No exactly a gun story, yet satisfying non the less

[Louis of PA]

from ce.mu.nu (Ace of Spades)

Swords don't kill people. People* kill people.

* People armed with swords, I mean.

A Johns Hopkins University student armed with a samurai sword killed a suspected burglar in a garage behind his off-campus home early Tuesday, hours after someone broke in and stole electronics.

Some shocked neighbors said they heard bloodcurdling screams in an area just blocks from the university.....

Around 1:20 a.m., the student heard noises behind the home and noticed a door to the garage was open, Guglielmi said. He grabbed the sword and confronted the intruder, who was crouching beneath a counter.

The student asked the suspect what he was doing and threatened to call police.

"When he said that, the suspect lunged at him, kind of forced the kid against the wall, and he struck him with the sword," Guglielmi said.

The intruder's left hand was nearly severed — Guglielmi described it as "hanging on by a thread" — and the man suffered a severe cut to the upper body. The 49-year-old suspect, whom police described as a habitual offender, died at the scene.

[Gloria Admin]

It is fortunate the suspect died. Dead theives don't sue.

[cmbtinfantry]

One less criminal in the world.:25:

[JB White]

"The sword accidentaly struck him as I was cleaning it"

[Varmintpopper]

There are four types of homicide: Felonious, Accidental, Justifiable
and Praiseworthy
Ambrose Bierce

lindy

[UUURah]

For having a gun for protection.

If the homeowner had a gun and shot the perp, he would have died faster and suffered less. Oh the CRUELTY of using a sword!!!!

[Fishnerd]

I live in Baltimore, and in case readers are unaware, our violent crime rate is one of the worst in the country for major cities, with only Detroit being worse.
It is important to mention that the deceased had been arrested for burglary over 25 times (thats right, twenty five) and did a total of 5 months in prison- being released less than 48 hours before his demise.
It gets interesting because prosecuters are actually considering whether to press charges against THE VICTIM ("The Baltimore Samurai" as he has been repeatedly named).
Here is the general consensus of my fellow Baltimorons from a local forum:

So let me get this right:
Burgler commits 29 crimes
Only spends 5 months in jail, EVER!
Rob's a house 2 days after he is out of jail...that we know of, he could have done more crimes earlier than this
Kid get's his house robbed the night of or before this burgler enters his house, with the cops doing nothing

And we are questioning this kid for protecting his own property???? How about we question the police department and judicial system in Baltimore! Unfriggingbelievable.

I back this kid 110%.

[CharlieEcho]

Ambrose Bierce is the dark side of wisdom. If you've read many of his writings.


There are four types of homicide: Felonious, Accidental, Justifiable
and Praiseworthy
Ambrose Bierce

lindy

[CharlieEcho]

What do they plan or contemplate charging the man with? Felonious self-defense? :icon_rolleyes:


I live in Baltimore, and in case readers are unaware, our violent crime rate is one of the worst in the country for major cities, with only Detroit being worse.
It is important to mention that the deceased had been arrested for burglary over 25 times (thats right, twenty five) and did a total of 5 months in prison- being released less than 48 hours before his demise.
It gets interesting because prosecuters are actually considering whether to press charges against THE VICTIM ("The Baltimore Samurai" as he has been repeatedly named).
Here is the general consensus of my fellow Baltimorons from a local forum:

So let me get this right:
Burgler commits 29 crimes
Only spends 5 months in jail, EVER!
Rob's a house 2 days after he is out of jail...that we know of, he could have done more crimes earlier than this
Kid get's his house robbed the night of or before this burgler enters his house, with the cops doing nothing

And we are questioning this kid for protecting his own property???? How about we question the police department and judicial system in Baltimore! Unfriggingbelievable.

I back this kid 110%.

[bruce]

"What do they plan or contemplate charging the man with? Felonious self-defense?" Given the location and the four descriptions of homicide offered, it is just about certain that he will be indited on the most extreme charge that the prosecutor thinks he can possibly win. This young man is innocent of any wrong. But the law has nothing to do with right and wrong. The law has to do with what is legal. It is not likely that under Maryland law one can legally kill an intruder to protect ones property. This young man will almost certainly be held strictly accountable for the death of this career criminal. The criminal justice system will thus become a weapon by which to victimize this young man so as to continue the pretense that all life is equally valid. In this case, this young man is facing a very difficult future as he must now face the full weight and power of the state criminal justice system. Even if he should possibly emerge from that experience unscathed, he will certainly face further victimization as relatives of the deceased criminal pursue a wrongful death suit. All in all, he might have been better off if he had walked away and called 911. The whole thing is so very sad both for him and our whole society. JMHO. Sincerely. BruceV.

[Brian Davis]

It is fortunate the suspect died. Dead theives don't sue.

But their surviving relatives probably will . . . . .

[Brian Davis]

What do they plan or contemplate charging the man with? Felonious self-defense? :icon_rolleyes:

There might be some obscure law in Baltimore about using a sword for self-defense. Don't laugh, things far more absurd than that are on the books . . .

Then there is the "cruelty" aspect of it. My gawd, he chopped the guy's hand off & the perp bled out there on the garage floor! How utterly barbaric!

I applaud the guy 100% for using the means he had at hand (pun intended...) to protect himself. But I'm sure the prosecutor will look at this, decide that the guy cut the perp's hand off over nothing more than a property crime (ignoring the fact that he did indeed fear for his life at the time) &, given the gruesomeness of the death (to the "average man on the street", anyway...) then they'll find some reason to charge him with something.

[Ken C.]

There might be some obscure law in Baltimore about using a sword for self-defense. Don't laugh, things far more absurd than that are on the books . . .

Then there is the "cruelty" aspect of it. My gawd, he chopped the guy's hand off & the perp bled out there on the garage floor! How utterly barbaric!

I applaud the guy 100% for using the means he had at hand (pun intended...) to protect himself. But I'm sure the prosecutor will look at this, decide that the guy cut the perp's hand off over nothing more than a property crime (ignoring the fact that he did indeed fear for his life at the time) &, given the gruesomeness of the death (to the "average man on the street", anyway...) then they'll find some reason to charge him with something.
But, on the other hand, (pun intended) the thinking of liberals is always laughable.(Were the consequences for the rest of us not so horrific). The perp deserved what he was handed (The puns for this may be endless) but in Maryland, as has been pointed out, the victim is not going to be out of the woods for awhile.

[Fishnerd]

In layman's terms, robbery is theft with the use of force.
The burglary turned in to a robbery once the burglar was confronted.
The deceased physically charged the "Baltimore Samurai" and the kid took one whack with his sword. The criminal's hand was nearly amputated and he bled out at the scene.
Maryland does not have a castle doctrine, so deadly force may only be used to protect life or limb, and the JHU student was under imminent attack. If the victim had diced the burglar into little pieces, I feel he should be charged- But one whack at someone who is charging at you? Hardly sounds like an offense to me. One blow or one shot is reasonable self defense. If (God forbid) I ever need to use a firearm in self defense, I surely wouldn't empty a magazine, re-load and empty another in "self defense".