As far as I'm concerned, drawing my weapon is the last thing I want to do.
The first mistake that was made was that he resisted when they wanted his bike. Give them the bike, car, purse, wallet...whatever.
This is the permissive-toward-criminality response that I deplore. I feel that it is a victim mentality that says "capitulate capitulate capitulate" instead of STAND UP for what is right against what is wrong. It may be what you feel like doing, but personally, I find it sickening.
If you pull your gun and shoot someone you WILL go to court, and someone WILL sue you. Is the bike worth the time and money it costs to deal with all that? No.
I think the better question is, "Can you live with the idea that you will be letting someone who has proved himself a violent criminal go so that he can victimize more people, just because you didn't want the expense of going to court?" Because that's exactly what you'd be doing.
People have a responsibility -- to a certain extent -- to think of more than just themselves. I believe that every permissive, capitulating crime victim is allowing society to fall further and further into the clutches of the criminals -- and every person who offs a criminal crapbag is a hero. The more so if he has to go through court to defend his actions and comes out vindicated.
I carry regularly. If someone were to put a gun in my face and say give me your car, I would say "here you go!"
If your PLAN is to give up your stuff, why bother carrying at all? It seems like you already have your reaction pre-set, and it obviously doesn't involve use of a gun.
There are situations where your life may be in real danger when pulling your gun is the only option, but it should be just that, your ONLY option.
Some of us don't consider giving in to criminals an "option."
How long do you lie down, spread your cheeks and take it from criminals, anyway? What if they do this to you repeatedly, and the cops can't or won't find them? (And if they do, they're out again in no time.) It is JUST like dealing with the schoolyard bully. If you stand up to the bully the first time, even if you simply put up a good
bluff, he will pass you over to pick on wimpier kids. But give in, and he's got you forever.
-blackmind