Man Accused Of Using Cattle Prod As Weapon In Rape

[left15]

http://www.wftv.com/news/4038774/detail.html

"Sheriff's agents say Watts offered to give the woman a ride to her friends home last week, but instead took her to a remote area off of Kingman Road in Titusville, shocked her, raped her, ordered her out of the truck and then took off."
......
"Deputies say they are now investigating whether Watts is also responsible for threatening two prostitutes in the past six months with a cattle prod-like device.

Agents admit this is not an open-shut case. The victim was arrested years ago for prostitution, but they say her story seems to check out and they fear there may be other victims out there who have not yet come forward."
********************
Another victim who could have used a firearm.

or do we outlaw Cattle Prods?

[Spinzonner]

1. Possibly

Or a victim who could have had a loaded gun, lost it to a perp who otherwise didn't have a gun or an intention to use it, but then ended up dead when they otherwise wouldn't.

I guess we'll never know for sure either way, will we ?

But then your assumption about a beneficial - to the victim - result is not a given.

[left15]

3. Mostly I was showing that criminals will use other means

if firearms are not available.

I only said the victim COULD have used a firearm.

But your assertion that the victim could have the gun taken away by the criminal seems very unlikely.

How would he disarm her?

What your asserting is about as likey as the victim taking the cattle prod away from the criminal with her bare hands, but we know that didn't happen.

[ixion]

4. yep, and you could do that all the way back to sticks and rocks... it's

the person, not the weapon that is committing the crime.

[Spinzonner]

5. Hardly

The ability to take the gun away would depend upon all kinds of factors: quickness - of thought and action, general emotional state and willingness to use violence, experience in stressful situations, strength and leverage, etc. etc.

Could is never unlike, it's either possible or not, Would might haev a probability associated with it.

You are in no position to judge any of it without considerably more information about the individuals and the incident. It appears you prefer to make assumptions to make your case.

[left15]

6. Then we better disarm the police so no one takes their guns away.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[left15]

8. All gun owners should have training

Those who choose to own a gun must be responsible with them, and that should include getting training.

Most officers only get like 25 hours of training, before they get to carry a gun.

There isn't much difference if any between a new officer and a trained civilian.

Also, firearms are very simple to use even with just one hand, typically remove the safety, pull the trigger.

In fact, I believe just about anyone can shoot a rapist at 3ft on the first try.

As far are RESPONSIBILITY goes, you are responsible for your own safety, not the police. The police are only responsible for the safety of people they have in their custody. This has been settled in several court cases.

As for an appropriate time to use force, this should be covered in a training class, but if not, when your being raped, it's time escalate the force.

[Historic NY]

9. "All gun owners should have training"

"Most officers only get like 25 hours of training, before they get to carry a gun." They get classroom training and then extensive live fire training on a range for proficiency. Some dept's require their own individual training even before they issue a weapon to a police academy student. Failing any portion of handling and firing a weapon means your not getting the job, no matter how high your book work scores are. Most officers are also required to maintain their weapons proficiency several times a year and participate in night time firing and computerized shoot don't shoot training.

So your entire argument is totally screwed up. Shooting within 3ft, the victim in this case wouldn't have been able to react. Unless your out there constantly training with a weapon and have it accessible your chances of engaging another person is highly unlikely. By the way rookie cops in training don't get a weapon until they complete training, its a liability issue.

Your right your responsible for your own safety, she shouldn't have gotten in the car in the first place, especially not knowing who the person was. The police can't be everywhere. It like the stranger danger lesson kids learn in school, one must avoid becoming a victim in the first place.

One handed shooting, obviously you haven't had much training have you. Would you use weak hand or strong hand?

How much would you pay for this training? How many times a year? Who should do the instruction?

[rfranklin]

2. Sounds like a case I was a juror on...

In that case a go-go bar stripper accepted a "ride home" from a patron. It seemed to me that she was amenable to having sex with the guy but he was intent on turning it into rape by abusing her with sharp objects and calling her a whore while pretending he was working for the police. We convicted him after much discussion. Turns out he was a prior offender (which could not be revealed during the trial.) Like this case, I believe that he could not get it up unless he physically and mentally abused the woman.

[benEzra]

10. Time to ban cattle prods! (n/t)

[Wickerman]

11. Locking

This thread is not a Gun forum thread. There was no defensive use of a weapon for this thread, no 2nd Amendment issues to discuss.