Imagine the unbearable situation where your child is ambushed and forced to defend themselves in order to survive. This is the harrowing ordeal my two sons faced when they were caught in an unexpected attack while simply entering a store. Courageously, they defended themselves, a reaction that undoubtedly saved their lives. However, this self-defense has led to my son being charged with 2nd-degree attempted murder by the St. Paul Police Department—simply because he has a criminal record. This charge feels overwhelmingly unjust, primarily because if my sons did not have a criminal record and held a concealed carry permit, this would clearly be recognized as a legitimate act of self-defense. Our legal system should protect individuals who are forced to defend their lives in life-threatening situations, not penalize them based on past mistakes. It is excruciating as a parent to see the system—not originally built for us— moving to condemn my son when all they did was protect themselves from unprovoked aggression. In a just society, defensive actions in the face of clear danger should not lead to such severe charges, particularly when the alternative was the potential loss of life. We are living in a world where people are being held accountable for the basic human instinct to survive. Where is the justice when someone is charged and convicted simply for refusing to be a victim? How did we reach a point where it's permissible for someone's life to be targeted, yet they face severe legal consequences for defending themselves? This is not justice; this is a grievous miscarriage of justice and should concern all of us who value fairness and the right to self-defense. I urge everyone who believes in the right to protect oneself, and who sees the injustice in this situation, to lend their voice to our cause. Sign this petition to demand the St. Paul Police Department to drop the unwarranted charges against my son. Let us stand together to ensure that protecting oneself is never criminalized. Help us compel a reevaluation of this case towards genuine justice and the right to self-defense.