Explosion at Boston Marathon Near Finish Line

[Light]

Originally Posted by Cindy

Citizens with guns cannot stop things like this. Even if you saw someone leave a "package" somewhere, what could you do?

Facts don't stop the gun crowd from their stupid statements!!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Cindy

Citizens with guns cannot stop things like this. Even if you saw someone leave a "package" somewhere, what could you do?

I don't know about that, really. The citizens are not being trained to be armed or to protect their surroundings. If they were, we may have more observant people watching and alert for suspicious people. It would certainly have to have some degree of effect on deterring something like this. A larger degree than knowing every person present was unarmed and helpless.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I don't know about that, really. The citizens are not being trained to be armed or to protect their surroundings. If they were, we may have more observant people watching and alert for suspicious people. It would certainly have to have some degree of effect on deterring something like this. A larger degree than knowing every person present was unarmed and helpless.

But, a private citizen cannot detain a suspicious person. Even if you have a weapon. If you pull a weapon on someone else, you will be breaking the law.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Cindy

But, a private citizen cannot detain a suspicious person. Even if you have a weapon. If you pull a weapon on someone else, you will be breaking the law.

Each state, with the exception of North Carolina, permits citizen arrests if the commission of a felony is witnessed by the arresting citizen, or when a citizen is asked to assist in the apprehension of a suspect by police.

Deciding to Make the Arrest

Witness a crime taking place. In order to make a citizen's arrest you must witness the crime as it is happening. You will have to provide "probable cause," meaning you will have to show "a reasonable belief that [that] person has committed a crime."

1)What is the crime being committed? Ex: You just witnessed a drug deal that happened.

2)What actions did you witness that led you to believe the crime was committed? Ex: The criminal accepted money in exchange from a person who he gave drugs to.

3)What evidence exists proving the crime happened? Ex: The criminal dropped drugs or other evidence in the chase.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Each state, with the exception of North Carolina, permits citizen arrests if the commission of a felony is witnessed by the arresting citizen, or when a citizen is asked to assist in the apprehension of a suspect by police.

But, how do you determine that a felony is being committed? Just on suspicion alone?

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Cindy

But, how do you determine that a felony is being committed? Just on suspicion alone?

In order to make a citizen's arrest you must witness the crime as it is happening. You will have to provide "probable cause," meaning you will have to show "a reasonable belief that [that] person has committed a crime."

Reasonable belief is that a bomb is in that backpack.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

In order to make a citizen's arrest you must witness the crime as it is happening. You will have to provide "probable cause," meaning you will have to show "a reasonable belief that [that] person has committed a crime."

Reasonable belief is that a bomb is in that backpack.

What would give you a reasonable belief? I have left my purse down on the floor in a store before. I went back and picked it up, after realizing I had left it.
It COULD contain a bomb, what would make you suspicious?

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Cindy

What would give you a reasonable belief? I have left my purse down on the floor in a store before. I went back and picked it up, after realizing I had left it.
It COULD contain a bomb, what would make you suspicious?

Oh my gosh, you are reminding me of the time I left my purse in the floral area of Hobby Lobby once. I just about had a heart attack! lol!

Personally, I feel that a lot of things we feel and our actions are instinctive. But, really, if you saw someone putting a backpack in a trash can, that looks pretty suspicious. If the purse is left behind, you aren't really having an altercation with a person.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Oh my gosh, you are reminding me of the time I left my purse in the floral area of Hobby Lobby once. I just about had a heart attack! lol!

Personally, I feel that a lot of things we feel and our actions are instinctive. But, really, if you saw someone putting a backpack in a trash can, that looks pretty suspicious. If the purse is left behind, you aren't really having an altercation with a person.

Yeah, and what if we both had our guns...........Shootout at Hobby Lobby...........It's PO's fault...........

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Cindy

Yeah, and what if we both had our guns...........Shootout at Hobby Lobby...........It's PO's fault...........