For those who haven't noticed, this kind of thing seems to be spreading southwards, towards the main section of Mountain View. Fun times ahead.

crimes are definitely increasing. I think Mercy ave neighborhood is usually dark and but very nice and quiet, if I am not mistaken. Not sure if this is done by the people from the neighrborhoods in and around that area or someone must have planned this after doing some initial prep work. Anyways, it is shocking that too many people carry guns and knives. This area is fast becoming like another NY city with all these muggings going around here.

A coupla' comments here, if you don't mind? Are these type of stories the only subjects the VOICE can highlight in their daily dispatch via e-mail - two-bit punks armed with weapons who accost "unsuspecting victims?" And, much more heroic is the fact that these "low-lifes" can't do these deeds alone - they have to gather their tough-in-numbers-pals together to commit the "act."
I wonder if they giggle all the way home? And, they obviously have no contents of note in their shorts. Pathetic!

I have to wonder...

If the guy held up had instead been, say, an off-duty or plain-clothes police officer, reached for a concealed carry gun instead of his wallet, and popped the guy one, this would be an entirely different story. But how many would cheer, and how many would jeer?

The Eye, if the tables were turned and that was a plain-clothes, off duty, or citizen with CCW who shot 1, 2 or all of those robbers, I'd be cheering.

If I was carrying and then approached by those 3 with a knife, they've made the decision to become a threat to me. I would have no hesitation with putting 2 rounds center mass, 1 to the head to neutralize that threat.

The crime is out of control this year, Bay Area wide, not just in Mountain View...

Andy,

I agree with you, I would put slugs in the punks as well. If no one saw me do it I would vanish.

Would you claim victory? Then have to fear reprisals, go to court, etc?

Bernie, your last name isn't Goetz, is it?
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Andy, enjoy your time in the big Q. Without parole, I hope. It's whackos like you that are scary, not pathetic street punks. Or maybe you and Bernie could just plug each other and save us taxpayers the room and board.

Bernie, if this was in self-defense, I'm sticking around to deal with the red tape. I don't like the idea of using criminal actions to deal with criminal actions.

Jason, I'm not going to be one to sit there and be pushed around by some lowlife criminal scum. Why should you just sit back and comply with these punks? I'm in the process of taking defensive firearms courses, and by the time I finish up various courses with various instructors nationwide, you can bet that any would-be robber with harmful intensions towards me or my family WILL have something to deal with. If you think I'm crazy for protecting what's mine, so be it.

I love how stuff like this brings out the internet tough-guys. Particularly the gun nuts.

If you were in this situation and carrying a firearm as a law-abiding citizen, then all you would do is give the guy with the knife an upgrade. He has a knife to your neck and your gun isn't even drawn, let alone loaded. Even at ten feet away all you'd be doing is putting another gun into the hands of someone with criminal intent.

You're not a ninja and you're not a cowboy. Just hand over the ipod, call the police, and don't get any of the rest of us shot.

Once again the liberals express their true nature by lashing out and demonizing people because they fear that which they don't understand, guns (as well as crime/criminals). For one guns are an inanimate object; a tool like any other, and capable of being used for both positive and negative uses. Should we also demonize people for driving cars, using hammers, or knives (how would we cut our steak, vegetables/fruit, cheese, etc)? All of which have been used to intentionally cause harm. On the subject of guns, only somebody who is an amateur and NOT properly trained would carry around an unloaded weapon. On the subject of crime, there is a greater ratio of victims being casualties because they complied and did NOT fight back, because they made things easy for their attacker. The criminal element is becoming increasingly vicious; most who commit violent crimes have been to prison before. They don't want to go back, hence, they leave no witness(es). Keep that in mind the next time someone "just" wants your wallet/purse, they may decide they want more.

"Once again the liberals..." That's where I stopped reading.

You want my briefcase? Here, take it!

"On the subject of guns, only somebody who is an amateur and NOT properly trained would carry around an unloaded weapon."

Carrying a loaded firearm in public is against the law in California. Any law-abiding citizen carrying a firearm in public is, by definition, carrying an unloaded weapon.

I live down the street from where this incident occurred and I can't imagine that this crime was committed by someone from this neighborhood. This is normally a very peaceful, family oriented area with lots of kids running around in the streets, having fun. This crime was just shocking! We know all of our neighbors and it is crazy that we would have such a brazen crime on our street. I think we should really take a look at this crime wave and see what we as neighborhood can do to nip it in the bud.