TexasCHLforum.com

It is of course virtuous to be so aware that you never run into trouble -- so for those of you this good, you can leave your guns at home. No chance you'll ever need them. But for the vast majority of normal mortals, who will despite best efforts be unable to stay a peak vigilance, and correctly analyze every possible future point of approach and attack in the average grocery store parking lot -- IOW, 100% of the human population -- they're going to be vulnerable at some, probably many points, and once confronted, have to do something.

LaserTex did OK. Not exactly what I would have done, but he ended up with no foul, no harm. Good for him.

RHENRIKSEN wrote:I think you're mischaracterizing the panhandler's behavior by using the word 'begging'. Grabbing the OP's cart and saying that he was not going to return it without payment is *not* 'begging'.

Bingo. LaserTex did alright. The other man was not begging, he was threatening. I wouldn't have used the exact same words, but I would not have been shaken down (or worse) either. Good show dealing with the original incident, and the followup.

Sangiovese wrote:Regarding theft vs robbery...

Your mileage may vary, but a very smart guy explained the difference to me this way:
etc....

sounds good, but I don't think it is legally correct, at least in Texas. The law is quoted a few posts back. Reading what is there, essentially, theft is unlawfully taking someone else's property. The victim may or may not be present. Robbery is theft, with the addition of committing or threatening bodily harm or death. If I simply take your wallet or purse and walk off, I am committing theft. If I threaten to beat the stuffings out of you if you don't hand it over, or I club you over the head and take your wallet, I am robbing you.

Or so I read it.