An unidentified individual comes to the front door… and its nighttime but all I see is something black in their hands as they approach. Do I have the right to take them down—that is seriously injuring them without warning?
2007-02-14 12:06:47 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
I would say No. Was it your only option? Did you feel that your life or someone else's life was in danger? Was there a back door to you house you could exit and call the police? These are all questions you will be asked? You do not have the right to injure someone because they are on your front porch.
They might be asking you for help and now you just seriously injured them.
2007-02-14 12:13:48 · answer #1 · answered by W50 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately you are the victim. If you do nothing you die, if you do something you go to jail. The criminals are the ONLY ones with any rights in the United States.
I am serious, there are places in America where you are supposed to leave your home to the criminal. Escape through the back door. If you have a cell phone call 911 and after the cops are done with their donuts they MAY come by to see how you are. They don't want to get there while the burglar is still there, some cop might get his A$$ kicked.
A number of years ago in San Francisco a man lost his house because he chased a burglar from his home at 2:30 AM. The burglar got tangled up in a hose in the front yard and was injured. He sued and was awarded everything the guy had. I guess the home owner only had a Million Dollar liability policy and the jury awarded over $3Million.
And people in government wonder why I don't trust them. This may be the best place in the world to live but it still sucks.
2007-02-14 12:36:28 · answer #2 · answered by gimpalomg 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is something I have never seen over here. The front door was for guests, and they would be led into the lounge, a room usually used by the parents in the evenings. Kids forbidden. Our access was to walk around to the back of the house and enter there, into the kitchen. As a rule the front door only could be opened with a key from the outside, and a turn button on the inside, so it was always locked. The back door was always unlocked and as far as I can recall, not even locked overnight. The origins behind the turn 21 and get the key of the door is vague, but the context was that once you turned 21 you received the key to the front door, and could come and go as you pleased, a sign of adulthood. That was the concept I lived with in the numerous houses I lived in as I grew up.
2016-05-23 23:58:11 · answer #3 · answered by Delilah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The entire criminal justice system is built around the "reasonable person" concept.
While you have the right to defend yourself against serious bodily harm or death, in your example you assaulted someone with enough force to cause "serious injury." You could be arrested, charged and tried under several criminal violations.
So, at your trial and after the facts of the case are presented, the jury will ask themselves..."Was it *reasonable* under the circumstances for that guy to assault the person at the door?"
If the jury believes that there were *other* actions that you could have taken to avoid the physical confrontation, they will determine that it was *not* reasonable to assault the guy, and you would probably be found guilty of the charges.
On the other hand, if the jury believes that by virtue of the circumstances at the time that it was reasonable that the *only* action you could have taken to prevent serious bodily harm or death to you or others was to assault the guy, they will probably let you off.
2007-02-14 12:29:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would have the front door locked anyway and get the heck out the back door if he/she tried to get in. In answer to your question though, I believe they have to actually try and enter your abode before you can defend yourself. A person at your front door with an object in their hand has not done anything wrong - yet. I'd side with caution though and call 911 if I wasn't sure. 'Course I'm a girl so I'm not big on kicking butt. Do you have skills in martial arts? Even so, that wouldn't stop a bullet.... Be careful, dude!
2007-02-14 12:12:25 · answer #5 · answered by pookiemct07 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Crying out loud, don't open your door. If you are truly concerned, buy an intercom with monitor to communicate with people at your front door. Not that expensive and work amazingly well.
2007-02-14 13:37:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, if they are outside your residence, you do not have the right to intiate a physical alteration. If they are inside your house, you may defend yourself by any means necessary, including lethal force. If they are rumaging through your things, or looking at your car, you may not attack them, your only option is to call the police. If you attack them while they are outside of your residence, you will probably be charged with assualt and battery, or worse...oh ya...DER!
2007-02-14 12:24:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, they could be delivering a hoagie to the wrong house. You would be wise to wait until they kick in your door.
2007-02-14 12:10:06 · answer #8 · answered by Yo it's Me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no you could be charged with assault in many states ask the person what they want and then tell them you are calling the cops
2007-02-14 12:10:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, there are two answers to that:
No
and
Hell No!
2007-02-14 12:09:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋