10 replies to this topic

[jnelsoninjax]

During an early morning break-in at his Western Pennsylvania home on Tuesday, an 84-year-old Korean War veteran blasted a burglar in the neck with a German Luger he had carried in battle, police said.

In a scene that appeared to be pulled from the pages of the Clint Eastwood film "Gran Torino," grizzled war hero Fred Ricciutti grabbed his battlefield sidearm after he heard someone bust through a kitchen door of his Elizabeth Township house at around 4:30 a.m.

"I said, 'Halt, who's there?' " Ricciutti told Pittsburgh station WPXI.

"I'm thinking, friend or foe, he shouldn't be there that time of day."

Ricciutti fired once, hitting suspect Raymond Hiles, 25, in the neck.

Hills took off, but was arrested a few blocks away after Ricciutti called 911.

Cops said the wounded would-be robber had a screwdriver and a stun gun on him, the station reported.

He was charged with criminal trespass and burglary and was being held on $10,000 bond.

Ricciutti said the man used to live across the street from his house, which he shares with is ailing wife.

When asked if he thought Hiles messed with the wrong guy, Ricciutti told WPXI, "I think he probably found that out."

Cops said they don't plan on charging Ricciutti.
Source

[+Yorak]

Nice job, old timer.

[DocM]

Good shootin', Tex

A 9mm is a 9mm - doesn't matter if it comes out of an old Luger or a new SIG P226 like the SEALs use.

No charges for the old man is because Pennsylvania has the Castle Doctrine, with extensions to occupied vehicles and the work place, and stand-your-ground anyplace the defender has a right to be except for a few exclusion zones.

[Dane]

Good shootin', Tex

A 9mm is a 9mm - doesn't matter if it comes out of an old Luger or a new SIG P226 like the SEALs use.

No charges for the old man is because Pennsylvania has the Castle Doctrine, with extensions to occupied vehicles and the work place, and stand-your-ground anyplace the defender has a right to be except for a few exclusion zones.

Our castle doctrine is newish. Philly is already trying to get it changed because of Florida.

[curme]

What??? His German Luger from the Korean War?? I'm I missing something?

[DocM]

A lot of guys who fought in WW-II also served in Korea, and some took 'trophy' Luger P08 sidearms with them - a practice that was often allowed all the way through Vietnam but not today. The Luger P08 holds 1 more round than the then-issued Colt 1911 .45, is lighter, and many people prefer the steeper handle-to-frame angle and the balance - the weight being centered more rearward. It was a UN operation so 9mm ammo was easy to come by. Some P08's could also take a 25 drum magazine or a shoulder stock, so a formidable weapon it was (and still is.) Good German hardware

[THolman]

Our castle doctrine is newish. Philly is already trying to get it changed because of Florida.

Smart of them. Something like this should never happen. If a criminal comes after someone, it's just plain wrong to shoot a poor defenseless burglar! [/s] (not necessarily to Dane, but to PA lawmakers who are apparently trying to change it)

[DocM]

IIRC Pa has both a Republican governor & legislature and the Castle/SYG opposition is by Democrats & RINO's.

Let 'em stew.

[Miuku.]

I wonder JNelson and DocM will start posting those 80 new threads per day where the gun isn't used for self defence. You know, those 80 people that get murdered by one every single day - in the USA alone.

Ah but those would paint it in a light they don't want to represent, my bad. See no evil, hear no evil..

[Reacon]

I wonder JNelson and DocM will start posting those 80 new threads per day where the gun isn't used for self defence. You know, those 80 people that get murdered by one every single day - in the USA alone.

Ah but those would paint it in a light they don't want to represent, my bad. See no evil, hear no evil..

Does outlawing guns do anything besides disarming the law abiding citizen? The illegality of guns means little to a criminal who already lives outside the law. If a person really wants a gun, they will find a way to obtain one - illegal or not. All it does is make the average citizen defenseless to those who have them.

[DocM]

I wonder JNelson and DocM will start posting those 80 new threads per day where the gun isn't used for self defence. You know, those 80 people that get murdered by one every single day - in the USA alone.....

80*365 = 29,200, right? I don't know where you're getting your numbers from, but you'd better look up the receipt and get a refund.

In 2010 - the latest year for which detailed FBI statistics are available - there were a grand total of 12,996 murders in the US. Of those 8,775 were by firearm (6,009 by handguns) - not 29,200 (which is 3.327 times reality.)

This number has been nosediving and is now at its lowest level in the last 40 years - this in spite of a 2x population increase and a nearly 3x increase in the total number of firearms. Example: murders are down from 15,087 in 2006.

Where your number skids off the road is that you're equating firearms related deaths with murders, but they aren't the same thing because over 56% of all firearms related deaths are suicides and others are either accidents (<1% of accidental deaths) or justifiable homicides by either the police or citizens. Study after study shows thee suicides would remain even in the absence of firearms - they'd simply find another way.