scenario --you called 911 on 3 occasions and no police showed up. you reported prowlers at night destroying your property with axes(trees). you also noticed your tires were slashed on your vehicles. would it be legal to shoot these lowlifes? or would you let them continue to destroy what you have worked hard for? serious answers only please
2006-08-22 13:58:44 · 12 answers · asked by james_a_willis 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
No, unfortunately, it's not legal... what you CAN do is try to get them to come into the house, once they're well inside your home, fire at will. You will need to make sure you have a bright flashlight in your hand when you call the cops (when they take a statement, tell them it was very dark and you shined the light on them and they continued to come at you) after you've called take one of the guys shoes off, put it on, and kick your front door in, put the shoe back on the guy (after you've made sure to not leave any noticable fiber or skin evidence behind) and there ya go!
Chances are pretty good that the investigation will end there.
2006-08-22 14:06:25 · answer #1 · answered by cynthetiq 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You have the right to bear arms and protect yourself. If these people are coming on your property destroying it, you have the right to take defensive actions. You also need to make sure you create a paper trail that you have been reporting these people. Go down to the police agency and file a report and a compliant against 911 for not responding to your calls and complaints. Get you a gun, load it, and protect yourself next time you caught a trespasser.
2006-08-23 10:47:19 · answer #2 · answered by Fairy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they were in my house and trying to rape me, then I would kill him, but you can't shoot someone for cutting your trees. Go down to the police station, with pictures you took of these people (Take some pictures of them while they are doing it), and show them to the cops. That will be a better solution than shooting them.
2006-08-22 14:05:09 · answer #3 · answered by Pirate_Wench 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This depends purely on the state, since state laws vary so much with respect to weapons and home protection.
In Texas, you probably could get away with it. Even though they pose no actual threat, texas law talks alot about personal property protection. Plus you are allowed to discharge firearms on your own property. In Washington DC or Philly or NYC, there's no way you'd get away with it.
2006-08-22 14:04:32 · answer #4 · answered by Charles D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to be in fear of losing your life in order to use "deadly
Force".You can't shoot someone over tires or personal property.
Talk to city call about the cops not showing up.
Or go to the local news paper and see if they will run your story,perhaps in the opinion section.
2006-08-22 14:05:00 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Until these vandals threaten your life, then the police will put other life threatening emergencies before yours.
Until these vandals threaten your life, you can not attempt to take theirs'. That's premeditated murder.
Get pictures of these people doing this and let the police and your insurance company go after them.
2006-08-22 14:06:50 · answer #6 · answered by Jerry L 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can only shoot the person when your life is in danger at that moment. Even he break in to your house, you are not allow to shoot him. You have right to shoot the man if he is charging you and you have no where to go. Welcome to an America in 21st Century. It's not like used to be. Criminals have more rights than good citizens.
2006-08-22 14:10:13 · answer #7 · answered by novak-9 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Generally destruction of property is not a defense to murder (intentional killing of another).
Some states allow it to be a partial defense, like heat of passion, which reduces the charge from murder to voluntary manslaughter.
2006-08-22 14:14:31 · answer #8 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think there is any case here for selfdefense because your lide is not threathened in those situation so homicide should not be justifiable
2006-08-22 14:05:42 · answer #9 · answered by Kissoflove 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You already know the answer to this.. vandalism is no justification for homicide.
2006-08-22 14:02:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋