The Armed Citizen: Any Repurcussions?

[tmark]

For decades I've been reading with renewed interest the feature in G&A magazine entitled The Armed Citizen. As you know, paraphrased stories concerning armed confrontations between thugs and law-abiding citizens throughout the states are printed in this respectable periodical.

After reading such incidences, the bad guy gets his just rewards in the end and the innocent victim(s) of crime are exonerated by the law enforcement people and seem to go on in life as if nothing ever happened.

I wonder if these armed citizens who have justifiably protected themselves suffer any post traumatic symptoms from having had to shoot another human being (thugs are included in our phylogeny) let alone having to use deadly force.

Also, have any of the surviving criminal recipients experiencing the effects of the legitimate armed citizen filed lawsuits against such law-abiding citizens who have used firearms to defend themselves from those involved in criminal behaviors.

Have those who have died from lead poisoning during the execution of their criminal behaviours had surviving family members and/or friends file "wrongful death"/"excessive force" lawsuits in civil court against the legit armed citizen?

My point is that I wonder if all these armed citizens who have had to shoot a person engaged in criminal behavior continue to live a normal life without any legal or emotional repercussions? I hope they can.

G&A magazine publishes examples of the armed citizen but I would be interested in what the armed citizen has endure after the effect.

I'd be interested to hear from those who have "been there; done that".

[M1Riflenut]

I believe those stories that G&A publish are actually from the NRA which,as I'm sure you know (from reading your own NRA magazine you get with your membership)has been publishing them for as long as I can remember.

You do get a magazine with your NRA membership,don't you?

[TomSudz]

tmark, if you can find it, "on killing" by Ltc Dave Grossman is a good reference for your psychological question. Pretty much, no "normal" person can be unaffected by killing another, regardless of justification. The book was recommended by one of the instructors we had prior to going to Iraq.

As far as the legal side, I haven't heard of a citizen suing a criminal (not saying it hasn't happened, I just haven't heard of it), but it seems a good number of criminals sue the citizen. I have heard of a case where the robber developed a limp and successfully sued the gun owner for, get this, loss of income! Because he couldn't rob houses anymore!

[joem]

Quite a few years ago a fellow I was working with told me his wife was going to to civil court because she shot a burgler in their home. The perp was claiming disability because he lost a kidney (blown out with 9mm HP). He was Pi**ed because of legal costs.

[Dave Waits]

What happens afterwards legally, depends on what State you live in, whether that state has/had a Castle-law in effect, ad-infinatum. Here in Ohio for a righteous shoot you will receive a 'No-Bill' decision from the court. At that point, you're pretty-much suit-proof. Alot of lawyers try to beat the No-Bill but it never goes their way. Don't ask me how I know.