tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post8792234465085052922..comments2023-11-27T02:17:22.859-06:00Comments on The LawDog Files: "She was doing everything she was supposed to do to stay alive"LawDoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05232684877582591461noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-32964294290936899612017-08-19T23:12:09.316-05:002017-08-19T23:12:09.316-05:00A much-later comment on a couple other comments, t...A much-later comment on a couple other comments, to wit, "In a sane world, NOBODY would be armed. And I stress the NOBODY very far, extending beyond police and military forces."<br /><br />The overwhelming majority of people have multiple deadly weapons in their possession at all times - however most of us are untrained in their use.<br /><br />These deadly weapons are called "hands", "feet", "elbows", "knees", et cetera.<br /><br />Training aside, some of us are much better equipped to make use of these weapons, than others are. And I say that as one of the others. It wouldn't matter if I had extensive street-fighting training (I don't), if I were up against a 6'6" 250-pound street thug in hand to hand combat the odds would still be heavily against me.<br /><br />A firearm and even minimal training would accomplish a LOT more in evening the odds. Sure, the thug might have a gun too... it wouldn't make the situation any worse than if neither of us had a gun. The thug might take the gun from me... ditto.<br /><br />(Sadly, I also have tremors and weak wrists. Proper gun control consists of a good eye, a firm grip, and a steady hand; and two of those things I can't do to my own satisfaction.)<br /><br />And if you're thinking that in a sane world there wouldn't be thugs... try telling a gazelle that in a sane world there wouldn't be lions. Sorry, the lions are sane too. And there are circumstances where a sane human can rationally decide that being a predator, and preying on another human, is a reasonable option. (It helps to be a bit lacking in moral principles, but those are not strictly necessary for sanity. A high risk tolerance also helps, and that's actually useful in quite a few other situations.)<br /><br />Disarming the law-abiding people, telling people that self-defense is wrong, telling people that once an attacker stops actively trying to hurt you you can't hurt him... that's training people to be gazelles (except gazelles run faster) in a world that has lions. Increase the number of gazelles, and there will soon be more lions eating them.<br /><br />Telling people to give the attackers whatever they want... gazelles aren't that stupid.warrlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15874914098902528455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-85068936378541468662014-05-26T19:57:23.739-05:002014-05-26T19:57:23.739-05:00I've read the story and all the posts. one thi...I've read the story and all the posts. one thing for sure--"violence is not the answer" is pure BULLSHIT! There is a time when violence is the ONLY answer. Granted, common sense as to when or where or why is neccessary. But when a lawbreaker chooses to put my life in jeopardy, he/she has also put their life in Jeopardy also. I will win or die trying. I'm 70 years old and am a DAV (Viet Nam) , walk with a cane (excellent fighting stick) and pack a .45 cal Glock. Yes, I have had to use them in the defense of my self and family. he had a pistol also and shot first. I returned fire and kept firing until he couldn't. I was found to have use self defense of me and family. Justified homicide. <br />Please don't try to tell me that the anti-gun people or the cities, county, state or federal laws aren't the ones to blame they are. also to blame are those who don't take a stand for our Constitution and jump with both feet on them and the politicians that put these stupid laws into place. you are either part of the problem or part of the answer. think of it as "guilty by omission not commission" . Remember this people, I (and you) am/are the weapon. the rest are just tools to be used. <br />God Bless to all and theirs.<br /><br />Goofy old curmudgeon.Goofy old curmudgeonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-61815884489955375102011-11-27T20:07:44.926-06:002011-11-27T20:07:44.926-06:00"While I don't disagree with the main poi..."While I don't disagree with the main point of this post, none of us can really say with 100% certainty that a handgun would have saved her life, unfortunately. Perhaps she would still have been killed. Does anyone have any hard data showing that in similar situations the victim always lives and the perp doesn't??" <br /><br />You're right having a fun would not guarantee the outcome of this attack. If she had been carrying a gun that she was proficient with then her chance of survivability would have gone up signifigantly. As an added benefit this scum bag's life expectency would have been severly diminished. That's a win/win in my opinion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-79252535489510274122011-11-27T19:58:30.522-06:002011-11-27T19:58:30.522-06:00All of this talk about a perfect world is rediculo...All of this talk about a perfect world is rediculous. As long as human beings live on this planet you can throw perfect straight out the window. Idealism is is for idealistic places. I've personally have never heard of one of those. What happened to this woman is a horrible tragedy and I agree 100% with you Lawdog. I never want to have to use a gun to harm another person and I might possibly have trouble dealing with the aftermath of such an event. That being said if I have my pants on you can bet I'm armed. Like Lombardi said, "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts every day would be christmas". I don't intend to be a victim if I can avoid it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-28073007401115579172010-07-25T02:15:58.325-05:002010-07-25T02:15:58.325-05:00What this story speaks to me is that LD is right. ...What this story speaks to me is that LD is right. As matter of corse the citizens of this great country have been tought that we are to submit.<br />But further to the real point is we have been tought that once you disarm your attacker you MUST stop your defensive attack.<br />This is IMHO why this poor young lady was killed. <br />Had she not stoped her attack after disarming this thug she may well still be with us. <br /><br />Just my thoughts on this postAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-46235702847178121172008-04-24T17:33:00.000-05:002008-04-24T17:33:00.000-05:00Bill, she was winning; she was a green belt in jud...Bill, she was winning; she was a green belt in judo, she disarmed her attacker successfully.<BR/><BR/>The problem was what she did next:<BR/><BR/>She trusted him. "I just want your bank card."<BR/><BR/>She let her guard down for the second time that day (she'd been letting their dogs play together), and twice was once too many.<BR/><BR/>And, on the topic of the original post: I agree that a gun would've been much better, both as deterrent and as "shoot the bastard" material; it's harder to second-guess yourself once you've pulled the trigger.<BR/><BR/>After he overpowered her, he kept her prisoner and RAPED her. Then he took her out into the woods, chained her to a tree, and said "You're going home"... then walked up behind her (supposedly to remove the chains) and clubebd her to death with a tire iron.<BR/><BR/>Guns, on the other hand, don't mean much if you don't get to use them. This man has a string of murders going back TEN YEARS! He was smart enough to last that long, and canny enough to get his victims off their guard... in one case, a married couple, the Dunlaps.<BR/><BR/>Remember: A gun is only as useful as the person controlling it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-3184710947507760772008-04-14T14:42:00.000-05:002008-04-14T14:42:00.000-05:00I have followed this story and it as sad as it is,...I have followed this story and it as sad as it is, there are some lessons here. First the lie that give them what they want and they will leave you alone has been exposed for what it is. Second no woman is going to win a fist fight with a man, period, end of story. This creep was 61 and the young woman in her prime with martial arts training, still, she never stood a chance. Third, don't listen to those who have no idea what they are talking about and just want to sing kum by ya with the world. The world is a dangerous place, prepare yourself accordingly. That means women buy firearms, learn how to handle and use them and train regularly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-42888609427865387852008-04-10T18:30:00.000-05:002008-04-10T18:30:00.000-05:00Here ya go, LawDog .............................ht...Here ya go, LawDog .............................<BR/><BR/>http://www.ky3.com/news/local/17448339.html?video=YHI&t=a<BR/><BR/>Semper Fi'<BR/>DMDiamond Mairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15673366797250424810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-73469849742328872762008-04-08T22:27:00.000-05:002008-04-08T22:27:00.000-05:00Bizzy, I've heard that load of bilge for the past ...Bizzy, I've heard that load of bilge for the past 30+ years - y'know what? As a woman who lived alone for the better part of 20 years, MY attitude is - I can only be killed once - but if I have a firearm, the odds are one helluva lot more in <I>my</I> favor - which is why, when my husband was sent to Europe for 2 years, I purchased 'Ms. Mossberg' for the defense of our daughter, our home, our pets & myself - yes, we had our orientation with it, and became, if not adept, at least sufficiently sure about our abilities and willingness to use it ................<BR/>Semper Fi'<BR/>DMDiamond Mairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15673366797250424810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-84309135739587911282008-04-08T19:20:00.000-05:002008-04-08T19:20:00.000-05:00there's no guarantee she wouldn't have been shot w...there's no guarantee she wouldn't have been shot with her own gun, either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-26012190681812540562008-04-06T21:36:00.000-05:002008-04-06T21:36:00.000-05:00I felt the need to comment, but the wording of my ...I felt the need to comment, but the wording of my comment grew into a supplementary article of its own. I posted it in my blog to save space.<BR/>http://masterfrederick.livejournal.com/24914.htmlmasterfrederickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07345805605972829996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-10096148149308745982008-04-06T19:45:00.000-05:002008-04-06T19:45:00.000-05:00Amen. My you are good when you get a hoot on.Amen. My you are good when you get a hoot on.dr machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05917329370119209144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-81308028889547626072008-04-06T18:02:00.000-05:002008-04-06T18:02:00.000-05:00In my own estimation from the details I've gathere...In my own estimation from the details I've gathered from the articles the deciding factor was that the critter was willing to inflict harm. I've read that she disarmed him twice and was holding him off. I've read about the wounds she sustained during that fight. I have not seen anything that showed the critter was even remotely as battered. Consequently, though I think she fought hard as the dickens and was thinking ahead to give herself more time, I can't believe she ever reached the mental point of committing herself to inflicting grievous bodily damage upon the critter if she got the chance.<BR/>That is the point that has me distressed. That we as a society have invested so heavily into "violence never solved anything" and "hurting people is never right" that we might unconsciously erase those options out of our mental toolbag, even when they might be called for. Whether or not she had a gun on her at the time, if she routinely carried one and practiced with it, she would be aware of her potential to take a life and thus retaining that level of action in her list of response.Fenrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07693829962075093381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-81832958005334529862008-04-04T20:31:00.000-05:002008-04-04T20:31:00.000-05:00Hello,As a non-violent activist, I totally agree w...Hello,<BR/><BR/>As a non-violent activist, I totally agree with Anonymous who said <BR/>"In a sane world, NOBODY would be armed. And I stress the NOBODY very far, extending beyond police and military forces."<BR/><BR/>SIGH...since presently this is not the case, I am highly upset that Meredith Emerson (who fought so valiantly, may I add) did not have a less lethal weapon upon her person <BR/>such as this one, called the JPX Jet Protector®. http://www.life-act.com/jpx.php<BR/><BR/>I'm not saying that if she had one without a doubt she would still be with us today, but I do feel that at least she would have had a better chance at being alive than she had without it. <BR/><BR/>This is indeed a heartwrenching story.badthing1https://www.blogger.com/profile/09985465976840168636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-87617087279675470522008-04-03T22:32:00.000-05:002008-04-03T22:32:00.000-05:00In a just and sane world, Meredith Emerson would h...<I>In a just and sane world, Meredith Emerson would have been able to pick the firearm that best suited her without fear of arrest or sanction; and she would have been able to carry said firearm where and whenever she felt the need without some snot-nosed sanctimonious busybody drenching their knickers over that simple act.</I><BR/><BR/>You have a marvelous way with words, sir.<BR/><BR/>I'm afraid I can;t comment coherently on anything of more substance than that at the moment, because I'm just too bloody pissed to think straight.perlhaqrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01920117742664645165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-28075779372291172832008-04-03T18:25:00.000-05:002008-04-03T18:25:00.000-05:00"If you attack me, it is my duty to take you out, ..."If you attack me, it is my duty to take you out, any way I can.<BR/>"...trusty trocar.<BR/><BR/>AS it should be! Hit hard, hit often & never ever back off the opponent. If they draw, you draw & don't miss. Learn C.O.M (center of mass) shooting, practice it every chance you have then? Keep 'em cornfused & in fear of their own life....street smarts from a oldtime street punk ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-52550527676173970252008-04-03T10:56:00.000-05:002008-04-03T10:56:00.000-05:00streetsweeper..I did read that article..probably b...streetsweeper..I did read that article..probably before the ink was dry..LOL.<BR/><BR/>TrustyTrocar..a big hell yeah! I've actually been in that situation..and yeah, that assessment is pretty good. I have people ...still... who will say...gee, I'm scared of you...Good thing to be, buddy is what I always say.Kelly(Mom of 6)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17068284644013994933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-4418492152449691512008-04-02T21:31:00.000-05:002008-04-02T21:31:00.000-05:00"this young lady's life" perhaps?Sorry to critique..."this young lady's life" perhaps?<BR/>Sorry to critique. Grammar is a peeve of mine.<BR/>Excellent article though!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14017507452082084066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-82650046588815005532008-04-01T06:57:00.000-05:002008-04-01T06:57:00.000-05:00This Sunday during our cool down and discussion se...This Sunday during our cool down and discussion section of my MMA class, one of my teachers (who is an ex-Marine recon scary-guy from Hades) read us the short version of the artice on Meredith Emerson. He also stared me down the entire time he read it to the class, as I was the only woman present that night.<BR/><BR/>It was used as an example of why we teach the more brutal methods in our class. There is no tournament fighting style. Everything we are taught is how to hurt and potentially kill. You finish your attacker if/when you get him down.<BR/><BR/>Our classes are structured so that everyone works with everyone else, as even the more experienced can learn from the new people.<BR/><BR/>For instance, we just got in new face cages and soft sticks to spar with. For the most part, the 30 second matches were silent. My match was against one of our more skilled green belts (we use the 10 kyu level system) even though I'm still a rank n00b.<BR/><BR/>When you're stickfighting (with face cages and softie stix, but still) and all the guys watching are going, "Oooh.. brutal!!" while you chase a green belt around the mat... you're doing something right.<BR/><BR/>My teacher asked me why I kept advancing, in spite of being hit a few times. (Others in class would back off and cover when struck.)<BR/><BR/>Because my opponent is stronger than I am and more skilled. He was not expecting me to rush him and wale the snot out of him. And it worked. Besides, you cannot honestly expect to go into a fight and not be hit.<BR/><BR/>When he moved his head away from an overhand strike, he struck my blocking arm.. and I got him upside the head on the return swing. Everyone else seemed to stick to simple wrist flicks for the most part. He would back away and I would keep hitting him as hard and as many times as I could. <BR/><BR/>I was against a man who was stronger, faster, and more skilled in martial arts than I am. If I didn't just go in attempting to utterly annihilate from the start him I was going to lose and lose badly.<BR/><BR/>Our girls are taught not to pull our punches with the men in class so that we know how to hit and how to hurt when we are presented with a real life situation. (With the admonition that if we break our toys they will stop playing with us.) The men are advised to actually strike us, though not full force. I can tell you, even a half force punch hurts a soft girl like myself.<BR/><BR/>I also carry a full frame 1911 .45in a strong side Crossbreed holster because I have no illusions on how well I will fight in close quarters combat.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>And then at the end of the class I got a SERIOUS case of warm fuzzies when my teacher turned to me and told everyone that he feels sorry for anyone who attacks me. He proclaimed to fully expect a call from an East Texas Pig farm with "the real story" or a call from jail when I've killed someone.<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure I quite trust his assesment of me quite yet, but it's nice to know that others have confidence in your brutality and willingness to take it as far as becomes necessary. <BR/><BR/>If you attack me, it is my <I>duty</I> to take you out, any way I can.Trusty Trocarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18414640320499962465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-86129179940057921992008-03-31T13:38:00.000-05:002008-03-31T13:38:00.000-05:00I agree with Jason and Connie.My credentials are: ...I agree with Jason and Connie.<BR/><BR/>My credentials are: former USMC, VN vet, house full of firearms, son in USA 2ID.<BR/><BR/>Much of what is written here is out of (understandable) anger and frustration; but the calls for a pistol in every pocket are just as doomed to tears as the other extreme.<BR/><BR/>America needs to get over its love affair with the idea that violence is somehow redemptive.<BR/><BR/>No, I don't claim to have the answer either. But incendiary hate-mongering is surely not it.<BR/><BR/>HarryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-58531485956431970192008-03-31T10:41:00.000-05:002008-03-31T10:41:00.000-05:00In a sane world, NOBODY would be armed. And I stre...In a sane world, NOBODY would be armed. And I stress the NOBODY very far, extending beyond police and military forces.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-58601836856911051062008-03-29T18:26:00.000-05:002008-03-29T18:26:00.000-05:00Thank you for posting this in the strongest langua...Thank you for posting this in the strongest language possible. I am a coordinator for a program that teaches women to shoot, and I wholeheartedly agree with your comments. Women should learn the basics of personal safety, and that includes refusing to be a victim.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-38180628048941209052008-03-29T16:19:00.000-05:002008-03-29T16:19:00.000-05:00kelly(momof6) said:"I don't live too very far from...kelly(momof6) said:<BR/><BR/>"I don't live too very far from there, and when this case broke, I did think of all the things you've written about..this gal was accomplished in karate, as far as I know. I didn't understand why she didn't physically fight back. He, in his court appearances, looks like a pretty frail old guy and he didn't have a mark on him indicating that she fought back in any way. That made me really sad.<BR/><BR/>My daughter is being taught by different rules."<BR/><BR/>Good for you, kelly! Teach her streets figthing techinques since those are what are needed. Your saying this guy had no marks on him, that tells me he was A) Familiar to her & she tried talking him out of the confrontation & B) Her karate instructor failed her & her class mates immensely & should have his tail kicked up 'round dem dere ears....<BR/><BR/>Ok, point here is; If someones gonna bust a move you each perp has a certain expression on their face....a look of determination, lifeless if you will. <BR/><BR/>That is one factor everyone should learn to detect & react with equal opposing force. It scares the living b jesus out of 'em...but don't stop anything short of disabling that person or your gonna lose. <BR/><BR/>Lawdog has an earlier, deadon the money post about self defense...Make that person an object & use them for your personal chew toy...read it! Good advice to follow!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-34999707052922744132008-03-29T09:32:00.000-05:002008-03-29T09:32:00.000-05:00Tell you what, just ran into this blog while doing...Tell you what, just ran into this blog while doing a search about my own problem. Ran into the "wall" yesterday. I was delayed in a firearms purchase about 6 months ago (I'm clean as a whistle)and then was ALLOWED to purchase, but was just delayed then DENIED by NICS a couple of days ago. I am flabbergasted and also paranoid wondering when then "Gubmint" boys will show up or what???? Got a speeding ticket ten years ago...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22957834.post-84202989287984988772008-03-28T20:05:00.000-05:002008-03-28T20:05:00.000-05:00"Gary Michael Hilton is the rapist and murderer of...<I>"Gary Michael Hilton is the rapist and murderer of Meredith Emerson."</I><BR/><BR/>I completely agree with that statement. What I don't agree with, however, is blaming the anti-gun community for Meredith's death. When Cho Seung-Hui opened fire on Virginia Tech, the anti-gun community pointed its finger at guns and gun supporters. Rather than placing the blame solely on the shoulders of the lunatic who pulled the trigger, these people accused anything and everything of being responsible for the tragedy. As responsible second amendment supporters, we were disgusted by the arguments and labeled them irrational and illogical. After all, guns don’t kill people – people kill people, and it would be inherently wrong and unfair to deny a law-abiding citizen’s right to bear arms just because some wacko decided to open fire on a classroom.<BR/><BR/>And now that some scumbag has killed a girl in a gun-free zone, we're doing the same thing that we accuse others of doing: blaming laws and the supporters of such laws for the death of an innocent citizen. As I stated above, <I>people</I> kill people; not laws, not the people who support such laws, and not society’s hippie-influenced mentality. This crime does not simply boil down to the lack of a firearm or the lack of proper fighting instincts; and to characterize it as such would be doing a tremendous disservice to the young woman who lost her life.<BR/><BR/>I'm a gun owner. I fully believe that I have the right and responsibility to defend myself if I believe my life is in jeopardy. Like everyone else here, I wish things had turned out very differently for Meredith. But I'm not going to argue about whether or not a gun could have saved her life - nobody can say that with 100% certainty, because none of us were there to witness the events in first person. Though it’s easy for us to point out all the things Meredith did wrong from behind our computer screens, I suspect people would feel differently about her “mistakes” if she was a daughter, girlfriend or sister of theirs.<BR/><BR/>I live in a place where a CCW is extremely difficult to obtain, and though I’ve submitted my application to the local PD, I’m pretty sure I won’t be granted a permit. Does that bother me? Yes. Does that mean that the city I live in or the Captain of the PD is ultimately responsible if I get attacked one day and cannot shoot my assailant? No. As I said, my personal safety is my own responsibility, and if I cannot legally carry a gun on my person, then I owe it to myself to come up with other means of defense, whether it’s carrying a knife or a Taser, taking Krav Maga classes or walking around with pepper spray in my hand. If I fail to fight off my attacker, my blood will be on his or her hands, and nobody else’s. Period.<BR/><BR/>I feel LawDog’s frustration, and I understand the sentiments of his readers. Everybody’s tired of these senseless tragedies and I know the comments of all the people above me are based on good intentions. But to place the blame of a specific murder on laws that may or may not have had an impact on the actual crime itself is misguided. If we truly want to be able to convince our opponents that certain laws (and society’s attitude towards guns) need to change, we will fail if we continue to make unreasonable arguments driven by emotion and anger rather than logic.conniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14899892947386234754noreply@blogger.com