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Lawyers all know that an eyewitness can ruin a good story. It's best that there be only one witness, and one version of what happened.

The Texan Ninja wrote:You are walking to your car at night and some thug walks up with a knife and demands money. You draw your weapon and the BG drops the knife and takes off running.

Hopefully it's a nice knife you will like!

...I'll say that was a joke...and suggest that fingerprints on that dropped knife, or DNA from either the robber or a previous victim on it, might be used to take a criminal off the street...even if it were a brand new pistol...we have to responsibly call it in and get it logged and processed...the days of tossing it or keeping it were over along about the time DNA became significant...your being a good citizen might break a string of crimes and save someone else's bacon...

JALLEN wrote:Lawyers all know that an eyewitness can ruin a good story. It's best that there be only one witness, and one version of what happened.

...these two sayings, though heard often, shouldn't alarm us if our story is only one of several and different ones...my personal experience in cases from traffic to murder and in between is this:
...as soon as possible, write down notes of everything you can remember...before you discuss what happened with anyone...every single detail matters...
...don't let yourself be rattled, either by investigators or a prosecutor or defense attorney...tell exactly what happened...people who deal with cases daily develop the ability to smell a lie...and recognize the ring of truth...

speedsix wrote:...I'll say that was a joke...and suggest that fingerprints on that dropped knife, or DNA from either the robber or a previous victim on it, might be used to take a criminal off the street...even if it were a brand new pistol...we have to responsibly call it in and get it logged and processed...the days of tossing it or keeping it were over along about the time DNA became significant...your being a good citizen might break a string of crimes and save someone else's bacon...

I might be wrong, but IMO for this type of crime, attempted robbery, I doubt the knife would ever get examined for fingerprints or DNA. It's still a good idea to report it.

...that would depend on how professional the responding officer and the department were...but we can do our part...

If it reaches the point of unconcealed weapons, I'm reporting it. I don't care who gets the knife as long as it is one of the LEOs. And, I'll call it a good day that I did not have to shoot someone, and I walked away.

Then I will trust the system and pray that the trust, which has been earned, will continue to be founded upon truth. Short of that, I will still have another night and hopefully awake to another day.

sugar land dave wrote:If it reaches the point of unconcealed weapons, I'm reporting it. I don't care who gets the knife as long as it is one of the LEOs. And, I'll call it a good day that I did not have to shoot someone, and I walked away.

Then I will trust the system and pray that the trust, which has been earned, will continue to be founded upon truth. Short of that, I will still have another night and hopefully awake to another day.

I, too, would call and report the crime. I just wanted to know if anyone had personal experience with a bad guy actually running off and calling law enforcement after they failed in their crime attempt because a law-abiding citizen drew on them. Like I said, the only example I have read is in one of Massad Ayoob's books, and it took place in Denver.

My experience is the bad guy backed away without me having to unconceal my drawn pocket BUG and a minute later robbed someone else in another part of the large parking lot. The police were there in less than five minutes, but he had long since left the area. I didn't see the successful robbery so was of little assistance.

AEA wrote:Are you telling us that this WAS NOT covered in your CHL Class?

AEA, I could right a book about the pertinent information that was not covered along with a lot of other wrong info. Instructors are people too, and are very capable of making mistakes right along with the rest of us. That is a big reason for forums such as this one. A little group discussion goes a long way. I like to get on here and read the scenario based questions, (there usually is a lot of good input) but there are always the nay sayers that criticize. That aint what its about.

I haven't see this mentioned yet, so allow me to be the first.

Reholster. After the threat has left and you are safe of course. In the "excitement" of it all, you don't want to be standing there holding it in the open.

Then grab your phone...

JALLEN wrote:Lawyers all know that an eyewitness can ruin a good story. It's best that there be only one witness, and one version of what happened.

So... Shoot the witnesses?

As far as drawing and then not shooting I would definitely call 911 immediately and report the incident, ect..
That being said if a BG with a knife drawn rushes me or is close enough where I feel I must produce my weapon I'm probably going to defend myself appropriately. In other words I'd probably refrain from drawing unless firing would shortly follow. Knives can kill you fast if they get close.

sjfcontrol wrote:

JALLEN wrote:Lawyers all know that an eyewitness can ruin a good story. It's best that there be only one witness, and one version of what happened.

So... Shoot the witnesses?

Eyewitnesses know that all lawyers can ruin a good story.

Drjfiremedic wrote:

AEA wrote:Are you telling us that this WAS NOT covered in your CHL Class?

AEA, I could right a book about the pertinent information that was not covered along with a lot of other wrong info. Instructors are people too, and are very capable of making mistakes right along with the rest of us. That is a big reason for forums such as this one. A little group discussion goes a long way. I like to get on here and read the scenario based questions, (there usually is a lot of good input) but there are always the nay sayers that criticize. That aint what its about.

I completely agree with you.