National Protest and 'disband the cops' discussion (and now ICE)

[compforce]

Had this group of protesters started banging on their windows or tried to enter their home, sure....engage.

They live in a gated community. The streets and the gates are communal private property, owned by all of the homeowners in the community. Tearing down the gates to get on the private street is going through the outer defense perimeter of their property. At what point can they defend it?

Do they have to wait until the house door is breached? Do they have to wait until the protesters were in the house and banging on the door to the room that they are physically in? How far outside the room can they go?

What if the protesters stand in the street and throw incendiaries or fireworks at the house without actually setting foot on the lawn? Can they engage then? What about if the protesters stand outside the gate on a public street and shoot at their car in the driveway with small arms? Why or why not?

 

[Ranger Psych]

Being honest, I've proned out a motherfucker wearing my AR for pulling into my driveway. Granted, there was some backstory to it, but I didn't know them from joe and didn't even know them in my life other than for the last 5 minutes I knew them.

They were trespassing. I was concerned for my wife and daughter.

These were a husband and wife who have been hearing riots and ruckus that's not common, and now all of a sudden you have a mob who's caused property damage and are trespassing.

Would I have drawn down on them, if not worse?

 

[SaintKP]

Even if they made a fool of themselves I believe they were in the right, context is important. It was a private and gated community and there had been extreme violence on going throughout St. Louis at the time.


Personally I prefer the classic but effective sitting on the front porch with the shotgun strat to effectively get the message across.

 

[AWP]

They should be charged with "misdemeanor range theatrics." Conviction: Guilty. Sentencing: A lifetime of memes with no parole.
(gavel cracks)
All rise!

 

[Marauder06]

As a free citizen, we SHOULD be the first line of defense for our lives, rights, and property. I think they made the right call, and a brave one, to stand on their property with their weapons after a violent mob broke into their neighborhood, especially given the nationwide context.

The problem I wrestle with is the indiscriminate pointing of the firearm, especially by the wife. By all means, carry the weapon. But the only time you should point it at someone is when the lawful use of deadly force is called for, which did not appear to be the case. And if it ever becomes the case, stop pointing and start shooting (and I'm glad that didn't happen in this case).

And the handgun was some kind of prop???? Weird...

Given my EXTREMELY limited knowledge of applicable law, I think trespassing charges are warranted against the protesters,--ALL of them--and some kind of charges are warranted, perhaps only against the wife, for something assault-related. Given the circumstances, maybe all of it could be handled via community service.

 

[Florida173]

and some kind of charges are warranted, perhaps only against the wife, for something assault-related. Given the circumstances, maybe all of it could be handled via community service.

Even if the gun had been previously rendered inoperable for previous court proceedings? Either way, charge her with a misdemeanor and let them get in with their lives.

 

[Cookie_]

Even if the gun had been previously rendered inoperable for previous court proceedings? Either way, charge her with a misdemeanor and let them get in with their lives.

I'm not sure that waving around an inoperable firearm is any different (legally) than waving around a working one.

 

[Marauder06]

Even if the gun had been previously rendered inoperable for previous court proceedings? Either way, charge her with a misdemeanor and let them get in with their lives.

Again, no legal expert here, but I think that's still a crime, even if it's a fake weapon.

 

[medicchick]

Even if the gun had been previously rendered inoperable for previous court proceedings? Either way, charge her with a misdemeanor and let them get in with their lives.

If she'd been shot it would be self defense even though it was inop because they could claim "fear for their lives". How could anyone tell it didn't work? It is still a real firearm, just like one that jams is.

IANAL but I did serve on a grand jury for 4 months...lol

 

[Florida173]

I'm not sure that waving around an inoperable firearm is any different (legally) than waving around a working one.

Well plenty different legally. Difference between a felony and a misdemeanor. Doesn't matter really. Will probably get thrown out because of police mishandling, and if not, pardon by the governor as he's already suggested.

 

[Cookie_]

Well plenty different legally. Difference between a felony and a misdemeanor. Doesn't matter really. Will probably get thrown out because of police mishandling, and if not, pardon by the governor as he's already suggested.

For a number of states, the weapon being functional or not does not change the status of charged crime; robbery with a fake weapon can still carry the same punishment as robbery with a real one, for example.

I'm not sure if Missouri differentiates or not. Also, since the charge is assault(IIRC) the weapon's status may play more of a role than if it was a "menacing/threatening" charge.

 

[ThunderHorse]

For a number of states, the weapon being functional or not does not change the status of charged crime; robbery with a fake weapon can still carry the same punishment as robbery with a real one, for example.

I'm not sure if Missouri differentiates or not. Also, since the charge is assault(IIRC) the weapon's status may play more of a role than if it was a "menacing/threatening" charge.

Missouri law requires the firearm to be functional. See the video that @Florida173 posted.

 

[Cookie_]

Missouri law requires the firearm to be functional. See the video that @Florida173 posted.

Must have missed him posting the video; thanks for the clarification.

 

[Blizzard]

Yeah, this won't be abused at all:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1314197512333529088

I quit using Yelp years ago because it's garbage. This reinforces that decision for me.

 

[Florida173]

Are people yelping the protests?


No one uses yelp

 

[Ooh-Rah]

Yeah, this won't be abused at all:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1314197512333529088

I quit using Yelp years ago because it's garbage. This reinforces that decision for me.

This cannot be real!?!

Can it?

ETA:

Oh for fucks sake, it is real.

 

[ThunderHorse]

Yelp has been abused before like this by the user base, people would mobilize their friends to leave negative reviews and call businesses racist etc. when they weren't. I've been on Yelp a long time and the forum side they had has become a loony bin. This will get abused early and often.

 

[DA SWO]

Yelp gets sued into oblivion for this.
Liable is different then just bad reviews.

 

[AWP]

The first time you don't give Karen a free appetizer because her order is "late" your business will become a Klan rally.

 

[GOTWA]

Yelp gets sued into oblivion for this.
Liable is different then just bad reviews.

Can we leave reviews on Yelp itself?