How will you know when it’s the right time to use your concealed carry gun?
As regular readers on The Arms Guide are familiar, I read a good deal of news, namely reports that relate to self defense and concealed carry. As a concealed carrier myself, I’m always interested in learning how other CCWers who have been confronted with self defense situations have responded, and what the fallout of their decision was afterward.
The story that I wanted to share with you today reminds me of a scene out of a movie—the diner scene from Pulp Fiction with the characters Honey Bunny, Pumpkin, Jules, and Vincent. As in the Tarantino classic, a pair of individuals, two young men, in this case, attempted to rob a diner, threatening the customers with a firearm. However, instead of the more-or-less pleasant resolution that Jules offers the Pulp Fiction diner thieves, no harm done to anyone beyond being scared witless, this particular real life story had a lethal conclusion for one of the would-be robbers. I’ll back up and give you a quick summary of the story, according to one of the local news station’s reports.
Two young men, identified in the report as Dante Williams and Jawan Craig, attempted to rob a Spartanburg, South Carolina Waffle House restaurant back in January of 2012. The report states that the pair were threatening the patrons. A surveillance video captured Williams approaching one of the restaurant’s diners, specifically, a man named Justin Harrison, who happens to be a concealed carry permit holder. Harrison explained that, after witnessing the pair of youths threatening and scaring the other patrons, he decided he didn’t want to become a victim, and as Williams approached, gun drawn (apparently verified by the security cam footage), Harrison drew his concealed carry pistol and fired on Williams several times. Williams didn’t survive the encounter. Allegedly, Williams’ accomplice, Craig, than engaged in a struggle with Harrison for his gun, unsuccessfully. Eventually, Craig extricated himself from the scuffle, and fled the scene.
Since the crime in early 2012, Harrison’s lethal actions against Williams have been deemed justifiable, while Craig has been sentenced to 30 years prison time for his involvement in the crime.
By drawing, and firing, his self defense pistol, Harrison was able to protect himself, as well as neutralize the threat against the other restaurant-goers. But, that doesn’t negate the fact that Williams’ family has been reduced by one member. In the report, Harrison explained that he knew he only had one chance to protect himself and the others, and he took it, but Williams’ family wondered if there wasn’t a better resolution for the situation. Had you been in that Waffle House that January, over two years ago, what would you have done? How do you know when to draw?
Featured image courtesy of contributor Uberphotos via istockphoto.com
Williams family is in denial. The guy went into a restaurant with a lethal weapon, intending to at best rob the patrons and the restaurant and at worst kill someone. The force used to stop that threat was appropriate.
For me, this excerpt from Destinee’s article makes the use of lethal force obligatory:
…”and as Williams approached, gun drawn (apparently verified by the security cam footage)…”
I guess its a question we never really know the answer too until it happens. You can never really train for such an event but IMO if you carry you should be mentally ready to use.
I have been there…..you will know when you have to draw to kill someone. You can train for it and you had better be ready to do what you have to.
There was no better resolution to the conflict. Those men were armed. Its not like you can sing a song and get them to put down the guns and go away. Every parent thinks their kid could do no wrong but Harrison did good. You cant squander the moment you have to turn the tables. Its a short window. I say the moment a gun is drawn, you draw. Well penned article, Destinee.
It’s very hard to say when you need to draw your gun. A clear threat to your or someone’s life it’s the most obvious way. But, if you have the distrust of someone and make a mistake?
When do you draw a weapon? As my instructor has engrained into his classes, one and only one rule.
In…Defense…Of…LIFE!
It’s a great question. An important variation of the question is, when do you give a verbal warning that you feel threatened?
An example of what I mean: I was at a secluded playground, alone with my son. A car drove up and parked on the side of the road about 30 feet from us. They could have parked in the parking lot which was 100 yds away but they didn’t. Five men got out and walked right towards us. I moved a few steps to put my back against the brick wall of the restroom building and whispered to my son that if something happened he needed to run like the wind. The men walked right by me, and when I say “by,” I mean uncomfortably close for no apparent reason. Perhaps I’m only imaging things, but the whole thing felt like being a lucky scuba diver among many sharks.
So would you have said nothing, or called out that you feel threatened when they were 20 feet away, or 10 feet away, or would you just run away as soon as they got out of the car, or ?
Learn from a lawyer in your home state. You need to MEMORIZE the elements of the crimes in which you can use deadly force in your state. For instance, in Alabama, deadly force can be used by a victim in ALL three degrees of robbery. Robbery is theft by force or threat of force. 3rd degree is unarmed robbery by a single person. 2d degree is robbery by more than one robber but unarmed. 1st degree is one or more armed robbers in AL. YOU MUST KNOW these facts! Guessing can land you in prison, a loss in a civil suit, or cause hesitation that gets you or a loved one killed.
You must also be morally certain about your right to defend yourself. If you’d like to study what the Bible says about self-defense, the death penalty, military and police, check out my book, “A Time To Kill: The Myth of Christian Pacifism.” (available on Amazon)
Unfortunately, we will never know what would have happened if Harrison had acted differently. More lives could have been lost or perhaps, one life, Williams’, could have been saved. The truth of the matter is that Harrison acted out of instinct, in fear of his life, saving himself and those around him.
Williams’ family argues his life did not have to be taken. Though, I wonder how they would have acted if the tables were turned? If their own lives were at risk, would Williams’ family act out of instinct, just as Harrison did, to save their own lives?
Though the outcome of the situation is unfortunate for Williams’ family, it is what it is. This situation forces us all to see there are consequences to our actions no matter what the intent.
Regarding the repercussions of self-defense actions, most attorneys will not pursue a case if there are little to no assets to be had. Having a solid asset protection plan will help to deter any type of litigation proceeding down the road. Those who are wealthy do not own anything yet control everything. Also, there are states with very strong homestead laws that have stood the test of time discouraging attorneys from taking away the majority of Americans’ most valuable asset – their own home.
Interesting topic for discusion! 🙂