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From: medin@ucbvax.ARPA (Milo Medin)
Newsgroups: net.legal,net.politics
Subject: Re: NYC subway hero
Message-ID: <3989@ucbvax.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 1-Jan-85 16:07:46 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.3989
Posted: Tue Jan  1 16:07:46 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 3-Jan-85 03:47:29 EST
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Organization: University of California at Berkeley
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Xref: watmath net.legal:1166 net.politics:6528


Perhaps the guy didn't stick around because even if he's innocent
on grounds of self defense, he couldn't afford the legal battle
(I doubt the ACLU's ;awyers would take his case), or even
he might have feared reprisals against his family by friends of
the men he shot.  There are a lot of reasons for running away.
While a lot of people may applaud him, there are probably a few
who would try to get even.  And if somebody wants to kill you
bad enough in this country, they can certainly do it.

I remember when I back on my family's farm several years ago
and we were being harrassed by a bunch of hoodlums (killed our
dogs, broke into our house, made threatening phone calls, etc...),
I was awakened one night by the sound of prowlers outside.
My bedroom was on the second floor, so I grabbed my rifle,
which I kept in my bedroom, loaded it, and went to the window
to look around.  I saw 2 T-shirts in the vineyard, and put
the crosshairs right on the center of one.  I thought to myself,
if I fire, who is going to be in more trouble, me or that guy.
Even if I fired and hit him in the shoulder or leg to stop him
so the police could interrogate him, would this be considered
'unnecessary use of force'?  Could he sue me?  Perhaps I should
have killed him right there.  Would I be arrested?  What would
happen to my family?  I put the gun down.  Before I had even
gotten up, my mother had called the sheriff.  It took them
about 15 minutes to get there, despite my mom telling them that
I was armed and going to take care of the situation myself
if they didn't get there quickly.  They showed up about
5 minutes after I lost sight of the punks.  It was a full moon
that night, and very clear, so I had a very good view.
They showed up in force, 5 cars at once.  They fanned out
and looked around, one deputy saw them and gave chase on foot,
but the punks reached their car and took off leaving the 
deputy on foot and out of range of fire.   After 3 months
and 2 more dogs and a lot of other garbage, it stopped all of
sudden.  I never knew why or who, and still don't.   They
were really scum too, when they killed my dogs, they just
tied them up and slit open their bellies, or shot them in the
leg, never allowing a quick death.  Once they put ground glass
in their dog food.  I wonder what the people are responsible
are doing now.  Perahps I should have fired.  

I don't blame that guy for not sticking around.  With idiots
like Koch running things, who knows what would have happened.
I understand he's turned himself in.  Koch has had him charged
with 4 counts of attempted murder.  His name is in all the 
papers, and even gang members can read names.  I feel sorry for
the guy.  I dount he'll be found guilty, no jury in the country
would convict him.  But what else happens to him may not be so
nice.


				Milo