this post was submitted on 06 Apr 2025
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Summary

At a Lafayette, Indiana anti-Trump rally Saturday, a man pulled an assault-style rifle after clashing with protesters who blocked his truck at a Third Street intersection.

Video shows the man in a MAGA hat yelling at protesters, prompting another man—angered by the confrontation with women—to intervene.

The two exchanged shouts before the protester headbutted the man. He returned to his truck, retrieved a rifle, and reentered the crowd.

Police detained but released him, citing self-defense. The “Hands Off!” rally drew nearly 1,000 people and ended early amid safety concerns.

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[–] [email protected] 326 points 1 day ago (5 children)

If you can leave the situation safely - like being able to go back to your truck - it’s not self defense.

[–] adarza 216 points 1 day ago (2 children)

yup. as soon as he grabbed the gun and went back to threaten people with it.. he committed the felony.

[–] [email protected] 55 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Louder. For the people in the back.

[–] [email protected] 48 points 1 day ago

Fat fuck wants to be another Rittenhouse

[–] [email protected] 44 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 day ago

They are too busy ~~fabricating~~... ~~planting~~... finding the evidence they need to arrest some protestors.

[–] [email protected] 64 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Self-defense isn't going back to your vehicle to get a weapon to come back and terrorize people. That's assault.

If he had returned with his weapon, and someone killed him, THAT would be self-defense.

[–] [email protected] 65 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Doesn't matter. They even determined that planning to get yourself in an unsafe situation with the purpose of shooting protesters, travelling across states with a gun to again very intentionally get yourself in a situation where you'd need to use it, is still self defense. Even when you shoot someone without actually being in danger, it becomes self defense when other people are trying to stop you. All of this, as long as your victims are protesting against right-wing policies, has been determined in court to be self defense.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 day ago

Only if you're white and conservative.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 day ago

I wonder if I could legally defend myself in this manner at one of the neo nazi rallies in Springfield or Charlottesville? Somehow I doubt the police would characterize it the same way.

[–] [email protected] 38 points 1 day ago

Exactly. It's obvious who the cops were siding with here.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 day ago (2 children)

But what about pre-emptive self defense? That's a thing, right?

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 day ago

You don't understand, your honor, I know I was gonna say something that would make them threaten my life! I had to start shooting.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 day ago

It'll get you on a talk show circuit