Today at the Forum: Peace of mind from a gun

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Peace of mind from a gun

I wonder why Bennie Hall thought he needed a gun?

Carrying a concealed weapon is legal in Ohio with the proper permit and Hall had one, according to the prosecutor.

Carrying a gun is a right. Exercising that right is a personal choice. When Ohio's concealed carry law was under debate a few years ago we heard from a lot of people about why they wanted to exercise that right. Some felt the need for protection because of the work they did, the neighborhoods they lived or worked in, or because they had been victims of crime or knew someone else who had been. Some people said they wanted to get concealed carry permits just because feeling the weight of a gun in their pocket would bring them peace of mind.

Police said Hall pulled his legal gun and fired at the person who was stealing his car Monday, killing the 14-year-year-old kid who was behind the wheel of the 12-year-old Taurus.

I wonder if having the gun handy gave Hall peace of mind?

22 Comments:

at 6:22 AM, October 25, 2006

Anonymous said...

Why did Mr. Hall go through the system to have a CC permit?
Perhaps because a 14 year old with 13 previous brushes with the law is not all that uncommon in our city.
Perhaps because a 14 year old not at home at 6am, getting ready for school is not all that uncommon in our city.
Perhaps because someone stealing your vehicle is not that uncommon in our city.
Perhaps because over 4000 charges on suspected criminals were dropped last year in our city.
Perhaps because over 13000 suspected criminals were "photo and out" in our city last year.
Perhaps because our police force is completely overworked and overwhelmed in our city.
Perhaps because the "bad guys" don't go through CC permit applications, but still have guns.

I don't know. I don't know Mr. Hall.

But any or all of the above reasons is good enough for me.

at 8:10 AM, October 25, 2006

Anonymous said...

Mr. Hall didn't know how this story was going to end. I'm sure that he reads the paper, watches the news, sees the violence that occurs every day. It's usually the innocents that we're mourning and we wonder how to stop the violence. Carrying concealed turns you into a survivor, not a victim. I don't see anything wrong with that.

at 8:42 AM, October 25, 2006

Anonymous said...

i dont think that he had to shot the kid because that was just uncalled for and the boy was just being stupid he could have easily called the police and said that his car was being stole

at 9:28 AM, October 25, 2006

Anonymous said...

Conceal and Carry is a right, not a requirement. Mr. Hall assumed the responsibility for his actions to own a gun, when he purchased his gun and applied for his permit.

Mr. Wells, if you do not have the stomach to accept the responsibilities for carrying a legal gun with permit, you are not required to own a gun. And you definately are not qualified to carry a gun.

You have made a responsible decision, by realizing your limitations to accept the responsibilities of owning a gun. Thank you for your wise decision.

at 9:50 AM, October 25, 2006

Anonymous said...

Sorry Kids. This 14 year old was already a career criminal. Some have said he didn’t deserve to die and it was just a car but it was HE who took that chance. Mr. Hall very well should have called the police then what? They find his destroyed car that he probably can’t afford to replace? He reacted in defense of his property, his livelihood and his families’ well being I would call that self –defense.
This 14 year old was a predator and unfortunately sometimes the hunter gets hunted.

at 12:20 PM, October 25, 2006

Anonymous said...

Over the last few years Cincinnati has become notorious its increasing level of violence. Mr. Hall might have felt that the only way to feel safe in this dangerous city was to carry a concealed weapon with him. At the end of the day, all that you truly have to protect yourself and your family is a weapon. At the end of the day all that you are trying to do is survive. He might honestly feel guilty for what he did but as the saying goes "he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time". In order to save his life another one had to be taken.

at 2:51 PM, October 25, 2006

Anonymous said...

Tell me again how being able to shoot an unarmed person who poses no threat prevents crime? If the cops can't do it, the rest of us shouldn't be able to, either.

at 3:47 PM, October 25, 2006

Anonymous said...

I don't see a problem with Mr. Hall shooting at a criminal that was stealing his property. The only thing that I think he did wrong was endangering other people by shooting in a populated area.

People have become too civil and need to separate civil rights from wrong and right. We have become to dependant on the justice system which isn't working in a lot of cases.

Back in the late 1800's it was legal to shoot and kill someone stealing your horse. If it affects your well being and ability to survive then I feel deadly force is acceptable. If his car was stolen, someone else could have information from credit card info, insurance cards, and other personal information that could harm Mr. Hall. Just because someone is not 18 doesn't mean they get a free get out of jail card. He knew that stealing a car was against the law.

My feeling is that we need more people like Mr. Hall that are willing to stand up for themselves. If someone comes up to me and wan't my wallet I will do whatever it takes to stop them, with or without a weapon.

By the way apparently he was qualified to carry a gun since the boy (criminal is dead). Seems like a good shot to me...

at 8:25 AM, October 26, 2006

Anonymous said...

Well, the car is probably this guy's only way to get to work. While not protecting his business, he was protecting his livelyhood. He probably owned a 12 year old car because he couldn't afford anything else.

From what I understand the dead perp had previous brushes with the law. It sounds to me like the guy solved a problem that the system was not willing to solve.

at 10:58 AM, October 26, 2006

Anonymous said...

Both people clearly broke the law. One ended up dead as a result of the other person breaking the law (Mr. Hall). The fourteen year old put himself in harm's way by HIS illegal act, no question. But an appropriate charge needs to be filed against Mr Hall as well or we have no legal system.

The prosecuters office may have some discretion in the nature of the charge they file against Mr. Hall, but it impossible for that to follow the law and not charge him with anything the way the current law is written

If a jury decides to acquit him, that's a different story.

at 11:53 AM, October 26, 2006

Anonymous said...

The conceal and carry permit is for self defense purposes, and Ohio JUST passed a law making it okay to use deadly force when your life is in danger. Mr. Hall's life was not in danger. A stray bullet from Mr. Hall's gun could have done irreparable harm, zinging into someone across the street taking out the morning trash or perhaps straying through a nearby window. No matter how you feel about the criminal, were additional lives (collateral damage) worth the risk of temporarily losing any car? Did this man have insurance? Interesting question.

Another interesting question is why so many on here are willing to blame the parents, without knowing any circumstances. The critics of the kids' parents may well be right, but how do they know? It seems to me that many of the assumptions made about the family of this kid are based off of the idea that you don't need to know anything relative to the matter at hand before casting judgment. For instance, if Mr. Hall's life had been in danger, then he would have been entitled to use deadly force. But Dirty Harry-style vigilantism is not going to make us safer as a nation in the long run.

at 7:44 PM, October 26, 2006

Anonymous said...

I wonder why Mr. Hall thought it was a good idea to leave an idling vehicle unlocked and unattended. If an unfenced swimming pool is considered an attractive nuisance surely his decision to idle an unattended car deserves scrutiny.

at 8:47 AM, October 27, 2006

Anonymous said...

I believe what Mr. Hall did was justified because unfortunately we as citizens need to protect ourselves and our property since we can no longer depend on the police departments or the justice system. What if the 14 year old juvenile would have gotten on the expressway to avoid the police and killed alot more innocent lives and taken away some other child's parent or grand parent innocently on their way to work. I say "definitely no charges for Mr. Hall PERIOD!!

at 12:45 PM, October 27, 2006

Anonymous said...

I'm not saying its right to kill anyone, but we need to allow a man to protect himself and his property. When does the good guy get a break? He's not the criminal. He's only protecting what he's legally earned. Is he just a doormat to be walked on by anyone who decides they want what he has?

Maybe if the criminals thought a 9mm could be pointed at their head, they'd think twice before stealing anything, and we'd have a little less crime.

What are we saying to the criminals out there if Mr. Hall is punished for defending his property? We are saying, "Come.. take what I have. I won't shoot you, I'll count on the police to "possibly" catch up with you...or not. I'll just cut my losses. Take what you want, I'll do nothing." Is that the message we want to send?

The family says he shouldn't have killed him. Maybe so, But who is saying the boy shouldn't have been stealing in the first place? He'd be alive today if he hadn't been stealing. He should have been taught better. Why was he allowed to continue repeating this behavior? And the parents? We need to remember who the honest man is. And he should not have to suffer for the criminal's lack of upbringing or anything else.

It almost seems as though the law actually protects the criminals and their rights, above the rights of honest, working people. That is backwards. No wonder there is so much crime. Something needs to change.

at 1:14 PM, October 27, 2006

Anonymous said...

Maybe Mr. Hall should charge the state a fee for saving future expenses. Say one percent of the cost of future incarceration. There is little doubt that this crook was on his way to spending most of his life behind bars.

They used to hang horse thieves. Well, a car is the modern version of a horse.

at 3:35 PM, October 27, 2006

Anonymous said...

Having lived in both South Fairmount and KH neighborhoods I find the shooting senseless. Kill a kid over a crappy car worth maybe $500 at best.

I had my lawnmower stolen last year out of my garage and you do not see me shooting every teenager in the neighborhood. I kind of know who it was someone who always cut my grass who needed the money. But big deal get another lawnmower and its all good.

The parent of that kid can't just go get another son or daughter after that man gunned them down for doing something stupid.

Where is the love? Its gone in both of these neighborhoods.

at 8:19 PM, October 27, 2006

Anonymous said...

YES WE CAN SAY WHAT QUAVAILE HAS DONE WAS WRONG, BUT ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING BY WHAT THEY HEARD WE THE FAMILY HAS GONE BY WHAT WE SEEN
TO HAVE A CAR STOLEN IS A LOST BUT TO TAKE SOMEONE LIFE FOR IT NOT WORTH IT. QUAVAILE CAN'T BE TRIED FOR THE CRIME HE HAS COMMENTED BECAUSE HIS PUNISHMENT WAS DEATH WE AS THE FINNELL FAMILY HAS GIVEN ALL OF OUR CHILDREN LOVE AND GUIDENCE ,BUT THE PATH OUR CHILDREN DECIDE TO TAKE ARE OUT OF OUR HANDS.I HAVE REED YOUR COMMENTS BUT BEFORE YOU JUDGE LOOK INTO YOUR CHOICES OF LIFE WE ALL HAVE SIN IN ONE POINT OF OUR LIFE NO THIS DOESN'T MAKE QUAVAILE INNOCENT BUT MR HALL HAD TIME ENOUGH TO RETIEVE HIS WEAPON COCK IT BACK FIRE SEVERAL SHOOTS AT A MOVING CAR UNTIL THE CAR STOP MOVING. DIDN'T THEY (MR AND MRS HALL)HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO CALL THE POLICE YOU MAY SAY QUAVAILE ACTED LIKE A THUG BUT MR HALL REACTED AS A VIGILANTE HIS MOTIVE WAS TO KILL NOT JUST MY 14YEAR OLD NEPHEW BUT ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD HAVE TAKEN HIS CAR THAT DAY WHERE WAS MRS HALL WHO STATED IT WAS SELF DEFENSE WATCHING HER HUSBAND FIRING HIS 45 AT THERE CAR SHOOTING OUT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AS THE CAR DROVE PASS THEM ONLY ONE WINDOW WAS SHOOT OUT WHY NOT SHOOT AT THE TIRES HE TOOK THE LAW IN HIS OWN HANDS HE RESPONDED IN A WAY THAT CRIMINALS DO HOW IS HE INNOCENT? IF THIS WAS YOUR FAMILY MEMBER YOUR FEELING WOULD CHANGE PLEASE DONT SAY IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN BECAUSE WE DONT KNOW THE LAW SAYS WHEN YOUR IN DANGER TRY TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THE MATTER BEFORE USING FORCE ONLY STATES TO PROTECT YOUR HOME OR BUSSINESS A AUTOMOBILE IS NOT LISTED

at 8:32 PM, October 27, 2006

Anonymous said...

QUAVAILE CLOSET
THOU SHALL NOT STEAL QUAVAILE YOU WERE WRONG,THOU SHALL NOT KILL MR BENNIE HALL JR YOU ARE WRONG THESE ARE GODS LAWS FOR IT IS WRITTEN.MR BENNIE HALL JR YOU CRY OUT SELF DEFENSE THOUGH INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY, GOD HAS CALLED OUR LOVE ONE,QUAVAILE IS AT PEACE IM GOING TO CALL GOD FOR YOU AND ASK HIM TO GIVE YOU DIRECTION BECAUSE QUAVAILE IS ALREADY FOLLOWING THEM QUAVAILE TOOK TIME TO STEAL YOUR CAR AND YOU WASTED TIME CALLING THE POLICE QUAVAILE DIDN'T THINK NEITHER DID YOU TWO WRONGS DONT MAKE IT RIGHT I THOUGHT YOU KNEW

at 9:47 PM, October 27, 2006

Anonymous said...

It amazes me how the liberal left can talk about citizens who go throught the procedures and rules to carry while criminals just carry. Sure he was only 14 , but this 14 year old on the last morning of his life, told a friend he was going to steal the car and he didn't give a f--k who's car it was. He turned it around in a dead end street whrer he easily could have ran away once he was spotted. He chose to mash the accelerator and charge Mr. Hall, Gloria Champion can play to the masses all she likes but the time for a vigil is not now. It was when her daughter had no room for her grandson she should have taken steps to watch over him then. Hell some wuld describe Ted Bundy as likeable, he was somebody's grandson, somebody's child, it didn't make him any less the monster he was.

at 10:04 AM, October 28, 2006

Anonymous said...

to the two Ms. Finnells:
First my sympothy to you and your family. I hope you can find some type of solace.

But I must ask you - where in the hell were you a week ago?

Where were you when your nephew was committing 13 different things that got him in trouble with the law?
Where were you when he was out running the streets at 6 am on a school morning (which is against the law, by the way)?
Where were you when he left where-ever he was supposed to be on house arrest (again, against the law)?
Why did you not offer his mother help?
Why did you not try to get him help from the services and others that are present in the community?
Did you or your family DEMAND help from the court?

Depending on the 13 previous convictions, why was your nephew not in a facility such as Hill Crest?

I am sorry for your hurt. But you - and all of us - are responsible for his death, too.

Do you volunteer in the schools?

Do you volunteer in the community?

Do you try to help those in similar situations?

We (all of Cincinnati) must look at this case as NOT against Mr. Hall - be he found innocent or guilty. We must look at it as what WE are going to do to make sure it never happens again.

But to the two Ms. Finnells - if YOU did nothing during this child's life to help, don't come to me and say I shouldn't talk about what was wrong in his life.

at 12:04 AM, November 01, 2006

Anonymous said...

How could our city officials want to press charges against a person who was victimized by a trespasser of the property of homeowner to steal a car?
Where are rights for the victim to protect their property and i.e. car? Maybe by chance the victim (shooter) saved many other innocent people from being hurt or killed by an unlicensed, up-to-no-good car thief. Unfortunately, this young thief had never learned the lesson to not trespass and not to take things that don’t belong to him.

at 2:20 AM, November 01, 2006

Anonymous said...

A COMMENT WAS MADE DIRECTLY TO MS FINNELL FAMILY I TAMMY FINNELL WILL ADDRESS YOUR THOUGHTS .IT WAS ME WHO WATCH HIM SAY HIS FIRST WORDS IT WAS ME HE RAN TO FOR LOVE AND WHAT EVER I HAD FOR HIM AND HIS SISTERS I LOVED HIM I NEVER TURN MY BACK ON ANY OF FAMILY MEMEBERS HE HAD A HARD LIFE I DIDNT MAKE LIFE FOR HIM HARD PATH HE TOOK WAS NOT RIGHT HE KNEW THAT LOVE WAS THERE FOR HIM BUT PATH HE CHOOSEN WAS THE EASY WAY OUT BUT WHEN TEACHING OUR CHILDREN RIGHT FROM WRONG THEY STILL MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICE THIS PLAY A PART IN LIFE OF CRIME TO GET AHEAD TO EAT TO SLEEP TO LIVE AT THE SAME TIME WONDERING WHERE WAS I WAITING FOR MY NEPHEW TO SEE A BETTER WAY OF LIFE HIS MIND WAS ALREADY MADE UP YOU DONT KNOW WHAT HE WAS THINKING BEING A CRIMINAL IS NOT WHAT CHILDREN WISH TO BECOME LIFE IS FILLED WITH TAKING CHANCES WE TAKE CHANCES WHEN WE RUN THREW A TRAFFIC LIGHT HOPING WE DONT GET A TICKET I HAVE NEVER STATED THAT MY NEPHEW IS RIGHT HE WAS WRONG THEIR ARE GUIDE LINES WE MUST COMPLY TO BY CARRYING A GUN HE DIDNT FOLLOW THOSE GUIDE LINE TO COMMENT THAT WHO EVER MADE HE SAID F IT HOW DO YOU KNOW WAS YOUR CHILD WITH HIM OR WAS YOU WITH HIM HEARD HIM MADE THAT STATEMENT I THINK NOT JUST DONT MAKE REMARKS ABOUT THE CASE IF YOU DONT KNOW TRUE FACTS JUDGE YOUR OWN LIFE FIRST LIKE ILL CONTINUE TO SAY IF THIS WAS YOUR CHILD THAT MADE MISTAKE BY CHOOSING TO DISOBEY THE LAW IT WOULD BE DIFFERNT FEELING JUST LIKE THOSE CHILDREN WANTED TO GO TO SCHOOL WITH GUNS KILL OTHER PEOPLE YOU JUDGE THEM DIFFERENT THEY NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLEM BUT THEY COMMENTED CRIME I WILL ALWAY FEEL BECAUSE I KNEW THE RULES TO CARRY A WEAPON HE DIDNT FOLLOW THE RULES IT STATES TO PROTECT YOUR HOME QUVALE DIDNT INTER HIS HOME , TO PROTECT YOUR BUSSINESS HIS CAR WAS NOT HIS BUSSINESS IF IT WAS FIGHT YOUR NOT ALLOW PULL OUT WEAPON WHEN OTHER PARTY DONT HAVE A WEAPON THIS IS NOT MY RULES THESE ARE THE RULES TO CARRYING A GUN AND USING A WEAPON MY NEPHEW WAS WRONG SO WAS MR HALL. CRIME RATE WILL CONTIUNE TO RISE IF AND THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS DESIGN TO HELP KIDS THAT ARE IN NEED THEY SAY ONCE YOUR CHILD COMMITTS A CRIME OR IF BEHAVORIAL PROBLEM THEY HAVE LIGHT HOUSE FOR KIDS BECAUSE HE WASN'T BAD IN SCHOOL SOME OF THINGS DIDNT APPLY TO HIM PARENT SEE PROBLEM IN THERE CHILD THEY CANT GET THE HELP UNTIL ACTION OF VIOLENCE, ABUSE,HAS BEEN MADE TO THE MOTHER OR CHILD LET TALK ABOUT INSURANCE ALOT OF PLACES DONT EXCEPT HEALTH COURAGE MEDICAID, CARE SOURCE DONT EVER QUESTION MY ACTION OR MY FAMILY'S

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Peace of mind from a gun

22 Comments: