Connecticut Case Law

Otter · 09-25-2005, 10:55 AM

A taxi driver defended himself with a handgun in his taxi after being stabbed in the neck by a passenger. He shot and killed his attacker then drove himself to hospital. The police didn't charge him. The States Attorney charged him with carrying a handgun without a permit. Connecticut law states a permit is not required within ones' home or place of business. The Judge ruled that the taxi was the driver's place of business and found not guilty of carrying without permit. The States Attorney appealed that decision to the State Supreme Court, the judges of the State Supreme overturned the Superior Court Judges' decision, ruleing that the law as written meant place of business as a fixed location even though it doesn't say so. Taxi driver guilty of carrying handgun without permit.
Malicious Prosecution.

"Life is too important to be taken seriously."

troy2000 · 09-25-2005, 11:58 AM

Did they give him a token sentence, or did they seriously go after him? I can understand them wanting to keep their law intact, if it honestly gives people an opportunity to carry a gun legally. If the permit law is just a backdoor attempt at stopping them from carrying guns period, I hope someone helps this case get appealed to the Supreme Court.

BattleRifleG3 · 09-25-2005, 03:03 PM

Malicious prosecution sounds right. If the law is so nonspecific that the courts disagree, there's plenty of reason he would have believed it legal.

Basically a guy upholding the law as interpreted to date, and an activist court charging him for an offense defined ex-post-facto.

Intent seems to be a clearly ignored part of this case.

troy2000 · 09-25-2005, 08:10 PM

On the plus side, at least the taxidriver is around to argue the merits of the case, instead of being the subject of a memorial service. So his gun served its primary function.

I remember the Bernard Goetz "subway vigilante" case, and some of the nonsense that was printed. One fool columnist said he was guilty of entrapment, because he sat there deliberately looking like a defenseless victim. Another one whined about how he had gunned down defenseless children armed "only with a sharpened screwdriver."

He's obviously never seen what a sharpened screwdriver can do. Years ago, I knew of a little lady who killed two men with one inthe space of a few minutes. Her boyfriend was beating up on her, and she stuck one in him and called the cops to come get the body. While she was waiting for them, the guy's brother showed up. He was upset about his brother being dead and jumped her, so she stuck him too. She was little, they were big; she had bruises; they never charged her.

Otter · 09-26-2005, 03:45 PM

Taxi driver was convicted of carrying without permit and got two years unsupervised probation, (Felony) better to be tried by twelve that carried by six.
Every criminal deserves what he Goetz.
Reminds me of another Connecticut man who killed two fifteen year olds who broke in to his home on two different occasions. Nothing happened the first time but the second time he walked in to find them he killed the first kid who had his arm up to his elbow in the gun safe and then shot the second kid who was video tapeing the cat cooking in the microwave oven. He was found guilty by a jury of one count of second degree manslaughter for killing the kid with the camcorder. The Judge was furious and vacated the jury's verdict, declaired the man not guilty, told the bailiff to give him back his pistol and escort him out of the court with the courts' appoligies.

"Life is too important to be taken seriously."

09-25-2005, 10:55 AM	#1
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 980 Images: 6	Connecticut Case Law A taxi driver defended himself with a handgun in his taxi after being stabbed in the neck by a passenger. He shot and killed his attacker then drove himself to hospital. The police didn't charge him. The States Attorney charged him with carrying a handgun without a permit. Connecticut law states a permit is not required within ones' home or place of business. The Judge ruled that the taxi was the driver's place of business and found not guilty of carrying without permit. The States Attorney appealed that decision to the State Supreme Court, the judges of the State Supreme overturned the Superior Court Judges' decision, ruleing that the law as written meant place of business as a fixed location even though it doesn't say so. Taxi driver guilty of carrying handgun without permit. Malicious Prosecution. "Life is too important to be taken seriously." __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

09-25-2005, 03:03 PM	#3
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,454 Images: 13	Malicious prosecution sounds right. If the law is so nonspecific that the courts disagree, there's plenty of reason he would have believed it legal. Basically a guy upholding the law as interpreted to date, and an activist court charging him for an offense defined ex-post-facto. Intent seems to be a clearly ignored part of this case. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

09-26-2005, 03:45 PM	#5
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 980 Images: 6	Taxi driver was convicted of carrying without permit and got two years unsupervised probation, (Felony) better to be tried by twelve that carried by six. Every criminal deserves what he Goetz. Reminds me of another Connecticut man who killed two fifteen year olds who broke in to his home on two different occasions. Nothing happened the first time but the second time he walked in to find them he killed the first kid who had his arm up to his elbow in the gun safe and then shot the second kid who was video tapeing the cat cooking in the microwave oven. He was found guilty by a jury of one count of second degree manslaughter for killing the kid with the camcorder. The Judge was furious and vacated the jury's verdict, declaired the man not guilty, told the bailiff to give him back his pistol and escort him out of the court with the courts' appoligies. "Life is too important to be taken seriously." __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

09-25-2005, 11:58 AM	#2
troy2000 Resident Armed Liberal Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 10,017 Images: 9	Did they give him a token sentence, or did they seriously go after him? I can understand them wanting to keep their law intact, if it honestly gives people an opportunity to carry a gun legally. If the permit law is just a backdoor attempt at stopping them from carrying guns period, I hope someone helps this case get appealed to the Supreme Court.

09-25-2005, 08:10 PM	#4
troy2000 Resident Armed Liberal Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 10,017 Images: 9	On the plus side, at least the taxidriver is around to argue the merits of the case, instead of being the subject of a memorial service. So his gun served its primary function. I remember the Bernard Goetz "subway vigilante" case, and some of the nonsense that was printed. One fool columnist said he was guilty of entrapment, because he sat there deliberately looking like a defenseless victim. Another one whined about how he had gunned down defenseless children armed "only with a sharpened screwdriver." He's obviously never seen what a sharpened screwdriver can do. Years ago, I knew of a little lady who killed two men with one inthe space of a few minutes. Her boyfriend was beating up on her, and she stuck one in him and called the cops to come get the body. While she was waiting for them, the guy's brother showed up. He was upset about his brother being dead and jumped her, so she stuck him too. She was little, they were big; she had bruises; they never charged her.