Do Americans Have the Right to Self-Defense or to Defend Their Family?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns the right to defend ourselves and our family. When acting in self-defense or the defense of family or property, Americans are free to use whatever is handy – teeth, feet, knife, gun, or slingshot.

Paul Sacca at The Blaze reported that a fourteen-year-old young man in Michigan allegedly used his slingshot on Wednesday to save his little sister from abduction from their backyard. The eight-year-old sister had been hunting for mushrooms last Wednesday in her family’s backyard in Alpena, Michigan. A seventeen-year-old man came out of the woods, covered the girl’s mouth, grabbed her around the waist, and tried to drag her into the woods. 

The older brother witnessed what was happening outside and grabbed his slingshot before running out of the house. He used his slingshot to sling something that hit the suspect in the head. The grasp of the suspect on the younger sister was loosened, and the girl struggled until she got away from him. The older brother shot again and hit the suspect in the chest.

The suspect fled the scene. Michigan State Police released the suspect’s description, and he was quickly located. He was hiding at a nearby gas station. He had injuries on his head and chest, injuries that were used to identify him as the alleged kidnapper.

The seventeen-year-old male from Alpena confessed to detectives that he “planned on severely beating the victim.” He was arraigned in the 88^th District Court on Thursday and charged as an adult with several counts: “one count of attempted kidnapping/child enticement, one count of attempted assault to do great bodily harm less than murder, and one count of assault and battery.”

“The suspect was taken to the juvenile section of the Alpena County Jail and was being held on $150,000 cash bond” with a court date scheduled for May 17.  The older brother who saved his younger sister is being credited as being a hero for saving her life, according to Alpena Post Commander Lt. John Grimshaw. He continued:

“He really is the one, that I believe, saved his sister’s life or from having something seriously bad happening to her,” he stated. “For a 14-year-old to see that and to pop into action that quickly is extraordinary.”

“It just goes to show that there’s evil out there, and it can find anybody, anywhere,” said Grimshaw.

Grimshaw gave advice to anyone in an abduction situation:

Fight, fight, do everything you can. Bite the hand that’s being held over your mouth,” he advised. “Stomp on their feet, kick them in the shin, do whatever you can to fight. And then if your mouth is free, scream as loud as you possibly can.”

Americans have the right to use any type of weapon to defend themselves and their families. They can use whatever is available to them.