newsobserver.com projects - Jason Batten - Comments

Re: Beason's defense

larzkins — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 23:35:56 -0400

ARE YOU AMERICAN CITIZENS? DID YOU FORGET THE SECOND AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION?

"A WELL REGULATED MILITIA BEING NECESSARY TO THE SECURITY OF A FREE STATE, THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED"

THIS MAN WAS A UNITED STATES CITIZEN. WHETHER HE WAS A MILLIONAIRE, A BLACK PERSON, A WHITE PERSON, A POOR PERSON, A WOMAN, A MAN - HE HAS THE UNITED STATES RIGHT TO DEFEND HIMSELF. THIS PORTION OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS SEPARATES US FROM ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. IT IS PRECIOUS.

DO YOU WANT TO BE ATTACKED IN YOUR CAR? DO YOU WANT YOUR WIFE, CHILDREN, OR HUSBAND TO BE THREATENED BY AN ANGRY PERSON WALKING UP TO YOUR CAR WHEN YOU ARE NOT THERE TO PROTECT THEM? DO YOU REALLY WANT TO TAKE THAT CHANCE? IF YOU WERE IN A LIFE THREATENING POSITION, WOULDN'T YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE A FIREARM IN YOUR POSSESSION OR CAR, WHETHER THROUGH A CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT OR THROUGH YOUR RIGHT TO CARRY A FIREARM FOR PROTECTION? IF YOU ARE A U.S. LAWFUL CITIZEN, INTELLIGENT, AND HOLD YOUR LIFE AND THOSE OF YOUR LOVED ONES PRECIOUS, YOU WILL AGREE.

JASON BATTEN WAS AT FAULT IN ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY GETTING OUT OF HIS VEHICLE TO PURSUE BEASON WHO WAS SITTING AND HONKING IN HIS OWN VEHICLE. ANYONE WITH LOGIC CAN SEE JASON BATTEN WAS THE PERPETRATOR AND THE AGGRESSOR OF THE INCIDENT. IT WAS HE WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUNISHED.

BEASON WAS COMPLETELY WITHIN LEGAL LIMITS AND ABIDING BY THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND HIS INALIENABLE RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE. HOW CAN ONE QUESTION THE INTENT OF SOMEONE WHO IS UNSTABLE ENOUGH TO LEAVE HIS VEHICLE AND APPROACH YOUR OWN IN THIS DAY AND AGE? YOU'RE FOOLISH TO NOT EXPECT THE WORST, TO ALWAYS BE ON GUARD.

OBVIOUSLY BEASON WAS NOT WAVING OR POINTING A GUN AT BATTEN. IF SO, BATTEN WOULD NEVER HAVE LEFT HIS OWN VEHICLE IF HE KNEW A GUN WAS BEING POINTED AT HIM. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO AFRAID. CASE IN POINT:

GUNS DETER CRIMINALS.

TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, WHAT KIND OF TWISTED PERSON FOLLOWS SOMEONE THEY JUST TRIED TO ATTACK? IF BEASON WOULD HAVE CALLED THE POLICE FIRST, EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN REVERSED. BATTEN BEAT HIM TO THE CHASE, PROBABLY BECAUSE HE REALIZED HIS OWN MISTAKE IN GETTING OUT OF HIS CAR AND APPROACHING THE VEHICLE UNDER THE CONFLICTING CIRCUMSTANCE. HE DECIDED TO CALL THE POLICE FIRST AND PLAY "VICTIM" BEFORE BEASON COULD.

I HOPE JUDGE JOY HAMILTON IS NOT RELATED TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON. IF SHE IS A DAUGHTER OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, SHE HAS JUST COMMITTED A GRAVE INJUSTICE AGAINST THE UNITED STATES, OUR CONSTITUTION, OUR FOUNDING FATHERS AND EVERYTHING WE STAND FOR.

I AM A DAUGHTER OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (DAR). FIVE OF MY ANCESTORS FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHTS WRITTEN IN THE CONSTITUTION, IN THIS CASE THE RIGHT THAT ALLOWS MEN AND WOMEN LIKE BEASON TO BEAR ARMS FOR THEIR PERSONAL PROTECTION. IT IS MY DUTY AND THAT OF OTHER AMERICANS TO UPHOLD THESE RIGHTS UNTIL OUR LAST BREATHS.

Re: Beason's defense

greenlamp — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:17:46 -0400

glad he wasn't the judge then as well-

Re: Beason's defense

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:04:19 -0400

It wasn't a jury trial. The judge decided it.

— RTB

Re: Beason's defense

greenlamp — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:23:48 -0400

glad you're not on the jury.

Re: Beason's defense

Isaac136 — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:28:29 -0400

PROTECT HIMSELF? From what? Was the guy going to flip him off?

Beason was suddenly afraid after having been confident enough to lay on his horn for this guy's having slighted him by pulling into the space in front of his?

Horse-hockey.

Beason is an awfully big boy when it comes to deciding what your law is or isn't going to be. Had he recognized the driver of the offending vehicle as a member of the General Assembly or a fellow lobbyist or another guy in a three piece suit, he wouldn't have been rude and he wouldn't have resorted to pulling a gun to establish his position. We aren't talking about an unsophisticated and/or frightened senior citizen simply trying to survive the notorious, wicked badlands of Cameron Village.

The idea that Beason thought he was in any real danger in Cameron Village is absurd. I doubt he would have found such lenient treatment had he not been a known element -- one of the "crowd" in downtown Raleigh.

What if this cowardly jerk hadn't been dressed so well and weren't already so well known in political and legal circles? What if, God forbid, he had been a black guy in baggy jeans and engaged in exactly the same kind of behavior?

Good thing he could afford good legal counsel, isn't it?

Re: Beason's defense

greenlamp — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:07:27 -0400

HIs story seems reasonable. With the way things are nowadays that's a believable tale on the surface, and I believe people should have the right to protect themselves.

Re: Beason's defense

Isaac136 — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:09:29 -0400

Not good enough, Beason. You had this great reputation; a fat wallet; some charm (apparently) since many reporters seem anxious to give you more than a fair shot at salvaging your reputation, but oh my god am I tired of arrogant fat cats who buy influence and goodwill where they can, and then point a gun where it's just so much cheaper and easier.

Had the guy at the gas station been a member of the General Assembly, you'd have moved your car so far over so fast that a bystander's head would spin instead of ducking.

I'm not impressed, Beason, not impressed at all.