8 replies to this topic

[fatdave]

The Miami-Dade Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding the two teenagers who beat and robbed the 66-year-old wheelchair bound Florida man.

The crime, which occurred Friday, May 8, and in broad daylight, was captured on security tape. The video, which runs less than a minute, shows Carrera in a motorized wheelchair being pursued by the first of his attackers, who police say is 17-years-old

The teenager quickly catches up to Carrera and reaches for his necklace. Carrera struggles with the young man. But he is no match for the robber, who violently pulls him off the wheelchair and throws him on the ground. The suspect then repeatedly strikes Carrera. After repeated attempts, he steals Carrera’s wallet.

As the first attacker moves away, a second one descends on his helpless victim. He pounces on Carrera, and takes his necklace before running away from the scene.

In an interview with a local television station, Carrera talks about the brutal, cowardly crime. “It was a gang that runs through there,” he said. “They dedicate themselves to robbing the elderly. They get on, and they watch and they signal each other. I noticed them, but I didn’t pay any attention.”

Link to anderson cooper 360's blog with story and Video of attack

Stories like this make me glad I have a concealed carry permit.

[pyranha banana]

yea pop a cap in his ass or spine.

[Travelling Blackbird]

People preying on those who they think can't defend themselves. I hope the police catch the gang, but it doesn't take away what the guy is going through now. An assault doesn't just bring pain, it takes away so much confidence, freedom and sense of worth.

I hope this man, Mr. Carrera has a good support network of people who love him, and will help him through what's going to be a tough time.

Edited by Travelling Blackbird, 23 May 2009 - 02:30 PM.

[JustJayde]

That is terrible. Poor guy!

[bobm]

If this link works you will see that we have had a problem with police taking complaints by disabled people seriously;

http://www.guardian....victims-apology

If you ask me why, its because they [the police] are now so process/results-driven; attack on a disabled person ?? I s this too hard for me?

[fatdave]

bobm, on May 23 2009, 12:46 PM, said:

If this link works you will see that we have had a problem with police taking complaints by disabled people seriously;

http://www.guardian....victims-apology

If you ask me why, its because they [the police] are now so process/results-driven; attack on a disabled person ?? I s this too hard for me?

Wow, that is just plain sad. I know when my garage was broken into the local police didn't seem interested, in fact it was if I was bothering them with my complaint. Everything changed when the County Police became involved, the detective they sent to investigate was actually helpful and told the local police officer to back to issuing noise complaints.

Even if they do catch these kids that did this to this man they will likely receive probation and counseling.

And banana, I wouldn't have shot the kid in the ass or spine, a leg would have gotten the point across.

[edlee]

Well said Dave. That's something you have to think about when you carry. If you don't plan to use it, why carry it,,, and if you plan to use it,,, you better have a plan.

I've given a lot of thought as to what I would do if attacked,,,, and have to admit that I'm often at odds with myself on the ideas involved. I abhor the thought of crippling or killing anyone,,, how does one decide how much abuse they are willing to take before using their weapon to stop it?

How does one tell how far the attacker is going to go? Tough questions,, and if you carry and haven't thought about them,,,,well,, perhaps you should.

ed

[E-DOG]

fatdave, on May 23 2009, 11:42 AM, said:

And banana, I wouldn't have shot the kid in the ass or spine, a leg would have gotten the point across.

And because of the GSW to the leg the judge would let him off easy thinking the boy suffered enough (poor lil' tike!)
The wound would, I'm sure heal just fine, leaving a rather sexy scar for the ladies to goo over.
Once healed up and feeling fit as a fiddle, the kid would begin to realize he'd pretty much gotten away with what he'd done.

And would therefore contemplate doing it again.
And again.

Preying upon helpless cripples in wheelchairs who are hopelessly unable to defend themselves from vile horrific attacks that leave them feeling helpless and useless and uncared for. And then, when enough of their worldly possessions have been stripped from them and they are unable to pay their bills and rent and so forth they are forced from their homes and end up in some county institution where they live out their lives in squalor, feeling nothing but lonely, dejected and shat upon by a society that does everything it can to protect the rights of heinous predators and nothing for honest, tax paying citizens.

If you need to shoot someone in the leg to let them know it's wrong to attack and steal from some defenseless old man in a wheelchair,
then shooting them in the leg ISN'T GOING TO WORK. They must be permanently removed from society (and NOT at the tax payers expense) so that an old man in a wheelchair, or anyone else for that matter doesn't have to live in fear.

Here once again I'm being an opinionated, loud mouthed oaf who shouldn't be allowed access to a keyboard, but if you all were to close your eyes for just a sec' and put yourselves in that old man's place, and feel what he probably felt during that attack, and what he feels now, maybe you wouldn't be so keen on spending YOUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS on rehabilitation for a violent criminal who has no desire what so ever to be rehabilitated. Why should he? He makes a great living doing what he does. It's easy. And no one seems to really give a shit.

E

[fatdave]

You asked in concealed carry permit classes if you think you can take another humans life. My instructor asked us to think about that question, really think about it. There were some guys in there that immediately said yes, there were some that thought about it for a while before saying yes...then there were a couple people that said they didn't know.

My instructor told us that when it came down to it you better be sure. You could go your whole life without having to draw that weapon, or you could have to draw it tomorrow.

There are people out there that would shoot you for not using your turn signal. There are crazies everywhere. People against guns will tell you that is why you should ban them outright, just in case someone that is a bit unhinged gets a hold of one.

I have only had to draw my weapon once, I was in a really bad part of St.Louis and a guy approached the passenger side of my truck with a knife I pulled the gun from the holster and pointed it at him, he dropped the knife and put his hands up, I drove through the intersection on a red light and flagged down the nearest police officer and informed them of what had happened.

What if I would have waited, would he have opened the door and attacked my passenger, then me. What if he would have had a gun also? Would I have had to fire first? Would it have sounded like a war zone? Would he have just walked away?

There are too many what ifs, anything could have happened that day. It just happens that it turned out rather peacefully.

I have had run-ins with people where I didn't feel the need to pull a gun, but if I was being stalked like the man in the video I would have had my gun out, and it could have went any number of ways.

Truth is, I wouldn't have shot him in the leg. In my crazy typical American violent way I would have aimed to kill. Like the dawg said, if wounded someone would have felt sorry for him, I would have been the asshole and he was just some misunderstood kid from the wrong side of town that was wounded by some crazy fat guy in a wheelchair.

Not to mention, I would have probably been sued.

That kid has done that before, and will continue to do the same thing. He may even move onto carjacking, home invasions and murder. You could spend millions on getting him help he don't want. He would do whatever, and say whatever it took to get him out of prison, then return to the same life once he got out.

I know I have angered people with this post, and I am sorry if I have angered or upset you. These are my views, and no one will change them. I won't spew the typical Pro Gun propaganda, because if you are anti-gun I won't change your mind, and you won't change mine.

Dave