A 12-yr. old girl pulled a knife on my friend (not actually a knife, but sheetrock cutters), trying to slit her throat, & my friend called the police, so the girl started charging more, & my friend started fist-fighting back in self-defense, in order to protect her throat from being slit.
In this case, is it right to fight a child or was she still wrong? The police took FOREVER to come on the scene, & then when they did come, they put the little girl in jail & let my friend go (I'm SO thankful & glad that they let her go), BUT ONLY because the officer was flirting @ her & she flirted back. Was this fair?
2007-06-27 08:04:33 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
You have the right to protect yourself regardless of the age of the attacker. It usually takes the police a long time to respond, which is why you must be able to protect yourself. You can not count on the police to stop crime from happening.
2007-06-27 08:10:00 · answer #1 · answered by lestermount 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about the officer part of this story, I don't think he acted professionally at all. But your friend did the right thing, you have the right to defend yourself from all attackers no matter age or gender. The major idea behind defending yourself is to use no greater force then necessary.
I know fighting with a child, or woman if your a man, can be difficult for some, but when it come to your own wellbeing you must do whatever is required to avoid personal injury. That is taught to the military too before going to war "equal or lesser force on any person endangering you, and your unit's safety."
2007-06-27 15:20:53 · answer #2 · answered by m d 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What ended up happening was fair. However I guess it really isn't right if it was ONLY because he liked your friend - what if he didn't think she was cute and flirted? I would hate to think that she would have gone to jail then.
I think as long as 12 year olds are as big or bigger than many adults, we should be able to defend ourselves. Of course the size doesn't really matter if the kid has a knife, does it?
2007-06-27 20:07:39 · answer #3 · answered by Patti C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt if the flirting had anything to do with it--the officer was duty bound to follow certain procedures.
Your friend was acting in self defense--which is completely allowable if someone tries to cut your throat with a sharp weapon!
I would have done exactly the same as your friend did. That child is clearly out of control, and in need of SERIOUS disciplinary action. Lets hope she GETS it now!
2007-06-27 15:14:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The officers didn't let your friend go because she was flirting, they let her go because she was defending herself -- which she has a right to do.
If a 12 year old (or a 6 year old or a 73 year old) attacks me with a knife, you can bet your hind end I am going to do whatever it takes to defend myself.
Of course it was right to fight the "child" -- do you think your friend should have stood there and said "now, now... I really wish you wouldn't do that, someone might get hurt..." Oh HELL no!
2007-06-27 15:23:09 · answer #5 · answered by kelannde 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a lawyer but I have taken a couple of criminal justice classes. Most self defense laws say that you are only justified in using the amount of force neccesarry to protect yourself. In other words the amount of force must be equel to the threat. If your life is truly in danger you may use whatever force neccesary to defend yourself even if that means deadly force. Given the situation your friend acted fully within the law.
2007-06-27 15:22:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If a kid pulled a knife on Me I would beat their little BUT. Grab a bat, brick, chair or what ever, Using any means necessary until you felt safe. its self defense and it don't matter what the age of the offender. A gun in the hands of a 10 year old can still kill. Same w/ a knife.
2007-06-27 15:15:01 · answer #7 · answered by Tino 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The 12 year old could have ended up with the knife in her stomach if she did it to the wrong person your friend acted to save her own life while still respecting that it was a troubled kid. Good for her
2007-06-27 15:08:02 · answer #8 · answered by Thomas G 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Was this fair? I can't believe you have any doubts. Unless you have left out something, it appears that the outcome was absolutely right.
The officer would probably be offended that you thought the only reason he did what he did was that your friend flirted. What one person sees as just being friendly and putting a crime victim at ease might be interpreted as flirting by another, but in this case I would think it was absolutely appropriate.
2007-06-27 15:16:57 · answer #9 · answered by Suzianne 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Heck yeh it was fair, if I would have done something like that when I was 12, (Im 27) I wouldnt have had to worry about the cops coming. Id be worrying about my father coming.
Sounds like lack of good parenting. If kids got there BUTTS beat the ol fashion way,like it used to be,then I think society would be a better place!
2007-06-27 15:19:19 · answer #10 · answered by Cardinals fan 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋