Interview With Man Who Used Concealed Weapon To Stop Robbery

In many states that is exactly what happens.
His case and situation is fortunate across the board.

In states like MA, CA, MD, NY, NJ and others had he been standing on their grounds he would be manditorily drawn up on charges to which he'd have to defend his use of deadly force. Even if the BG doesn't die. Yep....serious business. :|

Which is why I post these articles in this area, we folk gotta think about this stuff ahead of time with a serious deliberate mind just as dude advised.
Not to do so can be quite expensive be it your own life, that of another (e.g. as he mentioned innocents in the background), or worst 101% of your life savings & personal wealth.

Dude was very wise and showed excellent self control in _not_ shootng the guy a third time and in not approaching the down/injured but not stopped BG who retained a weapon but made no further effort to aggress and was attempting to flee. Had he shot dude a second time or engaged him with intent to disarm him and then the BG shot at him to which he returned fire (assuming he woudn't be hit), then that could be argued by a DA and a civil litigation attorney that the GG was no longer in danger and became the aggressor thus in the end murdering the BG who now becomes the 'victim'. We as citizensare empowered and legally allowed to use lethal to stop (!), not to kill. If stoppage of aggression can be/is accomplished without taking of life then we are expected to adher to and stay at that mode. Complex it is.
Serious business.

- Janq

DJ,

In Massachusetts and in my specific town/community whihc is very much anti-gun and well known for being pro-peace kumbaya, I'd be up shits creek no matter what I decide to do. We have a Subway here as well as and it is nearly the same in size & dimensions as what you describe.

If I draw and shoot at COM (center of his back) without forewarning then well dang, I'm a 'murderer'. I get an automatic, as per law, criminal case against the state.
If I shoot and he doesn't die but is paralyzed, see above and add to that a civil suit as well.
If I draw and make noise to catch his attention to which he turns toward me and shoot him as I train in the chest or face, then see the above.
If I sit quietly and let him do his business to take the cash with a sammich and Susie Cupcake complies _and_ Slim Shady rolls out happy with his clams, then I don't get arrested or have a criminal case against me or have the community talking shit about me & family or suffer having my piggy bank, kids future savings & life in general turned upside down and Subway is out several bucks while Susie is out one pair of panties.

In MA by our specific laws you must be in imminent and immediate fear of equivalent force injury (e.g. death!) in order to use lethal force. That means no shootng a guy who is punching another guy/gal becuase this state takes force disparity into account for the GG and the BG/possible victim too. I kid you not.
Yes the BG has placed a wepon to Susie's face but I don't know if it's a BB gun, toy gun, or even a loaded gun. What if he were just tryign to 'scare her' and had no intent to actually shoot her but to just leave us all unharmed. Why did he walk past me at the booth and leave me opportunity to choose to leave/escape? Was I myself at that time in immediate mortal danger when the BG had his back turned to me and outwardly (some would say obviously) ignoring me if even aware of my presence?
I can absolutely guarantee you this is what my neighbors and community members would say and think. The local paper whihc is very much liberal and shall we say Pollyanna wouldn't be any better to me. Those are the persons who would be called to judge me as a jury of my peers.
Oh, and I'm Black in a town that has less than 5% minotrities overall in a county that has IIRC just about 8% minorities who largely are concentrated in areas outside of here where it is cinsidered to be very unsafe and riddled with guns & bullet holes. Imagine me sitting in a courtroom with my whole life being examined. I'm a member of multiple shooting clubs. I've got multiple 'powerful weapons' (.45ACP) at home with a to completely know nothing jury a huge cache of ammo (~2K rounds including .22s), and I 'train' to shoot people including playing 'military like' games (e.g. paintball). People seriously would see things this way and I've seen it IRL in my own local paper played out just that way.
Oh and no doubt some eager beaver reporter or attorneys aid will be succesful in outing me personally as 'Janq' and will catalog every post I've ever made in regard to guns and self defense at OT, here, or anywhere...and spin my statements out of context in court or the press to work against me. This is all but guaranteed to happen.


You tell me, what should I do.
What would you do...if you were me with very much to lose and little to gain.

I don't know what I'd do.
There are so many variables.
What does dudes face look like...what was his demeanor...what did he say and how when he demanded the money...how was he holding the weapon...did he pay any attention to me?...am I alone or with my family...where are they in relatin to me?...does the BG have backup waiting outside...can I see them through the front window...can they see me?...

I don't know what I'd do but I'm pretty sure and have come to the personal conclusion that no matter what I do I very likely in this state will be at a loss win, lose, or draw.
With that known and said as a general rule for myself in regard to me being a CCWr, my responsibility is to me and my family as a primary. If that means someone else may have to take a loss in order for me to be home for dinner and fullfill my job role, then I won't like it but it is what it is.

As always mileage may and does vary widely for others if not yourself.

- Janq is not a cop