Long time readers of these little scribblings will know that I believe that each person has only one weapon available to them — and that is the human brain. Anything else — guns, knives, baseball bats, whatever — are only tools.
My Gentle Readers also know that I also believe that you deal with your critters with whatever tools are handy.
A Costa Rican mugger has learned this lesson the hard way.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Reuters) – A group of U.S. tourists, including a former Marine, killed a Costa Rican mugger by breaking his neck after he pulled a gun on them in a Caribbean port, a local police official said on Thursday.
The cruise ship passengers told police they jumped on Wagner Segura, 20, to defend themselves when he pointed a .38 caliber revolver at them near the Caribbean port of Limon on Wednesday, and somehow snapped his neck, regional police director Luis Hernandez said.
Segura died instantly and two other unidentified thieves, one of whom was armed with a knife, fled the scene, Hernandez said.
“One of the tourists was a former Marine and he was probably the one who broke (Segura’s) neck,” Hernandez said. “His neck was completely snapped.”
No charges will be filed against the tourists because police viewed the incident as an act of self-defense. Police questioned and released the group, which rejoined the cruise and left Cost Rica.
The Americans were passengers aboard the Carnival cruise ship Legend. They got off their tour bus to take photos in a notoriously rough neighborhood a short drive from Limon.
After the attack, they put Segura’s body on their bus and found a police officer in Limon to report the incident.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved
The part that we should take firmly to heart was not mentioned in the preceding story, but is mentioned in the next.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica An American senior citizen traveling in Costa Rica killed an alleged mugger with his bare hands, inspiring his traveling companions to fight back against two other assailants.
Police say the Americans were defending themselves and no charges will be filed. The Americans were traveling on a Carnival cruise and have already left the country.
The man who killed his assailant is about 70 and retired from the military. Police in Limon (lee-MOHN’) say he put a 20-year-old in a head lock and broke his clavicle after three men armed with a knife and a gun held up their bus during an outing.
The other men fled when the 12 senior citizens aboard the bus started defending themselves during the attack Wednesday.
Afterward, the tourists drove the suspect to the Red Cross, where he was declared dead, apparently of asphyxiation.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
70 years old. And took out a twenty year-old critter armed with a pistol — bare-handed.
I don’t want to hear any more whinging from middle-aged folks about how they’re helpless if they don’t have access to their pistols or knives.
If a 70 year-old Marine can take out a pistol-armed critter with nothing but grit and bare hands, then anyone can take out a pistol-armed critter with chairs, typewriters, power-strips, MasterLocks, CD disks and anything else that might be handy.
Tip of the Stetson for the story goes to Gentle Reader Max Drive.
LawDog
I can’t agree more. The only true weapon is the human mind, everything else is a tool. Make sure your weapon is loaded.
Actually I think he died of pure embarassment.
As I said on my post of this incident: “I love this final line: “After the attack, they put Segura’s body on their bus and found a police officer in Limon to report the incident.” Heh. “Excuse me officer. We seem to have injured this POS when he tried to pull a gun on us.” I mean, the dude’s probably better off dead. Your street creds have got to suffer when a bunch of 70 year-olds take your gun away from you and shove it where the sun don’t shine. How are his two buddies gonna live it down.”
Well, Semper Fi has its advantages after all.
One other advantage is that 70 somethings have lived long enough to have just a tad of experience when it comes to the game of life and to have grown up during a time that “instant gratification” was waiting a few hours for dinner among other things.
Alot is said when at 70, you can still break a neck that isn’t your own too.
As for the conversation with the LEO…I can hear it now…
“Excuse me officer, I seem to have broken something.”
“Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“No, but this 20 year old mugger’s neck seems to be broken and I did it but, he had a gun on me when I did it with my bare hands.”
At this point I see the LEO either giving a wirey smile or shaking his head in disbelief until the story is confirmed. Either way, its a keeper I say!
Lawdog,
I saw a link to your site over at Moonbattery.com (the McDonald’s mugger analysis). I’ve been reading your entries for the last 1/2 hour and I like your stuff. Keep up the good work.
I’d like to invite you to glance at my site and email me at mangudai398@hotmail.com
I have some work-related stuff exchange with you if you’re interested.
Stephen Renico
Technically, if you pull a gun on someone in Costa Rica, it is defined as attempted murder in the eyes of the law. Hence, the lack of charges.
The fact that the tourists finished the career of a POS will no doubt result in a lot of newsprint, hand wringing, and calls for better policing. Then, nothing will get done.
My hat’s off to the Marine & his friends. They did indeed do the right thing. I hope that they don’t suffer emotional distress over what had to be done. Really.
I’m from CR originally. Most of my family’s still there. It’s still a good place to visit, if you know where not to go. And the people are quite nice.
There are, indeed, more teachers than cops; but the lack of patroling has had devastating consequences for the nation. The crime rate’s astronomical. People live in fear of young gangsters high on drugs.
It used to be a garden nation. Now we call her “Costa Rica entre rejas” (Costa Rica behind bars). In the cities, all the windows are barred. Reminds me of parts of Los Angeles.
Still, the food’s great, the people wonderful, the señoritas gorgeous ( I have a few unwed cousins I’d like to introduce to you… ), & the señores handsome.:^)
Except those POS’s who go in for a life of crime.
I agree that the best weapon is between my ears. Added to that, the only way to engage it is to grow some coraje (courage).
You may notice that CR doesn’t have an army. Still whupped Somosa’s butt in the 50’s. With help from lend/lease. My late aunt took care of Jose Figueres (the president at that time) when he was dying. It was an honor as he was Central America’s only Cincinatus ever.
Sorry for the ramble.
What do I take away from this? A lesson I learned a long time ago.
Don’t screw with old people. They’re made of sterner stuff than I could ever hope to be. And if they spent time being trained by the US Marine Corps, they can and will kick your ass.
Good stuff as always brother.
Tole
Now that’s what I love to hear!! That is awesome! My father taught me that when it comes to defending my life, to use whatever I have available. He’s also the one who taught this lady, at a very young age, to shoot a gun! When I bought my house, he surprised me with a housewarming gift. A Ruger 9mm. God bless Dads!!
So, yes, I will use anything and everything to defend myself, I might even manage to take a bite out of crime when doing so!!
A seasoned citizen with grit, a big pocketbook or a cane is a force to be reckoned with.
Cindi
It *is* all about mindset.
This is the feel-good stroy of the month.
I couldn’t find another easy way to get this to you. You may have already seen it but, if not, here it is:
http://www.forcesciencenews.com/home/detail.html?serial=62
Oldfart
Lawdog, you may want to look at what Col. Hunt has to say… he certainly seems to agree with your view, even if it is from a different prospective.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,252480,00.html
Love your writing, and look forward to it every day.
CabinJohn
Semper Fidelis!!
http://tinyurl.com/yntdy5
…and I heard the late dirtbag’s mother on the news complaining bitterly that ‘they didn’t have to do that to her baby boy’, and ‘In the United States the old people would have been arrested’,…etc…fill in the blanks for racism, victimization, and damn norte americanos.
I can’t help thinking about how many innocent people have just had a lot more years added to their lives with this punk gone.