Man fishing in Springfield assaulted, robbed

[JohnR]

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Police say a man fishing in the Connecticut River in Springfield was jumped by three men and had his wallet stolen.
Authorities say the victim was fishing at Riverfront Park at about 10 p.m. Sunday when he was ‘‘roughed up’’ by the men, described only as Hispanic.
Police say the victim was taken to the hospital for treatment of a head injury.
Police did not immediately have any word on arrests.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas...VBP/story.html

Hope they are OK - I know some of our guys go out there - watch your backs....

[Nebe]

Too bad he wasn't packing heat.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[N.ShoreFisher]

I think of these things everytime I go out. Probably the reason I fish where I do, lots of police cruising by all the time. I almost always keep my head on a swivel as I'm always out at night and almost always by myself.

[Rappin Mikey]

Thank God I stay in Holyoke/South Hadley. JK, pretty rough characters out there as well.

[JohnR]

RM - when I first heard, you were the first I thought of but then I figured if it was you I would have heard pretty quick - so I knew it wasn't you

[FishermanTim]

Nothing like a scumbag attack story to make you feel good about your fishing area no matter where it may be!
Sadly, had he not had his wallet, they would have probably beat him more out of frustration from their being complete failures.

I hate thinking this way, but with the increase in the amount of violent crimes against honest innocent victims, we need to take stronger action for our own protection.

Sure, there will always be the Martha Coakley "We don't advocate self-help" contingency who would hope and pray that they attacker will just "go away", and since our state has seen fit to cut most (if not all) police staffing across the state with many of those remaining not fit for a physical pursuit (let's be honest, you've seen many of them on tv during the high profile police cases), we may be forced to take action for our own protection.

All I can say is God help the person that decides to end his existence by attacking me! I have seen and heard enough so that I won't show much compassion or mercy to this "suicide" attacker!

I hope the victim in this case didn't lose more than a days' fishing.

It's a shame, a bloody shame!

[Jenn]

Hope he is or will be ok.

I dont cross the river...really. I have fished the apposing shore but even then I have either a calibered or burly friend with me. Or both.

[Liv2Fish]

Tough to carry either a wallet or .45 in a wetsuit but a smash in the teeth with my 60lb boga would feel nice to deliver to a scum bag mugger. Don't seem to have that issue much down here but you never know.

[ivanputski]

I wonder: if he was jumped by 3 UNARMED attackers, and getting beat up pretty good (but not near death) and the guy pulls a pistol and injures/kills an attacker, is he off the hook? Is it equal force/ i'm just not so sure these days. Victims rights seem to take a back seat to the criminals rights.

Sure, you might prove in a court of law that you felt your life was in danger, but that will be 2 years and 200,000$ later.

So my question is: if you are carrying a pistol, and you get attacked by fists, do you fight back with fists, or go straight for the pistol?

This is trickier than most of us think.

[Liv2Fish]

Originally Posted by ivanputski

I wonder: if he was jumped by 3 UNARMED attackers, and getting beat up pretty good (but not near death) and the guy pulls a pistol and injures/kills an attacker, is he off the hook? Is it equal force/ i'm just not so sure these days. Victims rights seem to take a back seat to the criminals rights.

Sure, you might prove in a court of law that you felt your life was in danger, but that will be 2 years and 200,000$ later.

So my question is: if you are carrying a pistol, and you get attacked by fists, do you fight back with fists, or go straight for the pistol?

This is trickier than most of us think.

Yes - Be very careful. Even giving advise on this topic is risky so here's my disclaimer - I am not a legal or law enforcement professional and below is only my opinion.

You have to have exhausted every possible way to avoid the use of deadly force AND someone's life must be in immediate danger. Even in your own house, if you were home alone and an un armed attacker entered the front door and you popped him instead of running out the back door, you're going to face legal trouble.

I know someone who narrowly avoided charges for showing a shady character that he was carrying a gun and telling him he would use it if the guy gave him a legal reason to. The guy reported him by name and an officer came to his house the next morning to write a report. The office told him that if the shady character wasn't a career criminal and wanted to press charges, he'd have been in some trouble.

I hold a class A and have only carried live a handful of times. I used to be a diesel mechanic and did a lot of work on fishing boats at the Boston, Gloucester and New Bedford fish piers in the middle of the night. I can't carry in a wetsuit and would never leave a gun in my car over night.

I don't even have hand guns in the house right now because I have young kids and the protection is not worth the risk. Instead, I have a 160lb great dane ( and still growing) that isn't going to let anyone climb through my windows at night.

Also consider this - The attackers actually have a gun but haven't pulled it. You pull yours and now they're defending themselves. You might end up shot and now the story charges from you pulled a gun on them in the dark and they had no choice but to defend themselves. And yes, at that point, their life was in immediate danger and there is no chance to run when someone is in the process of pulling a gun. You could and up shot and facing serious charges, if you survive.

You'd think it would be different but Mass doesn't discriminate. Just like they protect EBT fraud criminals, illegal aliens and crooked positions, thugs have rights too.

Under Mass laws, Zimmerman would have gone to jail for sure.

[FishermanTim]

BUT......if there is no one to press charges (if all three were shot) who could refute your story???? I'm not advocating it, but it could be a possibility if these types of attacks keep happening.

I always loved the wussy legal advice that when attacked, confronted or robbed that the victim needs to give up, give in or run away!

Sorry, but I was born WITH a spine and if I can fight back, I WILL with extreme prejudice and fury!
I'm just sick and tired of hearing and seeing stories of society's waste products doing crap like this and the victims are essentially being told it's their fault it happened!

[Liv2Fish]

Originally Posted by FishermanTim

BUT......if there is no one to press charges (if all three were shot) who could refute your story???? I'm not advocating it, but it could be a possibility if these types of attacks keep happening.

I always loved the wussy legal advice that when attacked, confronted or robbed that the victim needs to give up, give in or run away!

Sorry, but I was born WITH a spine and if I can fight back, I WILL with extreme prejudice and fury!
I'm just sick and tired of hearing and seeing stories of society's waste products doing crap like this and the victims are essentially being told it's their fault it happened!

Agreed. Was only pointing out what I understand the "rules" to be.

[Fly Rod]

Originally Posted by Liv2Fish

Yes - Be very careful. Even giving advise on this topic is risky so here's my disclaimer - I am not a legal or law enforcement professional and below is only my opinion.

You have to have exhausted every possible way to avoid the use of deadly force AND someone's life must be in immediate danger. Even in your own house, if you were home alone and an un armed attacker entered the front door and you popped him instead of running out the back door, you're going to face legal trouble.

I know someone who narrowly avoided charges for showing a shady character that he was carrying a gun and telling him he would use it if the guy gave him a legal reason to. The guy reported him by name and an officer came to his house the next morning to write a report. The office told him that if the shady character wasn't a career criminal and wanted to press charges, he'd have been in some trouble.

I hold a class A and have only carried live a handful of times. I used to be a diesel mechanic and did a lot of work on fishing boats at the Boston, Gloucester and New Bedford fish piers in the middle of the night. I can't carry in a wetsuit and would never leave a gun in my car over night.

I don't even have hand guns in the house right now because I have young kids and the protection is not worth the risk. Instead, I have a 160lb great dane ( and still growing) that isn't going to let anyone climb through my windows at night.

Also consider this - The attackers actually have a gun but haven't pulled it. You pull yours and now they're defending themselves. You might end up shot and now the story charges from you pulled a gun on them in the dark and they had no choice but to defend themselves. And yes, at that point, their life was in immediate danger and there is no chance to run when someone is in the process of pulling a gun. You could and up shot and facing serious charges, if you survive.

You'd think it would be different but Mass doesn't discriminate. Just like they protect EBT fraud criminals, illegal aliens and crooked positions, thugs have rights too.

Under Mass laws, Zimmerman would have gone to jail for sure.

In Mass UUUU have a right to use deadly force in your home....yes U may still may face legal charges even tho UUU R in your right...

Just do not kill a dog that is attached to your leg or Ass that could get U 2 life terms....

[Liv2Fish]

Just saying, Like Ivanputski said. It's just not as simple as some may think.

You have a split second in a stressful situation to make a decision that could very well be life changing for you and your family. Even if you're 100% on the legal side of the law, you could spend your entire life savings defending a frivolous civil suit. Life changing...

Don't get me wrong. I'm a huge fan of guns and the right to carry one. I have several. I have carried concealed and fully loaded several times and I'm sure I will again. It's just something you have to really think through and understand what you're in for if you actually decide to use it.

[piemma]

What! No "stand your ground" law in Mass?

[Typhoon]

Actually have my appointment for my LTC renewal tonight. My number one reason I carry is because I fish in areas that have both wildlife challenges like rabid coyotes and people challenges.

[bigwavedave]

I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[piemma]

Well lets see:
1. 65 years old
2. Quad bypass
3. cancer survivor
4. Decorated Veteran
5. You are trying to rob me and threatening my family

6. I will shoot you. I don't care what the law says. I WILL shoot you. maybe just in the knee but I WILL Shoot you.

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by piemma

Well lets see:
1. 65 years old
2. Quad bypass
3. cancer survivor
4. Decorated Veteran
5. You are trying to rob me and threatening my family

6. I will shoot you. I don't care what the law says. I WILL shoot you. maybe just in the knee but I WILL Shoot you.

your forgot something... survivores will be shot again....

[piemma]

Originally Posted by Rockfish9

your forgot something... survivores will be shot again....

Amen Joe, amen

[atom40]

Bear spray and a dive knife

[Rockport24]

maybe I'm naive, but what jury or judge or even cop would think about pressing charges against a guy that killed three people who jumped him while he was fishing? Sure, tough to prove if no one was around, but this isnt' like the Zimmerman case where he followed Martin and confronted him...

[N.ShoreFisher]

I was almost attacked one night by two teens that were drunk and trying to show off to the girls they were with, proving how tough they were. They were about 40 feet from me and started very loudly talking about their plans to "walk down to that guy fishing over there and beat his a$$". I looked around, thinking maybe they were referring to someone else. But then I realized I was the only one fishing. I had 2 rods on me and quickly decided I needed to "re-bait" one. So I took out my 7" fillet knife and started hacking into some mackerel right on the pavement. Got my point across when one of the girls noticed the knife. I'm only 33, def could take 1, but 2 is tough. Can't imagine 3. Be safe. I carry a fillet knife, a fish bat that I made from an old ash axe handle that was sprayed black and epoxied, so it's a head splitter. I also have a pocket knife for last resort. But no matter how much you were in the right, you most likely will spend some time with the cops, and potentially face civil charges from the victims family if you inflict physical harm on another in this state(MA).

[Green Light]

:-(

[Nebe]

Stand your ground in rI is based around being at home. Not gonna work if your snagging pogies at India point.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[piemma]

Eben, I'm unsure whether you are correct or not. Read this:

11-8-2 – 11-8-6, it shall be rebuttably presumed as a matter of law in any civil or criminal proceeding that the owner, tenant, or occupier of the place where the offense was committed acted by reasonable means in self-defense.

So if you are the occupier then you can defend yourself. Not sure of the definition of "occupier" but I will find out

[jimmy z]

I hope he's ok. Bad area, or even a not so bad area, there are those out their seeking trouble. Be careful, everyone!