My friend pulled her pistol on a man that attacked her roommate in their apartment. The man called the police on her and now she is worried that she will be arrested. Has she violated any laws with her actions?
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Anonymous
ANSWERS: 5
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It doesn't sound like it to me. She was simply defending herself and her roomate, and it doesn't sound like she harmed him in any way. If she explains to the police what happened, and with her roomate backing her up, I seriously doubt they will think she has violated any laws (unless the gun was unregistered).
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No--but how reliable will the roommate be as a witness? If she won't take the stand in her favor, she may be in trouble. Never point a gun at anyone you aren't willing to take the consequences for killing--because you might have to.
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Unless you live in New York City, California, Hawaii or other rare states that require registration, there is no need to worry about the gun being unregistered as there is almost never a requirement to do so. Also, this seems to me like a clear cut self defense use of a firearm. Your friend was probably fully within her rights to use that gun in that manner, so there should be no legal issues at all in that case. I highly doubt any charges will be filed, and if they are, just about any lawyer will be able to get those charges dropped. Don't worry about it.
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If he was in the process of attacking her roommate at the time it falls within the lines of self-defense and she should be ok.
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If the attack was physical or she felt a physical attack was imminent, she was within her rights to defend herself and another person. I'm sure if the police had been concerned with a gun-wielding citizen threatening innocent people, they'd have taken swift action. That said, and opinions differ greatly on this, guns are dangerous. There are many less lethal options available; the phone, pepper spray, unloaded firearms. I only hope your friend is careful stays safe.
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