Kinda bummed today...

[Uncle Cracker]

The only thing that i would have to deal with in the circumstances was how long did you beat on him after he was down

The whole thing was over in maybe 5 seconds...

[sparkeyjames]

Post traumatic stress. Have a beer or two and relax. You did right.

[Mr__Bill]

The time to worry is when something like that does not leave you a bit introspective.

I would not tell anyone just how you feel and would go so far as to ask the moderators to delete this thread so as your feelings now can not be used against you at some later date.

[Eagan]

My father would probably tell you that you were wrong...

and keep up the lesson until you started to defend yourself... at which time he'd let your defense show you that you did right.

[bing!]

The boy threatened your life, so all bets are off. Letting him leave the situation still breathing likely taught him a lesson. You did good.

/bing

[crokett]

I would not worry about it. I actually commend you for not going further and killing him. You didn't know if he had any other weapons than the knife and/or if he had friends around, so you rendered him incapable of doing any further harm.

[Pappy]

I was taught 2 trains of thought about fights by my Dad.

1. A fair fight is one that starts face to face. After that, everything is fair and it's over when one of you can't get up.

2. Never turn your back when the other guy is down until you are sure he can't get up.

I got into it in a mall restroom a few years back. A kid came up behind me and said "Give me your wallet, old man." He was probably 16 or 17 and when I turned around there was no weapon in sight. I held out my wallet and droppped it as he reached for it. The dumb-ass bent over to pick it up. I grabbed a hand full of hair and put my knee into his nose. I picked up my wallet and left him on the floor bleeding. my wife was at the register and I told her I would be at the car. On the way out I told a store employee some kid fell in the men's room. No way I was hanging around to answer questions about assaulting a minor.

Remorse? No way, the punk tried to rob me. Next time he saw an old man he probably went running to his mommy.

You did nothing wrong in my mind, Unc, unless it was showing mercy.

[SHADOWFOX]

Sleep it off! Think of your family and be thankful that the whole thing happened the way it did.

Sometimes after an adrenaline rush, our mind plays tricks on us. It's like going 130 mph on a motorcycle on an open road and then feeling stupid after doing it and your senses comes back and start to think of the 'what if'.

Glad to hear you're okay.,

[RayintheUK]

That's what separates you from the animals - including the animal that confronted you. You think about the consequences, they don't.

When you don't think about them, that's the time to worry.

Ray

[cabinetman]

This. It's only self defense until the other guy can't put up any more offense. After that you become the attacker.

That's "street justice". There's no time to philosophize at that moment. Individuals that pull stunts like that assume the risk of their actions. A guy holding up a store realizes that the owner may have a gun. If that's not enough deterrent, the criminal assumes the risk.

The same holds true for physical confrontations. One is likely to be the stomper, and the other the stompee. If the punk got beat up "too much"...I say "too bad".
.

[alpha]

I have a CCDW (conceal carry defensive weapon) permit and was taught that the objective of carrying is to "stop the threat." You stopped the threat in the least harmful way. Glad to hear things went well for you.

Bob

[Uncle Cracker]

I'm much better today guys, and thanks again for the kind words. However, I guess I should come clean with a few more details, which I didn't really elaborate before. The guy is in the jail ward of a local hospital with a dislocated right elbow, collarbone broken on both sides, several missing teeth, and a puncture wound to his left hamstring (by his own knife). I could definitely have hurt him less... It's probably a good thing for me that there were a couple of unimpeachable witnesses, and they both said in their statements that I had every reason to fear for my life.

[cabinetman]

I'm much better today guys, and thanks again for the kind words. However, I guess I should come clean with a few more details, which I didn't really elaborate before. The guy is in the jail ward of a local hospital with a dislocated right elbow, collarbone broken on both sides, several missing teeth, and a puncture wound to his left hamstring (by his own knife). I could definitely have hurt him less... It's probably a good thing for me that there were a couple of unimpeachable witnesses, and they both said in their statements that I had every reason to fear for my life.

It sounds like he only got roughed up a little.
.

[Knottscott]

I'm much better today guys, and thanks again for the kind words. However, I guess I should come clean with a few more details, which I didn't really elaborate before. The guy is in the jail ward of a local hospital with a dislocated right elbow, collarbone broken on both sides, several missing teeth, and a puncture wound to his left hamstring (by his own knife). I could definitely have hurt him less... It's probably a good thing for me that there were a couple of unimpeachable witnesses, and they both said in their statements that I had every reason to fear for my life.

Sounds to me like justice was served. Glad you're coming around...don't ever 2nd guess your instincts in a situation like that.

[crybdr]

Please don't second guess your actions at all.

You did stop - based on your 'hand to hand' training you probably could have gone a lot further....

You did exhibit control, when your body was flooded with adrenaline and fear. That level of flooding usually doesn't happen to people more than once or twice in their lifetime.

A knife is a very scary and dangerous thing, probably as dangerous as a gun when you are that close to the assailant.

Please be sure to keep talking about your experience and feelings with your friends and family - don't even attempt to bottle anything up. That will help.

Best.