Congressional candidate robbed at gunpoint in Florida

[Bold Lib]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/08/21/florida.candidate.robbed/index.html?hpt=T2

Marleine Bastien was robbed as she prepared to speak at a church in a campaign appearance, North Miami police Lt. Neal Cuevas said, four days before a crowded Democratic primary in south Florida's 17th Congressional District.

Bastien was sitting in the driver's seat of a car with her sister when a car pulled up behind them. Cuevas said the suspect approached Bastien's side of the car, pulled a handgun and demanded their purses, saying "I'll blow your heads off."



I wonder what her position is on the right to self defense. Cannot find out her position on this issue at her web site.
http://www.votebastien.com/on-the-issues/

I also wonder if this church was posted as a "gun free" zone. Just a simple sign may just have prevented this from happening.

[louis-t]

1. I certainly agree that if she had been armed

she would not have been killed, because everyone knows she would have gotten the drop on the guy that had a gun to her head.

:crazy:

[Bold Lib]

2. It does in fact work out that way rather often.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x335543

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x335432

[cleanhippie]

4. Who are you agreeing with? Who made that assertion?

Seriously, who stated that? Or did you make that part up?

[SteveM]

6. Hey, louis-t. Any response to #2 downstream? nt

[cleanhippie]

3. "Just a simple sign may just have prevented this from happening". Can you explain just how?

I really need to know if you know something that I do not regarding this. How would a sign prohibiting guns have prevented this?




on edit: if you are being sarcastic, I missed it, so my apologies.

[Bold Lib]

8. Yes, I was being sarcastic. I really should use that sarcasm smiley

more often.

[shadowrider]

5. More importantly, what was her RKBA stance before, and what is it now?

[spin]

7. The NRA-PVF rates candidates and gives her a "?" ...

Which means that she didn't return their questionnaire.

The story says that she was sitting in her parked car when another car drove up behind her with the gunman inside. He then walked up to her vehicle with a handgun and demanded the purses of both women in the car.

It sounds like this incident occurred on the street. A "No guns" sign posted on the door of the church wouldn't have made any difference at all. The only thing that a "No Guns" sign on the church door would have done is make it far easier for some person with a severe mental problem to shoot up the church.

The result of the incident shows that the criminal was merely interested in theft. Had the women been armed they might have been able to fight back, but often this is not the best choice in such a situation. I had a wise martial arts instructor that told our class that you have to judge what the criminal wants. If you believe that all he desires is your wallet or purse, it's wise to give it to him. You can replace your money, your drivers license and your credit cards but you can't replace your health or your life. (He also suggested keeping your important documents and cards in a money belt or another wallet. You just give the criminal a item with a little money and some outdated or canceled credit cards.)

If you seriously believe that the criminal intends to seriously hurt or kill you, you might as well fight. You have little to lose.