I don't really see dog shit or piss as a life and death matter.
However, I also will not defend the younger man's decision to punch the 69 year old man in the face, especially after he was shown the handgun. That was EXTREMELY foolish. I've had firearms pointed at me several times in my lifetime and I survived probably because I decided to be very polite.
A 69 year old man is normally at a disadvantage in a fight with a 23 year old man (assuming both are in average physical shape for their age). The law will favor the older man and quite possibly the jury would have felt the incident was clearly self defense had the older man not escalated the situation by showing his .45 caliber handgun to the younger man prior to being hit.
The Florida government offers some guidelines to the legitimate use of firearms in its state. Other states may differ somewhat but are probably basically similar.
Q. When can I use my handgun to protect myself?
A. Florida law justifies use of deadly force when you are:
* Trying to protect yourself or another person from death or serious bodily harm;
* Trying to prevent a forcible felony, such as rape, robbery, burglary or kidnapping.
Using or displaying a handgun in any other circumstances could result in your conviction for crimes such as improper exhibition of a firearm, manslaughter, or worse.
Example of the kind of attack that will not justify defending yourself with deadly force: Two neighbors got into a fight, and one of them tried to hit the other by swinging a garden hose. The neighbor who was being attacked with the hose shot the other in the chest. The court upheld his conviction for aggravated battery with a firearm, because an attack with a garden hose is not the kind of violent assault that justifies responding with deadly force.
***snip***
Q. What if I point my handgun at someone but don't use it?
A. Never display a handgun to gain "leverage" in an argument. Threatening someone verbally while possessing a handgun, even licensed, will land you in jail for three years. Even if the gun is broken or you don't have bullets, you will receive the mandatory three-year sentence if convicted. The law does not allow any possibility of getting out of jail early.
Example: In a 1987 case, a woman refused to pay an automobile mechanic who she thought did a poor job repairing her car. They argued about it, and the mechanic removed the radiator hose from the car so she couldn't drive it away. She reached into her purse, pulled out an unloaded gun, and threatened to kill the mechanic if he touched her car again. The mechanic grabbed the gun and called the police.
The woman was convicted of aggravated assault with a firearm and sentenced to serve a mandatory three-year prison term. The fact that the gun was not loaded was irrelevant. Even though she was the mother of three dependent children and had no prior criminal record, the statute does not allow for parole. Her only recourse was to seek clemency from the Governor.
Q. What if someone uses threatening language to me so that I am afraid for my life or safety?
A. Verbal threats are not enough to justify the use of deadly force. There must be an overt act by the person which indicates that he immediately intends to carry out the threat. The person threatened must reasonably believe that he will be killed or suffer serious bodily harm if he does not immediately take the life of his adversary.
http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/weapons/self_defense.html Florida also has laws dealing with attacks on the elderly.
825.102
Abuse, aggravated abuse, and neglect of an elderly person or disabled adult; penalties.
—
(1)
“Abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult” means:
(a)
Intentional infliction of physical or psychological injury upon an elderly person or disabled adult;
(b)
An intentional act that could reasonably be expected to result in physical or psychological injury to an elderly person or disabled adult; or
(c)
Active encouragement of any person to commit an act that results or could reasonably be expected to result in physical or psychological injury to an elderly person or disabled adult.
A person who knowingly or willfully abuses an elderly person or disabled adult without causing great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to the elderly person or disabled adult commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(2)
“Aggravated abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult” occurs when a person:
(a)
Commits aggravated battery on an elderly person or disabled adult;
(b)
Willfully tortures, maliciously punishes, or willfully and unlawfully cages, an elderly person or disabled adult; or
(c)
Knowingly or willfully abuses an elderly person or disabled adult and in so doing causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to the elderly person or disabled adult.
http://www.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0800-0899/0825/Sections/0825.102.html The moral of the story is:
Never start a fight with an old man, he may just kill you."