Packin' Granny Shoots Intruder

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Woman, 81, Shoots Homeless 'Washer'
By Associated Press

MOBILE, Ala. - An 81-year-old woman shot a homeless man after finding him washing his clothes in her laundry room, police said. Ethel Sanders told police she heard noises in her laundry room Monday morning, so she grabbed her handgun and found a man standing in his underwear near the washing machine, police spokesman Officer Eric Gallichant told the Press-Register.

Sanders, who normally uses a walker, shot the man when he came at her, Gallichant said. She was knocked to the ground by the force of the gun and the man grabbed it from her, Gallichant said. The man pointed the gun at Sanders, took his clothes from the washing machine and fled, Gallichant said.

Officers quickly found the nearly naked suspect at a nearby community center. He had been struck by a bullet that went through his leg to his stomach. He was expected to survive, and will be charged with first-degree burglary when he is released from the hospital, police said.

Sanders told the newspaper she bought the pistol about four years ago to protect herself because she lives alone, but had never fired it before.

"Whenever I hear a noise, I just go grab my gun," she said.

Copyright 2007 The
 
I don't think that would have been justifiable homicide if she succeeded in killing him. I'm surprised she's not being charged.
 
Sanders, who normally uses a walker, shot the man when he came at her
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That sounds like a legitimate reason to shoot someone. If I found some guy in my house in his undies, I would be ready to shoot. As soon as he started towards me, its all over for him.....

I think she was perfectly justified.
 
"The bullet went through his leg to his stomach? Explain the physics of that...."

1) she fired as she was falling, thus the upward trajectory

2) she was very short anyway

3) bullet bounced off femur or hip joint and careened upward

4) all of the above
 
I don't think that would have been justifiable homicide if she succeeded in killing him. I'm surprised she's not being charged.
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Way back in the early 50s my Granny shot a man that was coming in the back door of their house. She shot him with a 12 ga killed that guy. Never spent a minute in jail. Dont mess with old ladies, noone has any sympathy for ya if ya get kilt off. And good riddance.

Was a 1896 winchester pump, is still in the family.
 
I don't think that would have been justifiable homicide if she succeeded in killing him. I'm surprised she's not being charged.
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Don't know Alabama's laws, but in just about every state w/a Castle Doctrine she would be totally justified.
 
yup, castle doctrine

In CA if you shoot someone who has entered 'forcefully' (ie 'not invited') into your residence you are PRESUMED to be in fear of your life. The other side would have to rebut that presumption with clear and convincing evidence that you did not in fact fear for your life. Not an easy task unless you say to the cops "I knew that ****** wasn't going to hurt me but I shot anyway."
 
actually dumb

she was EXTREMELY lucky the dude didn't just shoot her while she was on the ground. If you're going to be blasting a gun you'd better kill on the first shot or be able to hold on to the weapon.
 
She's lucky not to be dead being as he got the gun away, apparently while still loaded (should have kept squeezing the trigger until empty) ... but given the disparity of size and health in this situation, and the fact that he was in her house, I doubt she was be prosecuted just about anywhere (except maybe the most extreme anti-American states/Districts, like DC, NJ, MA, etc.).

Seriously ... what jury is going to convict an old lady on a walker to shot a homeless man who broke into her home and advanced toward her?
 
"The bullet went through his leg to his stomach? Explain the physics of that...."

1) she fired as she was falling, thus the upward trajectory

2) she was very short anyway

3) bullet bounced off femur or hip joint and careened upward

4) all of the above
Click to expand...

Or 6) He was raising his leg to roundhouse kick her as she fired the shot.
 
She is lucky to be alive!

She uses a walker and had NEVER FIRED A GUN BEFORE!

She probably had no clue the recoil would feel like the gun was going to fly out of her hand and that caused her to stumble and fall down. I'm surprised she even managed to hit him.

This is why I have a lot of respect for gun store owners that go out of their way to make sure people buying guns have/get some experience with them. It just isn't smart or safe to keep a gun for protection yet never actually shoot the thing.

This is also why I dislike the part of Indiana law that prohibits you from transporting a handgun to/from a range without a permit. You can transport one unloaded and secured in your trunk to/from a gunsmith... thats it. So people who only want to keep one in the house for protection either have to get a carry permit, never practice with it, or commit a crime every time they DO take it to the range. I believe they should be allowed to transport it unloaded and secured in the trunk to/from a range.
 
I bet if you interviewed the guy who got shot he would say he never advanced toward the woman. Some lawyer must have gotten to her to ensure that she was "in fear for her life" before she shot. I wouldn't doubt that a friendly LE who took the statement asked "are you sure he wasn't coming at you, now think real hard" or some such.

Still, pretty stupid all around.
 
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