She might have a great future in Massachusetts politics

[KMaurer]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060530...gbisBEXCGYD;_ylu=X3oDMTA4dDg2MG9mBHNlYwMxNjk3

Even though she admits that the defendant's shooting was completely justifiable defense, this Detroit prosecutor is still charging him with several criminal counts, including unlawfully discharging a firearm in a building, a felony with a potential 4 year penalty. I guess it was legal to shoot the guy, but he should have run outdoors first.

BTW: Here's a real shocker. The armed assailant he shot was a rapper (purportedly Eminem's best friend) with a blood alcohol of .32.

Ken

 

[patio]

After reading the article it does seem as though Ethridge (the shooter) should be charged. It isn't like he is being charged with murder as his actions were in the right, but why should he be let off on the unlawful posession charges? If they can prove the firearm was his, and that his story of taking it from someone else is made up he certianly should be charged. If he did take it from someone else then the charges against him should be dropped the the person who possessed it should be charged with unlawful possession.

I guess I don't see what is wrong here?

 

[Admin]

There is nothing wrong there. What a joke.

 

[KMaurer]

Yes, the unalwful posession charge might be valid. That's why I didn't bring it in, though they'll need to prove he had the guns before the whole thing started. What got me was the unlawful discharge of a firearm in a building charge. Let me see, defense of a life constitutes a legal reason to kill an agressor, but to do something as drastic as discharging a firearm in a building. Yes, killing is one thing, but one has to draw the line somewhere in order to protect civilization as we know it. Let somebody discharge a firearm in a building in order to save a life and before your know it youve got fire and brimstone coming down from the skies; rivers and seas boiling; forty years of darkness; earthquakes, volcanoes; the dead rising from the grave; human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together ...

Ken

 

[patio]

Right but it is the same idea that when someone gets arrested for DUI while driving without a license they usually throw every other charge on there like marked lanes violations, failure to signal, uninsured MV, etc. So even if the DUI doesn't stick bc they didn't blow the rest will.

I realize what you are saying but that is why we have a legal system. It isn't likey a jury will convict for the discharge but not on the possession. Why we are debating this is beyond me becauase there seems to be 2 takes on this:

1. Person associating with sketchy people (I don't care that it was his job) uses deadly force to protect a life after fighting a gun out of the hands of the person who originally possessed the firearm.
2. Person associating with sketchy people uses deadly force to protect a life using an illegally possessed and presumably concealed firearm.

Either way, this isn't someone I want to get behind and support their cause. To be honest, seems like the system is working here so far.

While I am on a rant, and trust me I realize this is a rant, it doesn't help our cause as firearm owning residents of Massachusetts when we bash our own state. Really, I had hoped that we would avoid this on NES, and for the most part we have. We do a really good job as keeping the debates on topic and based on fact, your original post takes a swing at the political state of Massachusetts for abosuletly no productive reason.

Please don't take this as an attack on you, I hope everyone can work to keep this site from turning into the unwelcoming and bashing place like AR15.com.