Posted By:
Bottom of the NinthLarry,
Every situation requires quick thinking and assessment of the threat. The person who broke into my home demonstrated an immediate threat as he already assaulted me, continued to verbalize how he was going to kill me and broke into my home specifically to carry out his threats.
Upon entering my home, he continued to make threats, speak completely irrationally but did obey my commands and for that his life was spared. Had my girlfriend been home at the time he would have been killed by two to the center of the chest. Had I known that he was on probation for beating a man within inches of his life 3 years earlier or known how disappointing the criminal justice system would be, I would have ended him.
It is an indescribable feeling to know that you have someone's life in your hands. The 3 minutes he was inside my home before 10 cops showed up, 3 of which come through the door at one time with their weapons drawn, felt like an eternity. This was the most profound experience in my life.
In hindsight I am not sure I did the right thing or not. Looking into his eyes on the day of sentencing says I have not seen the last of him. For his crime he spent about 6 months in jail while we went through the "process." The DA's office allowed him to plea to lesser charges (probation violation), he was given a year and released 4 or 5 days after his sentencing.
As long as he knows where I live I have to take the necessary precautions to ensure that he will not get another chance. Should the guy tempt fate I will get to see how much different a Glock 30 performs on flesh as opposed to a paper target.
Greg