Investigators said Park is not facing any charges at this time.
Texas Gun Owner Defends Family & Stops Robbery
A father in Texas who was dining with his family Wednesday night reportedly fatally shot the robber who threatened them during their dinner. Carlos Molina, 32, was eating dinner with his family at a Popeyes restaurant in San Antonio when Andres Herrera, 19, walked in and demanded his property. Molina told the would-be robber that he didn’t have any money because he used it to purchase food, and then reportedly asked Herrera if he would let his family go.
Herrera told Molina that he and his family could leave. Molina’s wife and two children had left but two of Molina’s other children were walking out of the bathroom when Herrera pulled a gun on them.
At one point, Herrera also pointed a gun at the restaurant counter and yelled at the store’s manager to stop running. Molina then pulled out his legally owned gun and shot Herrera “several times.” Officers reportedly said the father shot in defense of a third person.
Not all gun owners are criminals. Many are people who exercise their 2nd amendment right to protect themselves, their families and their homes from those who threaten them with bodily harm by owning and carrying a gun.
GUN OWNERS ARE OFTEN CITIZENS EXERCISING RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES
June 14, 2018
In recent months, there has been a lot of bad press about gun owners due to gun violence perpetrated by criminals and disturbed individuals. People have a tendency to react to bad events by grouping everyone that owns a gun in to the same category. However, many gun owners are law abiding citizens that exercise their 2nd amendment right to carry a gun in self-defense.
If someone has invaded your home, and you fear great bodily harm or death, you are within your rights in most states to defend yourself against the intruder. The law gives everyone the right to defend himself or herself with a reasonable response.
In many states, there is a duty to retreat to safety, if possible, before using force. However, in many other states, there are “stand your ground” laws that remove the duty to retreat and allow a person to claim self-defense. You should check your own state’s laws as to what constitutes self-defense.
Here are two instances where a gun owner shot someone in self-defense.
Elderly homeowner shoots intruder
An elderly homeowner shot an intruder who broke into his home overnight in Prince George’s County. Maryland. Officers said the intruder broke into the home through the basement and kicked in a door leading to the main floor of the home. The homeowner, who heard the noises, shot the intruder two times with a handgun, according to officials.
“When I heard the door crash in, coming up from the basement I knew I was in trouble. I just sat there on the bed trying to ponder what my next move would be,” the homeowner Joseph M. Park Sr. told reporter. “I didn’t want to take a life, but I did want to disable him or to stop him from hurting me.”
Police say the intruder fled the home and officers canvassed the neighbor for the suspect. They received a 911 call at about 1:45 a.m. for a man shot in the 3800 block of Clairton Drive and the suspect was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Officials said police have obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect for first-degree burglary. Investigators said Park is not facing any charges at this time.
Texas Gun Owner Defends Family & Stops Robbery
A father in Texas who was dining with his family Wednesday night reportedly fatally shot the robber who threatened them during their dinner. Carlos Molina, 32, was eating dinner with his family at a Popeyes restaurant in San Antonio when Andres Herrera, 19, walked in and demanded his property. Molina told the would-be robber that he didn’t have any money because he used it to purchase food, and then reportedly asked Herrera if he would let his family go.
Herrera told Molina that he and his family could leave. Molina’s wife and two children had left but two of Molina’s other children were walking out of the bathroom when Herrera pulled a gun on them.
At one point, Herrera also pointed a gun at the restaurant counter and yelled at the store’s manager to stop running. Molina then pulled out his legally owned gun and shot Herrera “several times.” Officers reportedly said the father shot in defense of a third person.
Not all gun owners are criminals. Many are people who exercise their 2nd amendment right to protect themselves, their families and their homes from those who threaten them with bodily harm by owning and carrying a gun.