Don't know how I should feel about this story if the facts ring true.

[The Backlash Cometh]

Man beat victim with bat, cops say

A 24-year-old man was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly struck another man in the head with a baseball bat following an argument about ethnicity, authorities said.

snip

Gonzalez's girlfriend told deputies that as the couple was leaving, Moore ran at them with a baseball bat, swung and struck them.

snip

Moore ran away with the bat but Gonzalez followed. He struggled with Moore and wrestled the bat from his hands.

Gonzalez bashed Moore in the head and face over and over again, witnesses told deputies. He yelled, "This is what happens when you with a Puerto Rican," the report said.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-attempted-murder-gators-baseball-bat-20111012,0,1755323.story

[tularetom]

1. "He didn't like Puerto Ricans"

Well shit, I don't think I like that particular Puerto Rican very much at all.

Although Mr Moore probably got what he deserved for expletiving with him in the first place.

[Brickbat]

2. You really don't know how to feel about this if the facts ring true? Really?

Huh.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Part of me wants to say it's a clear case of assault.

The other part of me sees the complication because this began as a hate crime since the 38 year old man not only told the 24 yr. old that he didn't like Puerto Ricans, but he went after him with a bat in the parking lot, first. So, it was a hate crime with a twist because the victim fought back.

[Brickbat]

8. What started it was the perp accusing this guy of drinking his beer.

[The Backlash Cometh]

17. Too minor to be taken seriously.

The response to that alleged accusation crossed the line of a hate crime. All the guy had to do was say, "no, it's my beer."

[TheWraith]

3. I can sympathize, but he went way over the line of acceptable.

Yes, to a certain extent he was provoked. And yes, if the girlfriend is being accurate, he did initially act in self defense, since the other guy had the bat first. But it sounds like he went far beyond the realm of acceptable self defense, as well as not doing the right thing and calling the police once the assailant was down.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Yes. then there's that.

Surely this will be factored in.

[TheWraith]

12. I hope so. It doesn't seem like attempted murder is an appropriate charge.

It doesn't seem that he had any real intent to kill the guy. Assault with a deadly weapon, maybe. But then DAs are famous for not being appropriate.

[arcane1]

6. Your user name explains how I feel about it

Anyone who starts hitting me and my girlfriend with a baseball bat, has every reason to expect us to attempt to stop him by any means necessary to protect our own lives.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. We're about to see if justice will be applied evenly.

[Quantess]

9. What are you getting at?

That offensive words might be an excuse to assault someone with a baseball bat?

[BOG PERSON]

11. no,

that assaulting somebody with a baseball bat who tried to assault you with a baseball bat first is self-defense.

[BOG PERSON]

10. the guy who started this "argument about ethnicity" had it coming

[BOG PERSON]

13. "this is what happens when you with a puerto rican"

when you WHAT with a puerto rican? i don't understand. the reporter seems to have left out a word.

[Ikonoklast]

14. Wood or aluminum?

I'm a traditionalist when it comes to hate crime violence.

[The Backlash Cometh]

19. I think it's inappropriate if I laugh, but I really want to.

[valerief]

15. The witnesses will work it out with the police. You don't have to feel anything. You weren't there.

[AnOhioan]

16. Sounds like both men involved have some issues

That being said...Mr. Gonzalez repeatedly hit Mr. Moore in the head with the bat. The self defense argument falls a bit short when the victim becomes the aggressor. Once Mr. Mmore was down, Mr. Gonzalez should have just walked away and called the police. Unfortunately, for both men involved, his ego and probable drunkenness took over.

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. No question that there will be some lesson in there for him, but,

I'm having trouble with the fact that a 38 year old man went after him with a bat.

[slackmaster]

18. Perhaps a bit premature, but it sounds to me like Mr. Gonzalez might be an asshole

I wouldn't want to jump to any conclusions.