NationStates Jolt Archive

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2844101

Thoughts?

I may be reading the story wrong, but I think it says that the farmer engaged in a high-speed chase with a 3-year-old in his vehicle. I'm not positive on this, but I think that child endangerment carries a higher penalty than theft of $5 worth of gas.

At any rate, wahoo for the gun-toting grandpas of my home state!

I may be reading the story wrong, but I think it says that the farmer engaged in a high-speed chase with a 3-year-old in his vehicle. I'm not positive on this, but I think that child endangerment carries a higher penalty than theft of $5 worth of gas.

At any rate, wahoo for the gun-toting grandpas of my home state!

You're from Minnesota, too? :eek:

Awesome, a fellow Minnesotan! :D

If only the thief was armed, the farmer might have scored himself a Darwin Award.

All that over $5.00 worth of gas? Yeah that guy has some serious problems.

Sounds like he’ll be fine. No jury in that area will convict him.:)

Sounds like he’ll be fine. No jury in that area will convict him.:)

:( I hate when stupid people get away with crime because of their stupid peers.

Of course the farmer should face more serious charges. He put another human being's life in serious jeopardy, all to protect $5 worth of property.

:( I hate when stupid people get away with crime because of their stupid peers.
An old man chases down a criminal in an area without police and you want him to go to jail?

You're from Minnesota, too? :eek:

Awesome, a fellow Minnesotan! :D

*waves hand in the air*

Born in Minneapolis. :D

Forced to move to THIS wretched state when I was six.

...as for the story, if there was a kid in the car (the article is indeed not clear on that point), then there is no excuse for the man chasing the thief.

If not, then it's still dumb...chasing the guy over $5 of gas at 70mph?? At this time of year in Minn, that can lead to worse things than a felony charge.

http://www.car-accidents.com/pics/carphotos/3-27-04.jpg

An old man chases down a criminal in an area without police and you want him to go to jail?

With a three year old child in the car, yes, yes, oh god yes.

With a three year old child in the car, yes, yes, oh god yes.
I thought the three year old was in the theif's car.

I thought the three year old was in the theif's car.

Re-reading it, it's not clear. Stupid article. :(

An old man chases down a criminal in an area without police and you want him to go to jail?


An old man who chases down a criminal at 70mph with a child in the car, and holds him at gunpoint (while asking the police if he could "blow him away")...all over $5.00 worth of gas. He should do time for child endangerment AND assault (the gun pointing) and sent to a psychiatric hospital.

The farmer did right.

If you commit an illegal act like theft you bear the responsibility for the outcome. As the article says...the farmer held them at (unloaded) gunpoint.

The child was in the perpetrators car. Not the farmers. So the thief actually placed that child at risk.

Its pretty simple really.

there you have it proof that old men are tight fisted :D

Yeah send the farmer to jail pointlessly escalating a crime for $5 is stupid beyond belief especially if you decide to bring a gun into it (though how a car chase happened on $5 worth of gas is beyond me)

there you have it proof that old men are tight fisted :D

Yeah send the farmer to jail pointlessly escalating a crime for $5 is stupid beyond belief especially if you decide to bring a gun into it (though how a car chase happened on $5 worth of gas is beyond me)

So one should just let the criminals go? The nearest police was 15 miles away...what chance of arresting them? Pretty slim to none...

once more...the gun was unloaded.

I'm on the side of the farmer. He held the perps until the LEOs turned up.

To charge the farmer is just fucking insane.

I wonder how much fuel they burned in the chase. Depending on the milage of each vehicle, and the duration of the chase, it might be possible that they each used $2.50 or more in a fight over five bucks.

The high speed chase was a bit over the top, but holding a thief at gunpoint until the police arrive should be legal.

This reminds me of the incident in the UK where a farmer shot and, unintentionally, killed a burglar and wounded another. It was just a case of unnecessary force in response to an action, that, yes, was illegal, but the guy didn't deserve to be killed for it. I think the farmer was rightly sentenced for manslaughter (please correct if I've remembered incorrectly).

But really, $5 of gasoline....chill out.

he chased him down and held him at gun point for five dollars worth of fuel1?!? that's a serious overreaction. the guy needs anger management therapy at the very least.

edit: the guy probably burned more that $5 worth of fuel chasing the thief down anyway, what an idiot!!

This reminds me of the incident in the UK where a farmer shot and, unintentionally, killed a burglar and wounded another. It was just a case of unnecessary force in response to an action, that, yes, was illegal, but the guy didn't deserve to be killed for it. I think the farmer was rightly sentenced for manslaughter (please correct if I've remembered incorrectly).

But really, $5 of gasoline....chill out.

Tony Martin...and he did mean to kill the 16 year old...he shot him in the back.

While the farmer was a bit reckless for something not really worth getting worked up over, on principle, I think he was right. All this "Just wait for the police" bullshit will just turn us into helpless little prey animals.

I would have a different opinion if he'd shot the man, but he didn't, and didn't seem to intend to. This is exactly what a citizens arrest is meant to be.

Not permissible to kill people over property, only in self defense.

When the thief fled, the danger to the farmer's life abated.

It generally isn't acceptable to draw down on someone unless you plan to shoot him.

While the farmer was a bit reckless for something not really worth getting worked up over, on principle, I think he was right. All this "Just wait for the police" bullshit will just turn us into helpless little prey animals.

I would have a different opinion if he'd shot the man, but he didn't, and didn't seem to intend to. This is exactly what a citizens arrest is meant to be.

i wouldn't suggest waiting for the police in this instance. i would suggest turning the other cheek and getting on with your life. it's only $5 dollars, the thief probably really really needed it. i bet it turns out he stole the fuel to take his kid to hospital or something.

The criminal should have been shot by the old man and the old man should have been given a medal. If someone steals from you then you should be given the right to get your property back by any method, if all goes well that means killing the one who stole from you.

The criminal should have been shot by the old man and the old man should have been given a medal. If someone steals from you then you should be given the right to get your property back by any method, if all goes well that means killing the one who stole from you.
you sicken me.

If the child was in the perp's car, then I don't think the old guy did anything wrong.

Not only is he permitted to defend his property, but he has a responsibility to do so. Otherwise he's encouraging future crime.

you sicken me.

So, you mean you support theft?

So, you mean you support theft?

i value life over property. as in life>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>property.

i value life over property. as in life>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>property.

Well, I think you put your life into the hands of those you steal from. If they wish to see you dead, then they should get to see you dead.

Well, I think you put your life into the hands of those you steal from. If they wish to see you dead, then they should get to see you dead.

so, you're a sociopath?

i value life over property. as in life>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>property.

Seconded. And $5 would be at the very, very bottom of the property scale.

That farmer should be sentenced and it should be made sure he won't endanger people over trivialities any more. Take away his driver's license.

The criminal should have been shot by the old man and the old man should have been given a medal. If someone steals from you then you should be given the right to get your property back by any method, if all goes well that means killing the one who stole from you.


the perp stole the gas from the old guy's NEIGHBOR'S house.

Have we established which car the child was in?

You're from Minnesota, too? :eek:

Awesome, a fellow Minnesotan! :D

HERE HERE! Man, I have met so many other from the Greatest State of the Union on the boards. Quite interesting, isn't it?

Also, I have noticed that only Minnesotans can cook a good venison steak.

But that's a tangent.

The criminal should have been shot by the old man and the old man should have been given a medal. If someone steals from you then you should be given the right to get your property back by any method, if all goes well that means killing the one who stole from you.

Citizens arrest ever?

:( I hate when stupid people get away with crime because of their stupid peers.

He's not the one who committed the crime. The guy who stole the gas committed the crime.
And why doesn't that town have its own police. Every town is supposed to have their own police. What are they spending their money on? Free welfare for lazy illegal immigrants who burn american flags?

the perp stole the gas from the old guy's NEIGHBOR'S house.

In Kentucky if you witness a felony a citizen may put the crininal under citizens arrest.

so, you're a sociopath?
I'm with Enodscopia, here. If you break the law, you're wilfully surrendering your rights as a citizen.

In Kentucky if you witness a felony a citizen may put the crininal under citizens arrest.


I was referring to your statement:
"If someone steals from you then you should be given the right to get your property back by any method, if all goes well that means killing the one who stole from you."

Merely pointed out the fact that it wasn't his property.

And that statement right there has nothing to do with citizens arrest.

Either way its still a messed up statement. Sure you have a right to get your property back..but not a right to kill someone for it.

In Kentucky if you witness a felony a citizen may put the crininal under citizens arrest.

As a general rule, stealing five dollars worth of property does not a felony make. At least not anywhere I've ever lived.

I'm with Enodscopia, here. If you break the law, you're wilfully surrendering your rights as a citizen.

You surrender some of your rights, true. Stealing five dollars worth of gas probably isn't grounds for surrendering your right to life.

Even die hard loss prevention agents at stores won't cross the parking lot for $5 worth of shit. Frankly, the old man's own life should be worth more. Or the people on the road when he decided to go all Starsky & Hutch and endanger the general public with his high speed shenanigans.

Sorry kids, the Wild West is over, and it really wasn't all that keen anyway. You don't get a free pass out of rule of law just because someone else took one.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2844101

Thoughts?

Oh come on. The man was defending himself and his property. I think it says somewhere in the constitution that that's an A-Okay thing to do. And now he's getting fucking arrested? America is going down the drain... God I should be learning Spanish instead of French so I can move to Venezuela.

Oh come on. The man was defending himself and his property. I think it says somewhere in the constitution that that's an A-Okay thing to do. And now he's getting fucking arrested? America is going down the drain... God I should be learning Spanish instead of French so I can move to Venezuela.



It was his neighbor's property. Endangering the life of a child to chase a criminal who stole only $5 worth of gas? The old guy is an idiot.