Most people do not know it is illegal for a law abiding citizen in New York State to defend themselves against a Gang Assault. You will go to jail and be prosecuted if you defend yourself against a Gang Assault. New York State Law does not have a clause for Self Defense against a Gang Assault. This makes absolutely no sense. This Law needs to be amended. We must be able to protect ourselves and our families from these violent criminal acts!

Please read the story below to gain context as to why this is so important:

On August 21st, 2020, Tammuz Darbasie was the victim of a planned gang assault and robbery. (The conspirers admitted to the police - on video - that they hung out in front of Tammuz’s home, waiting for him to eventually come outside so that they could attack him.) Unfortunately, unaware of this, Tammuz and his brother-in-law were heading to the store and the attackers spotted them. 

The following summarizes what is depicted on video surveillance:

After getting jumped in front of his Great Aunt, Tammuz gets up and starts running away into the street with oncoming traffic. He slows down and stops when he sees his brother-in-law pinned to the hood of a white car, getting severely beaten by some of the attackers. He turns around to see some of the other assailants catch up to him. Tammuz pulls out a knife and swings it to scare  them away and starts backing away. Still pursuing Tammuz, one of the muggers rush towards Tammuz trying to yank his Fannie pack (bag) away and punches him. It is at that moment this attacker lunges into the knife and receives a single stab wound. This stab wound did not stop the attacker from continuing to aggressively rip the bag away from Tammuz, who is now on the ground from the punch he received from the attacker, with others around him. This mugger walks away with one of his co-conspirers to rummage through the bag, taking whatever they wanted. The one co-conspirator then runs across the street with Tammuz’s bag. The wounded attacker walks to the corner of the sidewalk to sit and wait for help from the police and ambulance. This is all caught on video surveillance - which the family is now in possession of.

Tammuz has been on Riker’s Island for over two years with a bail set at $500K cash or $750K bond, and is facing 25 years in prison for manslaughter, even though he was defending himself from what was a planned gang assault and robbery. The Law does not protect tax paying citizens such as him in situations like this. 

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION to have New York State House Representatives and State Senators amend NY PENAL LAW 35.15 (2)(b) to include ‘Gang Assault’ as a ‘Justification for Self Defense’, and to drop all criminal charges against Tammuz Darbasie. Laws like this effect us all. We need to have a right to protect ourselves.

PLEASE SHARE THIS PETITION WITH YOUR LOVED ONES - IT AFFECTS US ALL

Side Note: NY Penal Law 120.06 and 120.07 establishes GANG ASSAULT simply when 3 or more people assault a person or a third person.