And now for some good news....
A carjacking was foiled, and ended with the carjacker seriously injured, though still alive. Naturally, the sheriff said that it was a stupid, but lucky stunt, and that it would have been better for the teen to have allowed his mother to be carjacked. Still, he's being hailed as a courageous guy by everyone else for having the guts to stand up to an armed criminal.
Ron Paul has introduced legislation to repeal the Federal Reserve Act. That's not likely to go very far, but it is the sort of legislation that if Congress could actually bring itself to pass, would help bring our spending back under control. Without "free money" from the Federal Reserve, Congress would actually have to balance the budget among other things.
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It won't pass, but it's better than not trying at all. Perhaps it will get a few Congress critters to actually consider the issue. (I doubt it, but you never know.)
I would have to agree with the sheriff that it was a dangerous thing to do. It is possible to take a weapon from someone, and there is training on how to do so but it is risky. I guess it all just depends on the demeanor of the perp as to what to do.
However dangerous it was, Erik-- demeanor of the perp be damned-- it was the right thing to do. Criminals get away with things because they can count on getting away with it. People do crime because they can count on their victims doing nothing. If this kind of self-defense was encouraged, crime would go down. This kid was right, and the sheriff was dumb to criticize his bravery, especially to reporters.
Tim,
Thank you. You stole the words right out my mouth and did it much more civilly. I kept trying to craft such a response, but it kept looking too acrid. If you want to do as the British Public Safety Minister (or whatever his title) says and jump up and down waving your hands until police arrive (unarmed to boot) to save you, expect to be lamb chops. Not only is doing nothing bad advice, what they offer instead just makes you even more of an attractive target.
Although, I do have some sympathy for the criminal, as the sheriff seems too, albeit for a different reason. I am very sad he was not put out of our (his included) collective misery. Pulling a gun on a 53 year old woman, what is that? The sheriff, if he wanted to do something useful, could at least have finished the job. Out of the guns of babes, and all that jazz.
Hmm, still a bit acrid, but… Tim started it.