If Someone Was Stealing Your...

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

If we gathered all the guns in Texas alone we could probably fight World War II all over again.

it will by far be the last state standing if another revolutionary war is waged in this country.

[rsflyer]

From Facebook...

I feel that it is very important to point out that Gail felt his life was in immediate danger. Brandon raised his arm and turned around in a threatening way, and Gail thought he was armed.

We all agree in protecting our property and I have nothing against that. I just want people to realize the reason Gail fired was not to protect his vehicle but to protect his life.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^this^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Originally Posted by DuskSS

Ok isnt getting into politics a no no here this is gonna get nasty.

I cannot even begin to say how against what you said I am. He was robbed he defended his property. Glad here in Texas that would be a open and shut case. 1 less scumbag in the world.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^and this^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BTW, the "press" can no longer be trusted to report news. They more often than not create news.

Also,if this had happened between police and a driver (not even a stolen car) in Cali. the cops would have shot the person and asked questions later
(example: the C. Dorner search debacle where civilians were shot just because they drove similar vehicles to the one Dorner was thought to be driving).

Bottom line... none of us were there. None of us know the exact circumstances that led to the shooting.

Also, folks simply do not have "the right" to steal...uh, except maybe those in D.C.?

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by Mr. iNCREDIBLE

it will by far be the last state standing if another revolutionary war is waged in this country.

I know we aren't known for it like Texas but we here in Pa have a Crap load of guns too.

So many that we were able to get one of the largest sportsman shows in the nation cancelled because they decided to not allow vendors to bring AR type guns for sell or display.

[RubyCamaro]

I don't know much but I know if you were not there, you just don't know. None of us know how we would respond in any given situation until we are in it. No 2 situations are alike and even various persons at the same event from virtually the same perspective will report seeing it very differently. I support a person's right to defend themself. I hope that is what this was.

[Renegade]

First reaction would be pissed..and want to go Black ops on his @#$% We live in a generation where younger don't respect the elders. And people just don't respect your property as you've seen over and over on here. Owners becoming victims of bandits. At the end of the day do you want to fight violence with violence?

[JasonK]

In kansas you would need to be in fear for your life. I see this guy looking at jail time.

Of course if he knew what to say when he called the police it might help also. "I feared for my life and stopped the threat".

[mikeyg36]

Originally Posted by 2001ragtop

article in the news: http://www.kxly.com/news/spokane-new...4/-/index.html

Also I sense they will not charge Gail with anything. If Gail walks around with a gun, then chances are he always feels threatened all the time.

He probably will end up killing someone else in the future....and when that happens, he probably will be viewed more as an aggressor if it does not look like he was in danger.

The truth is, I feel that some of these gun owners are just LOOKING for a reason to kill someone. That's why having all these gun owners running around is scary.

Look at one of these guys the wrong way and get killed for it. "he looked at me in a threatening way so I shot first and then asked questions later..."

of course, maybe Gail thought the theif was going to come back, so Gail wanted to make sure he WON'T be coming back to steal again.

that is one form of logic I am sure lots of people use. He fixed the problem permanently. at least with that specific thief.

Because owning a gun means you want to kill someone. The stupidity of this post is unbelievable.

[mikeyg36]

Originally Posted by GbrilliantQ

Guns are the problem and the way people can get them so easily...

[heRS]

Wow, turned into quite a discussion here. It's really hard to know what I would do in the same situation. Yeah, I'd want to shoot somebody stealing my car, but when it came right down to shooting at a moving car in a neighborhood, I'd be less likely to actually shoot at them.
I think Gail will end up with some legal trouble if for no other reason than there is a law on the books in Spokane that it's illegal to leave your car running unattended. Gail went out and started his vehicle and left it unattended. He was in violation of the law technically. The car theft problem in Spokane is really bad. He should never have left his car running.

[AdamZ]

Oh no, that's murder here. Open and shut case. I'm sure he shot him out of anger rather than protection. Some states say you have the right to protect your property though.

[fielderLS3]

Originally Posted by GbrilliantQ

Guns are the problem and the way people can get them so easily...

Criminals are the problem. Guns are a means of defending oneself against said criminals. As things stand tonight, there is one less habitual, repeat criminal on the streets.

[Mutant Racer]

Originally Posted by heRS

suv Would you fire a shot at them as they drove off? A local guy did, and he shot the car thief in the head as he drove away. Killed him. The 56 year old citizen did have a cwp and was carrying. He started his rig to warm up and stepped back inside, saw the thief get in his rig, ran back outside and fired. He thought he saw the thief point a weapon at him. The 25 year old thief has previous car thefts on his records, it wasn't his first time at the rodeo. IMO it serves him right!

What would you do? If you would have done the same thing, like his support page.
https://www.facebook.com/SupportGailGerlach?fref=ts

I'd be very hesitant to shoot a gun in public in that situation for a number of reasons. Having a missed shot land somewhere I don't want it to would be a major worry, even if I could hit my target I don't want a wounded car thief desperate to get away charging through the streets putting other people at risk. I'd have a very hard time living with myself if I got an innocent bystander hurt/killed just because I wanted to protect my car which is something I can always have replaced.

My thoughts about using deadly force lean towards the immediate. If I had no choice but to use a gun to protect myself and other people then yes I'd shoot but not for a car. I'd rather see the police stop the guy then arrest and taser him so I can laugh at him in a courtroom as long as the Judge doesn't get mad at me for it.

I know some of you would rather shoot the car thieves in action, especially you wacky Texans and your Castle mischief, and I guess that's ok but all I ask is if you ever accidentally shoot me in the process protecting your Camaro's honor then I want morphine every 5 minutes, ice cream and steak about every 10, a private room with cable TV, and a guest appearance on World's Dumbest Criminals so me and Tanya Harding can make fun of the thief and you for being such a lousy shot.

Given the circumstances I find that to be fair and acceptable.

[ActNup NY]

Here's the deal I don't know if the guy's intention was on killing him, scaring him with a shot or what. But this is how I look at the situation I'm a grown ass man. I never stole anything of major value from anyone in my life. ( atleast from what I can remember)

But I work to hard to obtain what I have for me and my family. So just the mere fact of someone violating you, and you possessions like that. I say he deserved what he got. And from reading prior post on this topic. It wasn't his first time, or first arrest.

So he had to know that it would all catch up with him one day. So no I don't feel sorry for him. I do feel sorry for any trouble that the person who shot him have to endure.:(. Best believe if I got my gun in possession and I catch someone driving off with my car. i dont care if I have On-star, Lo- Jack on my car you best believe I'm busn' my gun.

I'll deal with the backlash later.

[kalimus]

Originally Posted by ActNup NY

Here's the deal I don't know if the guy's intention was on killing him, scaring him with a shot or what.

I would highly doubt his intention was to kill him. He got a head shot, while (angry or scared... I don't know), at a target inside a moving vehicle driving away. Unless this guy is a damn pro with a pistol, it's not an easy shot. And anyone who has fired a pistol under a stress situation knows that.

However.

I wasn't there. I didn't see it. And Lord knows the news doesn't report things accurately. In addition, the investigation is still going on, and the man who fired will get chastised the entire time, even if it's found he was justified in his actions.

Me PERSONALLY, I wouldn't shoot someone just for stealing my car. I have insurance for that. I WOULD draw down on him and see if it would stop. I WOULD shoot if I felt my life was in danger. But I certainly don't feel any pity for the car thief. That story said how his relatives reinforced that he was such a good kid... well no, he wasn't. Previous car jacking. Previous assault. Previous possession of weapons.

Until something solid comes out that suggests the shooter was way out of line, I take his side. Protecting himself and/or his property against a criminal.