What's to stop someone from lying about having retreated?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

Supposedly, one of the arguments against Stand Your Ground (SYG) laws is that it allows a shooter to claim -- presumably falsely -- they felt threatened and thus acted in self-defense.

The survivor gets to tell whatever story they desire, the argument goes, while dead men tell no tales. Thus, the thinking goes, we must abolish SYG laws in favor of Duty to Retreat (DTR) laws.

Leave aside for the moment the fact that witnesses and physical evidence are still a factor but consider that a person who would lie about having stood their ground would be just as motivated to lie about having retreated.

Apart from eroding the right to self-defense itself I don't see the purpose of abolishing SYG.

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

1. Excellent post.

Good question.

- Surveillance video, witness statements, forensic evidence. But you did not want that.

So.... (see disclaimer below, I am not a lawyer)

- In one's own residence or 'the curtilage thereof' (just outside the house) one does not have to retreat.

- Make noise, say things like - "put that gun away" or "why do you have a gun." Develop witnesses that way.

- Go back to your own property such as your vehicle. Keys out, try to drive away.

- Move back, go back the way you came in. Be able to say "He pulled a weapon HERE, I moved back to over HERE." Distance.

- Move back, have the aggressor move forward, perhaps entry wounds will tell that story if you do shoot.

- I all else fails, hope the bad guy is wanted by the law for a bunch of nasty stuff.

What's to stop someone from lying? Nothing. Why do you think police unions demand time (up to several days) before an officer can be 'interviewed' about a shooting?

[Lurks Often]

2. Be careful about making blanket statements about what is legal

State law varies and what might be in legal in Texas is NOT always going to be legal in New Jersey.

People should always consult with a lawyer that specializes in criminal defense and if possible one that knows the state laws governing use of force.

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

5. OK, here you go...

The above post is not legal advice, do not try this at home, I am not a lawyer, smoking causes body odor, I am not a lawyer, etc. etc.

It is just for entertainment and conversation purposes while I sit at my computer and delay doing more important things.

The 'duty to retreat' I am generally speaking of is based on law in New York.

Thanks for the reminder that we are a disclaimer-driven society.

[marble falls]

3. The same mechanism gets cops off for shooting unarmed suspects, lie and stick to the lie no...

Last edited Wed May 11, 2016, 10:09 AM - Edit history (1)

matter what.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

4. Yet, gun control is dedication to the proposition that only the police should be armed.

[marble falls]

6. Not in my mind. Keeping the criminal or mentally disturbed from gun ownership will not lead to ...

cops only being armed.

[beevul]

7. If only...

If only you could get the gun banning types to buy into that...

They tend to focus on the law abiding rather than the criminal or mentally disturbed.

[Eleanors38]

8. They focus on the law-abiding because it is culture war...

in which everyday citizens with guns are held in lower esteem than the semi-literate, spitte-flying criminal.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

9. Gun control would mett with far more success if it confined its efforts to only criminals and

the mentally ill that are a danger to themselves and others. Sadly, all of the current proposals do nothing but infringe upon the rights of the innocent.