" It's gettin' ugly out there. "

" Lincoln seems to have had a great many of these types of crimes lately. Assaults, robberies, and unless the perpetrators are extremely stupid they don't seem to ever get caught. Maybe the concealed carry idea isn't so bad after all. What are your rights and obligations in this scenario? If some idiot with a bandanna over his face points a gun at you, can you legally blow his head off? If some gang of trashy girls rear ends your car, beats you up and robs you, do you only get to shoot the one with the handgun or can you pop a cap in all of them? I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to know.

"

" should you decide to protect yourself in the manner you stated you will be charged and jailed as the criminals have all the rights now. A cry baby judge will feel sorry for the criminal and throw the book at you.
What a great country> "

" There really aren't many street robberies in Lincoln. These two were even unusual on that score, because they didn't occur in low-income areas. On the other topic, while Nebraska isn't a "stand-your-ground" state (hopefully the Unicameral will fix that), the "reasonable man" standard would tend to support a person being in genuine fear for their life if a masked thug pointed a gun at them and they shot the thug to neutralize the threat. Of course, any grand jury is a dice roll as to whether they return a bill or not... "

" It is getting ugly out there. But we need to ask ourselves,why is anyone out driving around at 2 or 4am?? "

" Just more examples of the effect of the great laws that allow only the criminals to carry concealed weapons. Nebraska's right to carry a concealed weapon is worthless. If you do finally jump through all the hoops and qualify, the cities then pass ordinances which prohibit from carrying everywhere but in your bedroom. You don't see these thugs doing this to a gun toting cop. "

" Maybe the times that these things happened are a good clue. Out wandering around that time of morning is asking for trouble! "

" @Another Observer

Last I knew it wasn't illegal to be out when the sun was down in Lincoln. When I was younger I worked several different jobs that had me coming home at odd hours, or was just out late hanging out with friends (and before you jump to conclusions again I wasn't drunk driving).

People have the right to be safe regardless of the time of day - don't blame the victims. "

" Maybe LPD will have to pull some of their officers off of these ridiculous speed traps they set up and dedicate more to stopping this kind of crime. "

" Never stop your car for anyone other than a police officer. If they pull in front of you, you do have reverse. Pop into reverse and step on it. Turn around and drive to the next busiest place you can find. And never wait to call police. Unless they have hit your car to stop it on purpose to the point it can't be driven, you should do what you can to protect yourself. Your car is of no value to you, if you are dead.

Your rights are far greater than theirs. And so is your life. "

" Being a victim is not a victim's fault. It is the victimizer's. The only people "who get what's coming" are the poeple who actually are tried and convicted. Have you ever been a victim? Do you know a victim? AND officers cannot plan for a crime. Part of the tactic of speed-traps is to remind the public that they are out there. As far as having to use any level of force to protect yourself against an attack or imminent threat of one is looked at and judged on a case-by-case basis. No system in the world is perfect. Lincoln is trying to keep up with the criminals. If you can do better, apply for the job Cassidy has - or an entry level officer or Jon Bruning's job. Take a class if you don't want to go that far. Don't assume you know everything or understand all of the why's. "

" many people are either comeing home from or going to work at these hours. "

" Stop blaming the victims because of the time of night these crimes were happening. I keep hearing it over and over again, when there is a crime committed after 10 p.m. lights out. We are not under lock and key because you feel that we should all stay home by a certain time. Don't try to make all of us prisoners. It's called freedom, my friend. I am out at different hours of the day, and depending on what is going on at night, then I am out then too. Example, I wake up and forgot that I didn't buy the kids milk for breakfast in the morning. So I get up and go get it because I have the RIGHT to do so at whatever hour I deem to do so. Or perhaps a friend is in need, so I hop in my car, and drive over to their house, at 3 a.m., I can do that because I have the RIGHT to do so. Take your morals and values and apply them to yourself, but don't push them off on those of us who have a more relaxed atmosphere in life. Jeez. I'm so tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. "

" Since when did being out past midnight mean you deserve to be victimized or have it coming to you??
Everyone lives a totally different life and lots of everyday citizens have valid reasons for being out at night. A lot of "day" people don't realize there is a very busy world going on at night. Last time I checked through the night it's...time to make the donuts, papers are being delivered, police officers are on duty, nurses, clergy, overnight stock people...the list goes on are coming and going to work. A lot of people live their life at night! My roommate works from 8:30pm-4am at a local plant...I have a neighbor who is a Nurse who works the graveyard shift...some people take themselves or their kids for a ride to calm them at night, maybe they are coming home from a vacation, or maybe like what happened to me...their mom just passed away at 130 in the morning and a few hours later they are arriving home after holding their mom's hand as she died! Finally...grocery stores, gas stations and some food establishments are now open all night to cater to the very busy world of the Graveyard shift! Of course there are also those who are simply out having fun and sadly there are some criminals out at as well but remember even during the day you run the risk of being victimized.
I don't know...I'm just amazed that some people think because it's "after hours" you shouldn't be upset or surprised that you become a victim!!! Geee...sure hope neither of you ever move to Alaska where sometimes it's...drum roll please...DARK DURING THE DAY..AAAHHHHH!
As I've gotten older I have become more of a day person..but I remember what it was like to sleep all day and play all night so I say...take all the precautions you can, be safe, know you are always at risk, know what to do in an emergency and just live your life.
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