A MUST READ - "Don't Shoot!"

Unfortunately, the dynamics of these situations tend to not favor the gun owner who "displays" his/her weapon. If the other party reports the act it boils down to a "He said, she said" standoff. Since it is easier to identify displaying a firearm a criminal act than driving a truck stupidly, the lady in this story ended up with the short end of the stick.

The fact the troopers didn't arrest her indicates they really didn't know what to do but took the easy way out by confiscating her pistol. That way they can't be put on the hook if she drives on down the road with her pistol and "assaults" another truck driver.

I imagine, if there is no evidence to the contrary, the county prosecutor will decline to file any charges. Especially if the troopers failed to get the truck driver's name and address.

I think she'll eventually get her pistol back, but it might be faster to get another one.

She would have come out better if she slammed on her brakes to avoid a little black dog and sued the driver for whiplash injury.
 
To see what we here in MA go through, go to G.O.A.L.'s web page at http://www.goal.org .

Pay particular attention to the analysis of our new law S. 180.

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Gun Control: The proposition that a woman found dead in an alley, raped and strangled with her own panty hose, is more acceptable than allowing that same woman to defend herself with a firearm.
 
What do you expect in a state that has a drunk, and in my opinion, a murderer for a Senator????? Never forget Mary Jo!!!!!!!!!

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From my cold dead hands.
 
what about displaying a fake gun?
not a good idea in a stopped situation but while driving?

is it illegal to brandish a cap gun in your own car?

dZ
 
Fourdiamonds, Please! Is that any way to speak of an alcoholic, homicidal, philandering sycophant.

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If you're not a little upset with the way the world is going, you're not paying attention.
 
Displaying a fake gun is as bad as a real gun in most states. Bad idea.

She needed better driving tactics and a cell phone. Call and say you are in fear of your life.

Reading the story - I wasn't sure if there was no shoulder or drive way to stop or occupied place to stop. Were the private homes empty?

If one did stop - and take a defensive position from cover - you are in a better situation. Esp. if the truck stops and the
guy comes for you.

Take being said (no criticism of her intended)
the cops should drop it. However, given just a he said, she said - if he reports a gun, you are in trouble.

Tough call.
 
Why aren't there any posts here condemning her actions? Sounds to me like she was brandishing her weapon in a threatening manner and was probably on the verge of 'road rage' herself. Being tailgated is not hardly a reason to draw a gun.
And what about their other quotes? Her husband said she should have killed him, and she said she'd rather be raped than have her rights violated? They're both either real stupid or real obnoxious, and I don't thnk you're gonna catch me feeling sorry for them.
 
Her first mistake...calling the cops.

Her second mistake...allowing the cops to search her vehicle.

Her biggest mistake...believing in the system.
 
DZ,
Displaying a fake gun in most states, and I dare say all of them, is the same as displaying a real gun. The idea is that the reasonable citizen cannot be expected to distinguish between the two, and subsequently feels threatened, which is a crime.
 
Paul - I don't know your level of legal or tactical training.

Classes I've taken clearly emphasize that if you do use a gun in some situation, it is to your every advantage to inform the authorities as soon as you can.

Thus, you establish yourself as the person acting in defense.

If you do not - you are the criminal as the other party reports you first.

Nice to hate the system but got to use your brains also, dude.
 
It appears the lady's permit is NOT a concealed carry permit and thus the appearance of the gun is clearly not a legal issue. Also the truck with 18 wheels verses her car makes it a clear case of disparity of force. Also in self-defense I was trained we must "fear" great bodily harm or death and I would think she met that mind set. The reasonable person doctrine applies as to what she feared and would another person in the same situation come to the same conclusion.
I would also suspect the truck driver should have been checked to see if his logs were up to date, his papers in order, and if he was within legal weight limits. If I was her I would also contact his employers and report his behavior. She can make life pretty miserable for him.
Cheers!
 
Remember we're hearing just one side of the story. Could it be that if we heard from the trucker--that some nut going 20 mph under the speed limit, refused to allow him to pass, and then pulled a weapon in a threating manner--we might also agree that she's a nut. I'm not saying that is what happened--just that I like to know more before making any type of judgement.

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RKBA! NRA JPFO SAF
 
Yeah, we are hearing one side of the story... but it is hers and she sounds very wrong to me.

She had no reason to fear for her life, she had no reason to pull out a gun and could quite likely have escalated the situation by doing so.

The trucker had showed no intent to harm her.. in fact, by pulling int the other lane he made it quite clear that he was trying to get around her!

She was foolish, she was wrong. She gives gun owners a bad name.


Ms. Hamilton,

A firearm is not the proper response to an aggressive driver, no matter how opinionated and paranoid you are.

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-Essayons
 
I rained death on the editors for publishing what appeared to be her permit, complete with address.

I got this reply:

"Sir:

Mrs. Hamilton gave us that photo for the express purpose of internet publication. It may not even be her current address. However, we have decided to blank it out just in case it is current and because it
has already been brought to our attention that some people might make bad use of the address no matter who currently lives there.

Ed"

Sounds like amateur night at the press.



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The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.
 
Maybe she should have just hit the brakes a little and if the trucker was at the proper safe distance from her vehicle he would not have hit her. Some how I dont think that would have been the case.

A friend of mine just got chased all the way off the freeway the other day by crazed truck driver. Was right on bumper and flashing lights and honking. Eventually got around and made radical lane changes until following him and wife to suface streets. Was swerving at him until they lost him in the city. Nothing his 91 wouldnt have taken care of.

And the cops didnt even talk to the trucker that the lady had a run in with? Sounds like bad police work to me.

Trucker must have been pretty damn close to see her put gun on seat. Tailgating might be illegal but not justifiable to draw down on, but threatening to ram someone certainly is. As all the cops know who place themselves in front of a suspects stopped car so they can justify shooting if the suspect tries to leave. Seen it multiple times on "cops" shows on the tv.

Its easier to keep it on the dash as it is illegal to conceal out here in kali :)
 
Oberkammando,

You must have been sitting pretty far away from your computer to mis-read that article so badly! She held the gun in her hand on the steering wheel.... setting the gun on the seat is never mentioned.

How can you guys be so quick to defend this woman just because she is a gun owner???!!

The last time I checked lots of morons and criminals had guns... why do many people insists on joining arm and arm with them? Are you guys going to defend the idoit who left a stolen gun where a sick kid could get to it in Michigan? I mean afterall, the 2nd amendment doesn't say anything about it, right?

Sheesh....

[This message has been edited by Rob (edited March 12, 2000).]
 
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