MSNBC's Melvin Worries Rape Victims Might 'Presume' Guilt If They Shoot Would-be Rapists
For today's "Gut Check" segment on MSNBC's 2 p.m. Eastern NewsNation program, substitute host Craig Melvin interviewed a South Carolina sheriff who is urging women in his county to carry a concealed handgun for protection against would-be rapists.
During his Skype interview with Chuck Wright, Melvin worried about the poor dead would-be rapists being checked into the Spartanburg County morgue without the benefit of a trial (emphasis mine, video follows page break):
CRAIG MELVIN, NewsNation guest host: If women are shooting potential attackers, aren't they presuming guilt before innocence? What if a woman kills an attacker? Isn't that opening another whole legal can of worms?
Sheriff CHUCK WRIGHT, Spartanburg, S.C.: Well, it's easy to fix that. Just don't attack a woman.... I know that this is controversial, but I do believe that people who believe in the Second Amendment and believe that they should arm themselves have a right to do so, as long as they're trained properly.
Earlier in the interview, Melvin wondered why the sheriff wasn't more confident in his deputies being "sufficient" to protect women in his county:
MELVIN: Sheriff, if law enforcement is charged with protecting the public, then, then, then why should that not be sufficient? Why should folks have to go out and get guns and arm themselves if we've got cops?
WRIGHT: We can't be everywhere, and we are a fool if we tell everybody that we can take care of all of our problems.
To be fair to Melvin, it is possible he was just playing the devil's advocate with his line of questioning, at least one hopes so.
Melvin closed the segment by asking viewers, "what does your gut tell you? Should the Spartanburg County sheriff be urging women to carry a concealed weapon for protection? Go to newsnation.msnbc.com to vote."
The results of the unscientific viewer poll will be revealed tomorrow just before 3 p.m. on NewsNation.
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Comments
If a woman shoots a would-be attacker and he winds up DRT*
Submitted by Dave. on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 4:15pm.
...she should get a community service award for probably saving the life of another community resident somewhere down the road.
And right, Melvin, I'm sure a potential attacker is going to be stopped out of fear of a deputy that is probably miles away, and probably wouldn't even know about the attack until after the fact.
Little late then, Melvin.
-Dave
*Dead Right There
Vote for the American in November
I agree...
Submitted by JLin on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 4:21pm.
That's why cops are often called "garbage collectors" or janitors.
Apparently,
Submitted by HockeyKid on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 8:48pm.
Melvin thinks the victim should "Lean Forward" and take it.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
What's that line again??
Submitted by pockets64 on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 9:17pm.
When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
Yeah... Craig.
Submitted by JLin on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 4:19pm.
You know that's a hard call. But when someone gets a CC license, they are pretty well-trained. And think about all the money the county will save on public defenders and rape counselors. It's a win-win for everyone. The wanna be rapist, not so much.
What's the problem?
Submitted by Unsane on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 5:32pm.
Somehow I'm not losing any sleep over the prospect of women arming themselves with concealed guns and CHLs for use against would-be rapists. And for some reason I don't think most cops are.
Ladies - I recommend the Glock 26. :o)
"The law is far, the fist is near." - Korean proverb
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
so its ok to get raped....
Submitted by dmacleo on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 7:17pm.
as long as you don't hurt your attacker?
because the most important thing, while getting sodomized, is to make sure the attacker gets his day in court.
thats pretty much what he was saying.
My daughters and my wife all have concealed carry permits.
Submitted by drsamherman on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 7:30pm.
As my children were graduating from college, I had them trained to use a handgun and licensed to carry. My youngest daughter is a crack shot. My eldest daughter and my wife shoot with a "mom's gun club" twice a week. I bought a beautiful S&W 38 Airweight hammerless for my wife some years ago, and now it is the model of choice for the ladies of the family. My youngest daughter refers to it as her "ladykeeper". Every member of my family is certified to carry, including me.
My sons and I prefer differing guns. I carry a Glock 19, while my eldest son prefers a good old S&W 45 and my youngest son likes his 21st birthday present, a wonderful Sturm Ruger SR9.
Hey, we're Texans and damn it - we carry!
Yep
Submitted by HockeyKid on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 8:41pm.
I'm with you, doc. I pity the fool who decides to break into my house while I'm away. All my girls are deadeyes, and between their Ruger, Springfield, Kel-Tec, and Dan Wesson products, I guaran-damn-tee that fool a bad day.
As for Melvin, his sense of timing is clearly lacking.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
I prefer my Springfield Armory Model V10.
Submitted by UpNorth on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 8:24pm.
Actually, it's my wife's pistol, cal .45, magna-ported. I have a S&W model 4044, in, naturally .40S&W.
And yeah, having spent 27 years in law enforcement, I know that things do come up. Chances are the officer who's, in theory, preventing an attack, is probably handling a barking dog call, because no one can talk to their neighbor, it's easier to let the cop do it. Or, he or she is handling a parking complaint, because Joe's neighbor, Norm, is parked in front of Joe's house, and Joe can't stand it. Or, the neighbor is either playing his stereo too loud, or mom and dad went out of town for the weekend, left Junior, or Juniorette home alone, and now 376 of his/her best friends are partying and tearing the house apart.
So, all in all, because law enforcement is sometimes tasked to be other than law enforcement, by all means, do arm yourselves. When you buy the weapon, buy ammo, lots of ammo. Practice with your firearm, get to know it, like you know your smart phone. Buy targets that are human shaped, bull's eyes have never killed or raped anyone, that I know of. Practice putting your rounds in center mass, then practice some more. Then, when you can hit the mass of the body every time, practice putting two in the chest, one in the forehead.
been a bit for me,
Submitted by dmacleo on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 8:36pm.
havn't fired handgun in some time (disabled) as I am stuck home. but practice is critical.
its a tool. like any tool there are things you must do.
for home I have 12g with buck-n-ball (centurion amm823) as my field of fire/target area has high probability of me needing to stop vehicle.
know your target. know your zones.
Dear Doctor Gun:
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 9:37pm.
Long-time reader...I have two questions:
I own a custom-made Pfeifer-Zeliska Revolver which fires .600 Nitro Express Rounds and is considered the most powerful handgun in the world. [Here is a video of me firing it at my local gun range.] If I put my first round into the chest of a would-be assailant and whatever is left of him is sprawled motionless on the ground, would you recommend skipping the second round to center mass and proceeding directly to the head shot in order to save ammunition, or is it still better to strictly follow the three-step regimen?
Also, my late friend Butch owned a .26 Glock which he spent many hours "getting to know just like his smart phone" as per your instructions. I guess he overdid it because last week he answered a call and mistakenly put the Glock to his ear and blew his brains out. Do you think it might be better to associate the handgun with another device, like a calculator or something?
Thanks.
Jer
Damn dude
Submitted by Boudin on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 9:49pm.
You need to lose a few pounds,,,,,,, about 300 of em. : ]
Well
Submitted by HockeyKid on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 10:40pm.
you definitely have a full fantasy life, Jer. ".26 Glock"--that's rich.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Darwin Award Material
Submitted by Unsane on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 11:52pm.
That would be a Glock 26. And if I somehow manage to accidentally blow my brains out with mine in such a fashion, well, put me in for a Darwin Award.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Unsane and HK...Forgive my error--Glock 26.
Submitted by Jer on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 12:59am.
For the record, Butch had very big ears and a very small brain.
Jer
Did he reincarnate?
Submitted by Denny Crane on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 1:07am.
And become POTUS?
We Are The 53%
Good one, Denny...
Submitted by Jer on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 2:11pm.
But I doubt Butch could even spell the word "President".
Jer
Watching that pistol go
Submitted by celator on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 12:02am.
Watching that pistol go off...nope, not for me. I'm sticking to my CZ 75B. Advice: wear a football helmet next time. It's a wonder you didn't knock yourself out.;+}
Who puts their cell phone to their ear, anymore?
Submitted by kata on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 12:20am.
You know those things can kill ya right? :)
Jer
Submitted by Denny Crane on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 12:23am.
Don't let Moochelle see that. She might put you on a diet!
Oh and as Kata said, people don't put smart phones to their ear anymore.
We Are The 53%
Jer, comedy gold.
Submitted by UpNorth on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 5:23pm.
Wait, it wasn't comedy? Sorry, and as someone said, you could stand to drop a few pounds. As for the shooting itself, "a man's got to know his limitations".
And, nope, how many citizens know what a calculator does, compared to those who have a smart phone? Bet about 99% of the owners can find any app, anywhere. That's why I referenced practice that way.
As for the .26 Glock? That's been well covered already here.
I know the idea of shooting someone is just so icky to you, here's an idea, don't read the posts.
Here's another idea, UpNorth...
Submitted by Jer on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 5:35pm.
LIGHTEN UP!...for heaven's sake.
Are you so uptight and sensitive that you can't handle a little harmless fun?
Geez...
Jer
Protecting the public
Submitted by JohnK on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 9:23pm.
In fact the police are not charged with "protecting the public" and have no responsibility to prevent crime.
Their charter is to arrest criminals only AFTER they have committed some offense.
If you want to prevent a crime from happening to you, it is up to you to take whatever action is necessary to prevent it.
Depends on where you live
Submitted by Mike009 on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 10:44pm.
What you can / cannot do re personal defense largely depends on your state's firearms laws. I own a Dan Wesson .357 magnum revolver and recently moved from a gun-friendly state to gun-unfriendly Maryland. Getting a concealed carry permit in MD requires an act of Congress. So my DW stays home.
I also understnd MD frowns on use of lethal force - even in your own home - unless one's attacker is also armed. Or else an act of self defense might land you in prison.
That's why
Submitted by HockeyKid on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 11:09pm.
we call it "the People's Republic of Maryland".
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
MD
Submitted by Unsane on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 11:54pm.
This is why I will visit MD but will never, ever live there. That and only NY has a higher tax burden than MD IIRC.
Here in TX, I can own an arsenal, and have it in my home. As long as I am not a felon - and I am not - TX law enforcement does not care.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
" Should the Spartan County
Submitted by ant on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 11:13pm.
" Should the Spartan County sheriff be urging women to carry a weapon for protection?'
Well, that's a helluva better suggestion then the NYPD's on the current string of rapes occuring near a particular subway station there. Their suggestion? "Don't wear a skirt." Sounds like a Bidenism.
Gun Control
Submitted by Denny Crane on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 12:20am.
The theory that a woman found dead in an alley, raped and strangled with her own pantyhose, is somehow morally superior to a woman explaining to police how her attacker got that fatal bullet wound.
We Are The 53%
Thanks
Submitted by GW on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 10:57am.
That was the quote I was looking for when I read the headline.
Me too
Submitted by Denny Crane on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 4:28am.
I was surprised that no one else had posted it, so I did.
We Are The 53%
That reminds me of a phrase Denny
Submitted by sentry_99 on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 5:28am.
It's better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.
If any home invaders make it past my GSD, they can be
Submitted by no tingly legs on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 8:49am.
target practice for me and my two little friends, a 9mm Beretta 92 and a .45 ACP 1911. I figure if the U.S. military found my two handguns good enough to be standard issue (1911 for almost 75 years and the Beretta since 1985), then they're good enough for me. The tupperware Glocks? No thanks.
Thankfully, I don't live in a state which doesn't recognize the Second Amendment.
Does Melvin know that Kadaffy
Submitted by Immortal Fish on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 12:31pm.
Does Melvin know that Kadaffy and Al-Unlucky were killed without a trial?