Gresham, OR – Police say Roger Witter, 48, was in an AT&T store at 533 Northwest Division Street in Gresham when two men stole multiple iPhones. Witter witnessed the theft and, instead of waiting for police, he took off after the men, firing at their getaway car.
He told police he intended to “shoot out the tires,” but it is unclear where the rounds ended up, though police said he fired in a direct line with the Gresham City Hall Max station and the adjacent Park & Ride.
Full Story – HERE
Not very good discretion on behalf of the CCW holder.
It’s lucky there was no serious collateral damage. That said, if he would have successfully shot out the tires, then proceeded to execute the thieves in the middle of the street I definitely wouldn’t have shed any tears.
Reminds me of a quote:
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
-Edmund Burke
JUMP DOWN ↓ TO ADD ANOTHER
I wonder how much legal shit he’s going to have to go through because of this.
Nevermind read the article.. ka derp on my part.
“That said, if he would have successfully shot out the tires, then proceeded to execute the thieves in the middle of the street I definitely wouldn’t have shed any tears.”
– Isn’t this a little extreme? Really, it’s just a few iPhones. Are they worth taking lives over? I’d say no. I live in Canada, and have been thinking a lot about what would have to happen for Canadians to be allowed to CCW. I am a complete advocate, but I think training so things like this don’t happen would be a necessity. I fully understand drawing and firing if your life or someone else’s life is in danger, whoever it is. But doing the same over a couple of phones, or for that matter, a car, boat…? I agree that whoever is doing the robbing is a scumbag, but I think possessions are not worth someone’s life, in most cases. That said, if those possessions are things that could put peoples’ lives at risk (classified documents, weapons, etc.), lethal action may be merited. Either way, it’s a judgment call that should be made before a circumstance like this happens, because when it does happen, you’re not going to have time to think, you’re only going to have time to act.
I don’t like living in a world where you should have to lock your belongings up, and you need to watch your stuff like a hawk if you are out in public and step away from it for a second.
The whole “slap on the wrist” is tiresome, no matter how small of value… especially for white collar crime. Maybe I just never got the memo, but if it’s acceptable i’m sure I could live with myself If I had a few new Bentley’s in the driveway of an oceanside mansion which I obtained from stealing money or items people worked hard for.
So apparently actions are either acceptable or merit a death sentence? No middle ground? Many crimes are not acceptable, but that doesn’t mean the perps should be executed.
I don’t like locking my doors, but you’re suggesting an extreme model for society that would inevitably lead to a Dredd-esque dystopia.
Maybe we all should just steal a small amount every day just to make life easier. If/when you get caught and get a slap on the wrist, you can go back to stealing… and repeat that over and over again. That’s basically what happens now and I’m tired of it.
“That said, if he would have successfully shot out the tires, then proceeded to execute the thieves in the middle of the street I definitely wouldn’t have shed any tears.”
Apple’s advertising machine might say that iPhones are worth killing someone over, but I don’t think even the most hardcore Apple fanboys/girls would believe it. Talk like this makes me nervous.
see my reply to Mike above
Perhaps you have a point. I think, though, that addressing the root causes of crime might work better in the long run than either prison or shooting. Of course, that would be done by proactive measures. Execution and imprisonment are both reactive.
Lack of good moral values is a main cause. If its because of bad upbringing or mental issues it will be hard to change a person. If at all. “Root causes” could be a subject for a book considering the vastness of possibilities.
It’s certain that both proactive and reactive measures are necessary, anyhow. Teach right and wrong when they’re young, then shoot whoever slips through. Or something.
I agree %100 with Admin(Mike). We shouldn’t have to live in fear of our whole lives being stolen and our possessions. It’s obvious that the prison system doesn’t work. Capital punishment for a few of these scumbags would certainly change bad peoples minds.
Excessive. Gives honest ccw holders a bad name cause of 1 individuals lack of impulse control. I’m sure he will lose the permit for good because of it. No loss there. This isn’t the movies.
Mike, you’re obviously a complete moron, similarly to this guy who fired rounds at suspected petty thieves.
Seriously, this is exactly the kind of behavior responsible CC advocates need to distance themselves from.
if you bothered reading the post you’d see that I said the CCW holder didn’t show very good discretion, and that I was only advocating the complete eradication of all criminals in my statement after that.
You were advocating summary execution for nonviolent larceny.
I usually think gun owners are more responsible than average people, and especially those of us who actually think about the implications of holding the power to take life.
Three years later, I still think of this post and I’m horrified how many people are ready to kill over a phone. Looking at this, I can understand why the anti-gunners see us all as a bunch of trigger-happy untrustworthy assholes.
Ok, so here’s a thought for you. In a world where minor crimes are punished by death, why should criminals every surrender or minimize damage? If the crime doesn’t matter, then it makes sense for the criminals to kill every witness & every cop. Every mugging would become a cold-blooded murder. Every convenience store hold up becomes a mass killing of the clerk & every customer. Why not? The penalty is all the same!
Look at all these criminal sympathizers bawwing on about,
“Possessions are not worth taking a life over.”
I’d rather criminals themselves think,
“Stealing is not worth risking my life.”
Wouldn’t you agree???