Readers of this blog may recall the discussion of concealed carry reform in December of last year. It seems the issue regarding the Second Amendment has arisen in Ohio once again. The discussion this time, however, seems to be that of a success story. Sometimes citizens find themselves witness to a crime and thus feel a need to step in to “sort it out” or assist, which is exactly what an Ohio woman did recently.
The Ohio woman who is being dubbed “The Pistol Packing Granny” witnessed a potential armed robbery. She spotted a man fleeing with a purse from an elderly woman. Suspecting a purse snatching was occurring, she immediately confronted the man and informed him she was a card carrying concealed weapon permit holder. She then further advised him she was armed. The man, apparently disturbed by the idea of an armed confrontation, dropped the purse and turned his back to her stating, “you can’t shoot me in the back, so I’m just going to go.” With that, this would-be thief fled, leaving the elderly woman and the Pistol Packing Granny with the purse.
Obviously, advocates of the strict reading of the Second Amendment would deem this a success story. An armed citizen stopped a crime in progress, that otherwise would have had very little chance of being solved as police could not have arrived in time to prevent it. The idea of citizens protecting themselves dates back to a time in which police were not able to respond quickly, or in some areas, did not exist at all. It is apparent the same mentality rings true for some citizens in Ohio as the Pistol Packing Granny is a prime example of such concept.
Those who may be opposed to the strict reading of the Second Amendment might have a very different argument than the Pistol Packing Granny. It could be argued that the entry of weapon into a situation already involving a dangerous threat may lead to an escalation in violence. When confronted, the purse thief could have drawn his own weapon, which could have led to a gun battle over what would ultimately be considered a property crime.
The local police in this scenario disagreed with the potential analysis of gun control advocates, opting instead to bestow an award on The Pistol Packing Granny. While this may appear to be police championing the use of a firearm to defend a citizen, other departments could view it differently. For example, if there was a misunderstanding and there actually was not a crime occurring, a would-be vigilante could find themselves charged with crime such as Assault or Terroristic Threatening. These allegations can be serious, Terroristic Threatening is punishable by up to 1 year in prison, while Assault with a Deadly Weapon is punishable by up to 10 years in prison in some instances. It is important to pick your battles, but it is most important to pick the best defense attorney when you have been falsely accused of a crime!
The attorney’s at Bleile & Dawson are extremely knowledgeable in criminal law, especially when it comes to defending our clients against wrongful accusations, whether in the State of Ohio or the Commonwealth of Kentucky. If you feel that you have wrongly been accused of a crime and seek to find the best possible representation to fight for you, hire a law firm that puts the client first and fights hard to protect the client. Contact us today for a completely confidential consultation at 513-564-0088.