This is BAD

[vintagearms]

“She had no duty to retreat,” said Beaver County District Attorney Anthony Berosh. “You don’t have to wait to find out whether or not this is a real gun or not, and she was acting not only out of her own defense, but the defense of those two children.”

So, in open carry states, it would be OK for drivers to run over people carrying guns?

[TacoTuesdays]

I don't disagree that she ran over him with her car. It's a fair enough case of defending herself. I just think it sucks that if you use a gun in your own home to defend yourself for the very same reason you're going to jail.

[bsim]

So, in open carry states, it would be OK for drivers to run over people carrying guns?

If they point it at the driver, yes.

[dave86]

I don't see how you guys can defend the "victim" in light of this:

or this:

If someone pointed what looked like a real gun at you, and you had the means to defend yourself, what would you do?

What did I miss here?

The linked story was changed. What you missed was the story before it was changed.

[Becq]

I suggest reading the story. He wasn't simply minding his own business with a legally carried weapon holstered on his hip. He threatened the woman with what appeared to be a real firearm.

So yes, if someone points a gun at you, you don't have to wait for them to actually pull the trigger before you have the right to act in your own (or others') defense.

[OleCuss]

Agreed. But I went to the story three times and didn't see where he threatened anyone.

It wasn't until the fourth time that I followed the link that I found the language suggesting he actually threatened someone. Don't know why I couldn't find it before - but I actually looked for it on at least two previous times that I surfed to the link.

[vintagearms]

I suggest reading the story. He wasn't simply minding his own business with a legally carried weapon holstered on his hip. He threatened the woman with what appeared to be a real firearm.

So yes, if someone points a gun at you, you don't have to wait for them to actually pull the trigger before you have the right to act in your own (or others') defense.

I was looking at the original story. It has been changed to reflect he pointed at her.

[bigbearbear]

That idiot pointed a toy gun that he purposely made to look like a real one at another person, he should be thanking his luck stars he wasn't killed or hurt more seriously.

[fiddletown]

...Is it legal in Pittsburgh to use lethal force because you suspect someone may be up to no good?

Probably not. BUT it would be justified everywhere in this country to use lethal force in self defense if a reasonable person in like circumstances would have concluded that lethal force was necessary to prevent otherwise unavoidable, imminent death or grave bodily harm to an innocent.

From the article:
And from the article:

[SilverTauron]

Observe that in anti-gun jurisdictions, self defense is kosher -as long as the defender doesn't use a firearm in the process.

Like a Hollywood movie, only bad guys use guns in California apparently....

[Jeepergeo]

Being stupid should be a crime.

[Emdawg]

This is such an idiotic article.

[Emdawg]

The comments are even better.

[blazeaglory]

So did the guy really point it at her?

If so, PEDAL TO THE MOTHER UFFIN METAL!

[snapshot7]

We have to ban these Assault Cars NOW! before they kill again.