I was lucky. If the attacker had been more bent on robbing me and not drunk, I would not have won. I was not in good enough shape to run away or fight if he had been more dangerous.

I don't know much about guns and I am not comfortable with them. Before I would start carrying a gun I would really want some training and experience with them. Where I live now, I don't feel at risk. When I lived in the city I was at greater risk.

I was both unwise and lucky, I think most victims are,, but thats a personal bias

I was in a park alone ( a bad and unwise choice) in one instance and at a strangers home alone at night in another (a bad and unwise choice)


both were more interested in overpowering and dominating than taking a life,


a blessing(that they were criminals but not killers)

Well sometimes when a criminal thinks he is going to be caught, or has "too much to loose" they then upgrade to killer.

It is also too bad when victims do nothing and then later the criminal goes on to have a chance to upgrade.

Its my policy to give no criminal a chance to upgrade. You do someone wrong your going to get caught, or shot. Hopefully they dont try anything stupid while we wait on the police . . . .
This is very much true, anyone considering getting a gun should take lots of time to train, and learn proper safety and handling skills. No exceptions safety first.

I had one friend who purchased a training firearm replica, and carried that around while he trained and practiced in his house ect prior to getting his CCW permit, another friend used a air soft gun for the same purposes. Thy also sell snap cap, ie fake ammo, to use in a real firearm for the same purposes.

You have to get a good amount of training and also complete an accuracy course to get a CCW here.

Same here, and this article illustrates a perfect example of the effectiveness of armed citizens.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/Police-Man-turns-knife-on-several-people-in-Royal-Oak-s-Holiday-Market-parking-lot/-/1719418/9262244/-/uwnf04z/-/index.html

Well hear in Northeast ohio a few miles from chardon things are finaly settling down a bit. The red and black plastic ribbons (Chardons school colors) are all fadeing and tearing away from werever some kind hearted soul thought to put them thinking they would do some good. The future remains bleak for most american kids. Hug them if you got em.

amen, and dont let them walk alone at night if they live in Florida or Texas...

As soon as they are 21, arm them, train them, and pass Campus Carry.

In Most states at age 18 you can open carry a firearm as long as you have obtained it legally.

Here it's 21 to own or carry a handgun.

thats ok. I am raising my children to value human life, even others....

I value human life, I also live in the real world where my best friend was beaten to death with a fire extinguisher.

Great work MsHarmony

yes, thats unfortunate and explains your logic based upon what your perception of 'real world' is

but its still not logical to ME based upon what my 'real world' experience has been

Good for you, I hope your world is never so devastated. I really do.

For me, I am going to continue to urge my friends and family and people I meet to arm themselves, avoid conflict, and stop violent attackers. It takes personal responsibility to do it right, it requires taking the high road in encounters, but there really is no other solution.

More people need to help each other, and not stand by as a passive witness to violent crime.

If someone had come out and helped zimmerman instead of being passive he may not have had to kill Martin.

If someone would have helped kity Genovese, she may have not been killed.

In today's society we are taught to not get involved, this leads to the need for personal self defense through deadly force.

Get to know your neighbors, help them out, get to know fellow students, help them out. Carry a firearm and hope to never use it.

I agree, people should help each other.

I wonder if he offered to 'help' that boy or just assumed he should treat him with criminal suspicion?

I think he was trying to help his community but I dont know the man personally.

the boy was part of the 'community'

a new part, but a part just the same

I dont know him personally either, but Im glad they at least are going to INVESTIGATE instead of just wrapping it up as 'self defense'

AND, for me as part of a community if a community watch person asks what I am doing I will answer honestly and deal with him fairly.

msharmony you and myself both have no clue what took place after the initial questions. Your indignation is not founded in facts. I do not know Zimmermans real motivations any more than I know Martins, or your own.

ME? If I was confronted with ANYONE asking me why I was in the neighborhood, id be polite, engaging, and helpful, if the person became confrontational, id start my voice recorder and start backing away to create distance.

I would run or fight, if I was already suspicious, nervous, or fearful after seeing them leave their car and FOLLOW me,,,,,or if I happened to notice a gun in their belt,,,, AFTER they had followed me and confronted me verbally, ,

and I doubt, judging by your previous experience and opinions, that you would just be 'polite' to someone who had followed you with a gun and then faced off with you to ask you why you were there,,,,,