Most of us would probably agree this constitutes clear Disparity of Force. We’d be on solid legal ground, using lethal force in defense of ourselves and loved ones. Would it make any difference if two of your assailants were female? If they were family? This is the ugly scenario faced by an Arizona man in the fall of 2008, as originally reported by kold.com . . .
The Players:
Larry: Age 37. The 14 year CCW holder had experience as a corrections officer, and firearms trainer, among other professions.
Attackers: three adult neighbors; two women in their 30s and one man, 26
The Stage: The sidewalk in front of Larry’s home. Larry’s wife has just rolled out the garbage cans and he is sitting on his bicycle chatting with her. It is early evening.
Two days prior, an argument had taken place, via text message, between Larry’s wife and one of two sisters that lived across the street. This evening, first one, then both of the sisters cross the street, fists raised, implying that they intended to do great bodily harm to Larry’s wife.
Larry attempts to calm the situation down verbally. When the force becomes physical, he puts himself in the middle of it and employs the “Soft Hands” techniques he learned as a prison guard. This only serves to embolden the already enraged pair and they turn their fists on him.
Things go from bad to worse as he is blind-sided by the live-in boyfriend of one sister who has run across the street to join in the beating. A punch to the temple nearly knocks him out and he sees stars.
Experiencing the savage nature of this attack, and fearing for the safety of his wife and young son, he draws his Glock 19 and fires three shots from the “Retention Position” at near contact distance. One woman is hit in the leg and the man is hit in the hand and stomach. He retreats to his house with the sister who has not been shot. This fight is over.
As Larry attempts to call for police and medical services, he retrieves a trauma kit from the garage and renders aid to the woman. (Yes, the same person who, just seconds before, was probably willing to stomp his skull in.) He has unloaded his gun and set it aside. The police arrive and he is taken in to custody. Several hours later he is booked into jail on aggravated assault charges.
The fight for his life lasted only seconds; the ensuing fight for his freedom was just getting started. Click here to read the rest of the story by esteemed firearms trainer Gila Hayes.
Meanwhile, what would you have done differently to (perhaps) defuse this situation? Should he have drawn his weapon earlier? Your thoughts please.
