You got my vote guan and T10,
wonder how the "passive" people out there would react if they were in the position where their wife or daughter were being raped and they were forced to watch at knife or gun point. Bet that old man or anyone like him would be handy to have around then or would that still be too "disturbing"

But thats a completely different scenario, it was not the situation was it?
My isuue is not "defend or not defend", dont' twist my words to make it seem as such. One can be in agreement with the actions of the gentleman to defend himself(as I CLEARLY stated).Just
use a little self control before you hit the "post" button and leave out remarks like,
"From now on you aint seen Costa Rica till you've killed a local" from Guanacaste. Uneccesary. Thats the issue to me.

Can we all just get along here? havinfun, your not the only one!

Never would I want a bystander to get hurt either. But, when a crime happens to you, your no longer the same. A "simple robbery" can put you in such a mental state, you may never get over it. What a way to end your vacation. May none of you ever have an experience, And God Bless You All.

PS I re-read this before I hit the post button-

The very need for some people to make up hypothetical details not pertaining to this case speaks volumes.

Even cops who have shot people in the line of duty are traumatized by the incident. The one and only person I know who killed someone in the line of duty resigned.

Yes, I know in the movies it looks easy and we can all go out and have martinis wearing fabulous outfits after killing some "bad guys," but that's not reality. I think that's called Charlie's Angels.

I understand the impulse to cheer these seniors who were possibly targetted as an easy mark, but even for an elderly retired navy seal, I find it hard to believe that he "enjoyed" this vacation. If he did, I find his attitude as appalling as the robber he killed.

"From now on you aint seen Costa Rica till you've killed a local"

Tour the port city of Limon, stop take a photo, kill a crackhead, fun for all ages!

T10 - agree with your sentiments entirely and thought it was a great way to close off this post. Thank you.

Guancaste - Clearly you have strong views, but I have to agree with others that sometimes restraint goes a long way and recognize that to some you tarnish your credibility and therefore the gifts that otherwise you make on this forum.

This reminds of a saying I once heard that sums up IMHO the incident and the last comment..."Remove restraint and what will become of virtue?". Words I will remember as I walk in this beautiful country next month.

Safe travels.

Just for general information, the law of an "eye for an eye" did not originate in the Hebrew Bible. It was a part of the Code of Hammurabi, which preceded the bible by several centuries.

http://tinyurl.com/58j4

In fact, the inclusion in the bible was to limit the punishment to this offence. In the Code of Hammurabi, it was used for lesser crimes.

"Liberty is to be free from restraint and violence from others”

John Locke

Perhaps this incident might change the attitudes of some of the "younger set" who are horrified at the thought of choosing a cruise with "old people" on board. One of those "old people" might just save your life. Some of us are actually pretty decent conversationalists, with a sense of humor and lots of travel experiences you just might enjoy hearing about.