Colt 45
01-04-2010, 11:59 PM
Interest grows in gun ownership, self-defense (http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_14117247)
By Ashley Meeks/Sun-News reporter
Posted: 01/04/2010 12:00:00 AM MST
LAS CRUCES — Only one armed theft in 2009 required the use of deadly force in Las Cruces, but the number of people interested in learning those skills has been growing, according to Las Cruces weapons instructor Coralie Carrier.
The morning of Dec. 27, witnesses told police two men tried to break into an apartment at Telshor Manor Apartments at 1410 Telshor Blvd. A 26-year-old resident was apparently startled awake, grabbed a handgun, and opened fire at the intruders, according to police.
Steve Anthony Martinez, 27, a convicted burglar, was found dead of gunshot wounds outside the apartment.
Carrier, of SafeInLC.com, thinks the increase in interest is due to danger brought about by rising poverty, dwindling opportunities to earn a living, and a recognition that police can't be everywhere all the time.
New Mexico residents can legally respond with the level of threat that is being leveled against them, said District Attorney Susana Martinez.
"For example, someone comes into my home and I take out my gun and they start to attack me, I can use deadly force, but if someone is breaking into my car, can I shoot them? No, because you have to be confronted with deadly force," Martinez said. In the Dec. 27 case, the alleged victim "was at home, in bed and a man stood in the doorway of his bedroom with a knife held over his head and he had means of protecting himself and the other person in the room."
That's the difference between New Mexico law and Texas's "Castle Doctrine," which includes responding with lethal force to threats against property, she said.
"We certainly have the right — as human beings and as citizens of this state — to defend ourselves from deadly force," Martinez said.
That legal aspect of self-defense is bringing a growing number of students to Carrier, a firearms instructor for 27 years and the president of the Picacho Gun Club.
"We do run into a lot of people who think, "By golly, this is my home and I'll do anything,' to the other extreme, which is afraid to do anything," Carrier said. "Self-defense is legal, generally, I teach. Before you can truly defend yourself, you must be in fear of immediate, grave, bodily harm and whenever that criteria is met, you can use lethal force to defend yourself, a family member or a third party."
New Mexico's laws are fairer than most states to gun owners, Carrier said, and certainly more protective than states that require an obligation to retreat or announce your intention to use deadly force.
However, one can't legally shoot someone menacing them from outside their door or a robber whose arms are full of stolen stereo equipment, Carrier noted.
"In New Mexico, only human life is defensible with deadly force," Carrier said. "If you can retreat, that's the smartest thing to do. None of us want to get into a lethal or near-lethal confrontation ... Sometimes, just showing the gun is enough. We all teach that if a burglar or assailant turns to run, it's better to let him get away."
No charges are being sought against the burglary victim who fired the handgun Dec. 27.
Immediately after the shooting, Mario Lee Aguilera, 25, of the 2400 block of Moonriver Loop, and Jesus Manuel Vazquez, 27, of the 5800 block of Lassiter Road, were arrested when a Doña Ana sheriff's deputy pulled Aguilera over for expired tags. He and Vazquez, who also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, were found covered in blood. Aguilera was charged with aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon and conspiracy, while Vazquez was charged with having an open container of alcohol.
The three men had been partying when Martinez, a habitual offender on probation after a felony conviction for heroin possession, according to court records, asked for a ride to collect money — which allegedly led to him leading the way breaking into the apartment.
At the time of the shooting, Aguilera was on probation after being convicted of felony home burglary, larceny, tampering with evidence and possession of burglary tools in 2004. He was also convicted of felony embezzlement and aggravated assault, according to court records. Aguilera and Vazquez remained Wednesday at the Doña Ana County Detention Center, with bond set at $50,000 each.
Other armed thefts in 2009 in Las Cruces have ended with no arrests — and injuries for the victims.
On Jan. 13, 2009, an East Mesa man returned home to find three attackers, wearing ski masks, hiding in his bathroom — two of which rushed him, one of whom struck him in the forehead with a golf club as the three demanded money and subsequently fled on ATVs. No arrests were ever made in that incident.
Another Las Cruces man was airlifted to University Medical Center of El Paso after he was injured while trying to stop a burglar July 15 in the Sonoma Ranch neighborhood, according to a neighbor.
Police also continue to search for 28-year-old Rudy Portillo and an unknown accomplice, who allegedly robbed a man in his car at gunpoint on Dec. 3 in Anthony, N.M. Portillo's passenger allegedly pointed a 9 mm handgun at the victim, struck him on the side of the head and demanded money and for the man to get out of his car. The passenger allegedly struck the man five times in the head with the butt of the gun when he didn't immediately respond, then attempted to pull him from the vehicle, punched him six times in the face and kicked him twice in the stomach and once in the face. The two allegedly took the man's cell phone and $40 in cash.
Ashley Meeks can be reached at ameeks@lcsun-news.com; (575) 541-5462
Don't become a victim
• Park vehicles in a garage, driveway or well-lighted area
• Close windows and lock doors
• Remove valuables from automobiles or keep them out of sight
• Remove garage door openers from your vehicle
• Install and use audible alarm systems
• Keep doors and windows locked when away from home
• Use curtains, blinds or other window coverings to keep valuables — such as TVs, computers and other electronics — from being easily visible from outside
• Properly secure sheds and outbuildings
• Secure items that are sometimes left outdoors such as garden tools, lawnmowers and trailers
• Be a good neighbor and report suspicious activities in your neighborhood
Source: Las Cruces Police Department
By Ashley Meeks/Sun-News reporter
Posted: 01/04/2010 12:00:00 AM MST
LAS CRUCES — Only one armed theft in 2009 required the use of deadly force in Las Cruces, but the number of people interested in learning those skills has been growing, according to Las Cruces weapons instructor Coralie Carrier.
The morning of Dec. 27, witnesses told police two men tried to break into an apartment at Telshor Manor Apartments at 1410 Telshor Blvd. A 26-year-old resident was apparently startled awake, grabbed a handgun, and opened fire at the intruders, according to police.
Steve Anthony Martinez, 27, a convicted burglar, was found dead of gunshot wounds outside the apartment.
Carrier, of SafeInLC.com, thinks the increase in interest is due to danger brought about by rising poverty, dwindling opportunities to earn a living, and a recognition that police can't be everywhere all the time.
New Mexico residents can legally respond with the level of threat that is being leveled against them, said District Attorney Susana Martinez.
"For example, someone comes into my home and I take out my gun and they start to attack me, I can use deadly force, but if someone is breaking into my car, can I shoot them? No, because you have to be confronted with deadly force," Martinez said. In the Dec. 27 case, the alleged victim "was at home, in bed and a man stood in the doorway of his bedroom with a knife held over his head and he had means of protecting himself and the other person in the room."
That's the difference between New Mexico law and Texas's "Castle Doctrine," which includes responding with lethal force to threats against property, she said.
"We certainly have the right — as human beings and as citizens of this state — to defend ourselves from deadly force," Martinez said.
That legal aspect of self-defense is bringing a growing number of students to Carrier, a firearms instructor for 27 years and the president of the Picacho Gun Club.
"We do run into a lot of people who think, "By golly, this is my home and I'll do anything,' to the other extreme, which is afraid to do anything," Carrier said. "Self-defense is legal, generally, I teach. Before you can truly defend yourself, you must be in fear of immediate, grave, bodily harm and whenever that criteria is met, you can use lethal force to defend yourself, a family member or a third party."
New Mexico's laws are fairer than most states to gun owners, Carrier said, and certainly more protective than states that require an obligation to retreat or announce your intention to use deadly force.
However, one can't legally shoot someone menacing them from outside their door or a robber whose arms are full of stolen stereo equipment, Carrier noted.
"In New Mexico, only human life is defensible with deadly force," Carrier said. "If you can retreat, that's the smartest thing to do. None of us want to get into a lethal or near-lethal confrontation ... Sometimes, just showing the gun is enough. We all teach that if a burglar or assailant turns to run, it's better to let him get away."
No charges are being sought against the burglary victim who fired the handgun Dec. 27.
Immediately after the shooting, Mario Lee Aguilera, 25, of the 2400 block of Moonriver Loop, and Jesus Manuel Vazquez, 27, of the 5800 block of Lassiter Road, were arrested when a Doña Ana sheriff's deputy pulled Aguilera over for expired tags. He and Vazquez, who also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, were found covered in blood. Aguilera was charged with aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon and conspiracy, while Vazquez was charged with having an open container of alcohol.
The three men had been partying when Martinez, a habitual offender on probation after a felony conviction for heroin possession, according to court records, asked for a ride to collect money — which allegedly led to him leading the way breaking into the apartment.
At the time of the shooting, Aguilera was on probation after being convicted of felony home burglary, larceny, tampering with evidence and possession of burglary tools in 2004. He was also convicted of felony embezzlement and aggravated assault, according to court records. Aguilera and Vazquez remained Wednesday at the Doña Ana County Detention Center, with bond set at $50,000 each.
Other armed thefts in 2009 in Las Cruces have ended with no arrests — and injuries for the victims.
On Jan. 13, 2009, an East Mesa man returned home to find three attackers, wearing ski masks, hiding in his bathroom — two of which rushed him, one of whom struck him in the forehead with a golf club as the three demanded money and subsequently fled on ATVs. No arrests were ever made in that incident.
Another Las Cruces man was airlifted to University Medical Center of El Paso after he was injured while trying to stop a burglar July 15 in the Sonoma Ranch neighborhood, according to a neighbor.
Police also continue to search for 28-year-old Rudy Portillo and an unknown accomplice, who allegedly robbed a man in his car at gunpoint on Dec. 3 in Anthony, N.M. Portillo's passenger allegedly pointed a 9 mm handgun at the victim, struck him on the side of the head and demanded money and for the man to get out of his car. The passenger allegedly struck the man five times in the head with the butt of the gun when he didn't immediately respond, then attempted to pull him from the vehicle, punched him six times in the face and kicked him twice in the stomach and once in the face. The two allegedly took the man's cell phone and $40 in cash.
Ashley Meeks can be reached at ameeks@lcsun-news.com; (575) 541-5462
Don't become a victim
• Park vehicles in a garage, driveway or well-lighted area
• Close windows and lock doors
• Remove valuables from automobiles or keep them out of sight
• Remove garage door openers from your vehicle
• Install and use audible alarm systems
• Keep doors and windows locked when away from home
• Use curtains, blinds or other window coverings to keep valuables — such as TVs, computers and other electronics — from being easily visible from outside
• Properly secure sheds and outbuildings
• Secure items that are sometimes left outdoors such as garden tools, lawnmowers and trailers
• Be a good neighbor and report suspicious activities in your neighborhood
Source: Las Cruces Police Department