Do you remember that awesome scene from Gran Torino where Clint Eastwood’s character, Walt Kowalski, tells some nasty little jerks to “Get off my lawn.” ?
That was the first image that came to mind as I read the story of a 62-year-old California man who, upon arriving home to find his house being ransacked by a couple of criminal dirtbags, promptly took the home invader’s gun away from him and killed him with it.
Score a win for the good guys.
This happened in the Mount Hope neighborhood of San Diego on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, when the homeowner returned home just after 9pm.
When the criminals realized the homeowner had returned, one of the morons pointed his gun at the 62-year-old and demanded valuables, possibly his wallet.
The elderly man immediately disarmed the intruder who then was stupid enough to charge the now-armed 62-year-old.
The 39-year-old criminal suffered multiple gunshot wounds for his gross stupidity and died at the scene, despite responding police officers’ attempts to save his life with CPR.
Police are still searching for the dead home invader’s accomplice, described only as a man in his 30s.
“The case is being investigated as a home-invasion robbery that resulted in a fatal shooting,” said Police Lt. Matt Dobbs.
“We do the investigation and present the facts to the DA who will opine on whether a valid self defense claim exists,” he said in an emailed statement.
One would hope common sense will prevail and the homeowner would not face charges, but stupider things have happened.
While Walt Kowalski was a Korean War veteran who took no crap from anyone, it’s unknown if this homeowner was a military veteran too, or what self-defence training he might have.
I apologize for the title, as I have no idea if this gentleman was grumpy or not.
What I do know is there is one less criminal mastermind in the world, sent off this mortal coil by a man who didn’t take kindly to some asshat pointing a gun at him in his own home.
Hi Christopher, Unfortunately if this had happened in Canada, that 62 year old home owner would be arrested and charged with murder.
How we here in Canada arrived at such an asinine place regarding defense of life I am at a loss to understand. Self defense of life is something so deep in our psyche that it might actually be difficult to avoid doing so under such circumstances, despite the possibility of jail and murder charges.
Personally I have come to the conclusion that this is something we each need to answer for ourselves, and therefore know what or how we intend to react in such a moment of terror, regardless of the legal aspect. For myself, that choice was made long ago, and the old axiom of “being tried by twelve, than carried by six” comes to mind.
I’ll worry about the legal aspect afterwards, if I am fortunate enough to survive such an encounter. I have no intention of going quietly into that final long night, if there is some miscreant trying to send me there.
The manner in which our legal system (not a justice system) operates will ensure that, should you need to use lethal force to preserve your own life, or that of a loved one, you will be victimized a second time, this time defending yourself in our courts.
The insurance industry operates on the same “make-the-victim-a-victim-again” business concept.
It’s those grumpy old men who own a wood chipper or backhoe, and only one rifle, that really scare the pants off of me …
LOL Exactly! Years ago I made a T-shirt for a friend of mine that had an image of a backhoe and the words, “I own a Backhoe and I’m Not Afraid to Use it.”