Gun control means being able to hit your target - ask this lady

fnfalman · 11-01-2008, 11:37 AM

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/new...6?OpenDocument

A woman who was raped in her Cape Girardeau, Mo., home last weekend shot and fatally wounded the attacker when he broke in again early Friday morning, officials said.

Prosecuting Attorney H. Morley Swingle said no charges would be filed against the woman, 57, who shot Ronnie W. Preyer, 47, a registered sex offender, in the chest with a shotgun.

Officials said she did not know him.

At about midnight Oct. 25, she heard glass break in her basement and was grabbed by a man as she tried to flee out the front door. He punched her in the face, forced her into a bedroom and raped her, Swingle said.

She reported the crime to police, and her landlord repaired the window.

On Friday, she was home alone, watching TV about 2:15 a.m. when a man broke the same basement window and switched off the electricity to the house, Swingle said.

She tried to call 911 but couldn't with the power off. So she got a shotgun and waited as the man began banging on a door from the basement. She fired when he came crashing through the door.

After she fled to a neighbor's home to call police, officers found Preyer, badly wounded, stumbling away. He died at St. Francis Medical Center several hours later.

Swingle said the victim identified Preyer from photos as her previous attacker. When he was shot, Preyer, of Jackson, Mo., had wet caulking on his clothing from the recently repaired basement window.

Preyer had been convicted in New Madrid, Mo., in 1989 of rape and robbery and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was convicted in 2006 of failing to register as a sex offender, and earlier this year of misdemeanor assault.

Said Swingle, "I will not be filing any sort of charge against this ... woman, who was clearly justified under the law in shooting this intruder in her home."

Gas Man · 11-01-2008, 11:53 AM

Go lady!!

MikeSP1 · 11-01-2008, 12:28 PM

Good on her, too bad she couldn't have shot him before he raped her the first time

FT BSTRD · 11-01-2008, 12:40 PM

My sister and brother-in-law live in Cape.

Good on her. I believe every house should be required to own and keep a firearm for home defense.

I'd bet he wouldn't have broken in the first time were that the case.

jeeps84 · 11-01-2008, 02:10 PM

Every body should know the laws in their areas. The use of deadly force is highly frowned on here.

We have to retreat to the furthest point and escape if possible. How ever, if someone breaks through two doors or traps you. Then fire away. I would be in trouble if it happened to me. The fucker would be dead in my house.

No Worries · 11-01-2008, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeeps84

Every body should know the laws in their areas. The use of deadly force is highly frowned on here...

Colorado has the "Make My Day" law, which comes from the landmark 1985 Colorado statute that protects people from any criminal charge or civil suit if they use force - including deadly force - against an invader of the home. This law has been upheld in every case.

t-homo · 11-01-2008, 03:24 PM

Castle laws are great. The end of this story is great, but its a terrible story.

Ducati Diva · 11-01-2008, 05:29 PM

Poor lady now she not only has to deal with the horror of being raped but the mixed feelings that go along with killing someone.
Personaly laws be damned if anyone tries to come in my house I will shoot first and ask questions second, by the time the cops get there they'll be inside next to a room with no exit!

FT BSTRD · 11-01-2008, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducati Diva

Poor lady now she not only has to deal with the horror of being raped but the mixed feelings that go along with killing someone.

I'd say the feelings are less mixed than one might believe.

My guess is that the time between the initial event and the following encounter was just enough for her to formulate a plan of attach should their paths again cross.

I suspect the blast to the chest was more humane that the other restitution planned.

BobTheBiker · 11-01-2008, 08:50 PM

Score one for the good ole lady. I love the castle laws. we've got em here too, and I fully believe ALL states should have the same law to allow citizens to defend what's rightfully THEIRS.

That sad bastard that got shot is one less taking up a cell and our tax dollars in an effort to "rehabilitate" or punish. hope he burns in the darkest pits of hell.

11-01-2008, 11:37 AM	#1
fnfalman Europhile Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SoCal Moto: Aprilia RS125, Aprilia SR50 Factory, Aprilia Tuono, BMW Rockster, KTM 990 Adventure Posts: 1,875	Gun control means being able to hit your target - ask this lady http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/new...6?OpenDocument A woman who was raped in her Cape Girardeau, Mo., home last weekend shot and fatally wounded the attacker when he broke in again early Friday morning, officials said. Prosecuting Attorney H. Morley Swingle said no charges would be filed against the woman, 57, who shot Ronnie W. Preyer, 47, a registered sex offender, in the chest with a shotgun. Officials said she did not know him. At about midnight Oct. 25, she heard glass break in her basement and was grabbed by a man as she tried to flee out the front door. He punched her in the face, forced her into a bedroom and raped her, Swingle said. She reported the crime to police, and her landlord repaired the window. On Friday, she was home alone, watching TV about 2:15 a.m. when a man broke the same basement window and switched off the electricity to the house, Swingle said. She tried to call 911 but couldn't with the power off. So she got a shotgun and waited as the man began banging on a door from the basement. She fired when he came crashing through the door. After she fled to a neighbor's home to call police, officers found Preyer, badly wounded, stumbling away. He died at St. Francis Medical Center several hours later. Swingle said the victim identified Preyer from photos as her previous attacker. When he was shot, Preyer, of Jackson, Mo., had wet caulking on his clothing from the recently repaired basement window. Preyer had been convicted in New Madrid, Mo., in 1989 of rape and robbery and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was convicted in 2006 of failing to register as a sex offender, and earlier this year of misdemeanor assault. Said Swingle, "I will not be filing any sort of charge against this ... woman, who was clearly justified under the law in shooting this intruder in her home." __________________ *Cogito Ergo Vroom - I think therefore I ride*

11-01-2008, 11:53 AM	#2
Gas Man Trip's Assistant Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Imported from Detroit Moto: 2009 HD Street Classic Posts: 12,149	Go lady!! __________________ -Chris "Why pay somebody else to fuck up your bike?" Run Amsoil Product

11-01-2008, 12:28 PM	#3
MikeSP1 Perpetual trouble Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: at the base of the Alps Moto: VTX 1300C, RC51, CBR600RR, CBR929RR Posts: 715	Good on her, too bad she couldn't have shot him before he raped her the first time __________________ "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!"

11-01-2008, 02:10 PM	#5
jeeps84 No longer MIA Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Western NC (The Great Smoky Mountains) Moto: 1987 GSXR 50, 1996 Ducati M900, 07 GSXR 750, 07 Harley Davidson Night Train Posts: 984	Every body should know the laws in their areas. The use of deadly force is highly frowned on here. We have to retreat to the furthest point and escape if possible. How ever, if someone breaks through two doors or traps you. Then fire away. I would be in trouble if it happened to me. The fucker would be dead in my house. __________________ Lets ride!

11-01-2008, 05:29 PM	#8
Ducati Diva just learning Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: western nc Moto: 1996 M900 Posts: 1,348	Poor lady now she not only has to deal with the horror of being raped but the mixed feelings that go along with killing someone. Personaly laws be damned if anyone tries to come in my house I will shoot first and ask questions second, by the time the cops get there they'll be inside next to a room with no exit! __________________ Todays mighty oak is just yesterdays nut who stood it's ground!

11-01-2008, 12:40 PM	#4
FT BSTRD Tractor Driver Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Franklin, TN Moto: Buell XB12X Ulysses Posts: 1,007	My sister and brother-in-law live in Cape. Good on her. I believe every house should be required to own and keep a firearm for home defense. I'd bet he wouldn't have broken in the first time were that the case.

11-01-2008, 03:24 PM	#7
t-homo WSB Champion Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 7,146	Castle laws are great. The end of this story is great, but its a terrible story.

11-01-2008, 08:50 PM	#10
BobTheBiker too much time on my hands Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the northern district of god damn Moto: 01 ZX6R, looking for more now. Posts: 1,802	Score one for the good ole lady. I love the castle laws. we've got em here too, and I fully believe ALL states should have the same law to allow citizens to defend what's rightfully THEIRS. That sad bastard that got shot is one less taking up a cell and our tax dollars in an effort to "rehabilitate" or punish. hope he burns in the darkest pits of hell.