I mean would the law say its okay..or would they put you in jail for killing a "poor misguided product of his environment?"
2007-07-27 10:50:23 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
That depends on where you live. In Oklahoma, where I am, if they are in your house illegally, you have the right to use any means at your disposal to defend yourself, your family, and your home. Up to and including blowing them a new orifice with a shotgun. I prefer a handgun, but a shotgun is less likely to go through the walls and kill the neighbors (which makes you unpopular at neighborhood watch meetings).
2007-07-27 10:56:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Depends whether you're using pellets or slugs in your shotgun. Pellets can spray a pretty wide area, so you might have to worry about hitting loved ones as well by mistake. Other than that, as long as the intruders are inside your house, it should be legal to shoot them. But regardless of the laws in your state (whether it operates under the "castle doctrine" or the "duty to retreat" principle instead), it's probably a good idea to try to get out of the house if you have an avenue of escape available, and see if they're actually armed before shooting them. You'll have a much easier time in court (and you WILL find yourself in court, make no mistake about it) because that shows you at least tried to avoid using deadly force except as a last resort.
2007-07-27 22:27:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Laws vary about what circumstances justify deadly force. The general rule is if you believe you are in eminent danger of death or severe bodily injury, you can use whatever force is necessary to defend yourself and others. I prefer the "Better to be judges by 12 than carried by 6" rule. That is 12 jurors or 6 pallbearers.
2007-07-27 18:18:46 · answer #3 · answered by STEVEN F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not in the UK it isn't, but I presume you're in the US.
The danger (apart from the risk of being shot with your own gun - a common occurrence) is that the person breaking in may be harmless and unarmed; what happens when the person you shoot in the dark turns out to be a 12 year old girl?
Come to think of it there are an awful lot of creepy rednecks out there who would pull the trigger anyway. I guess that's America for you; shoot 'em first and let God sort them out later.
Up in Canada, although lots of people have guns they aren't so trigger happy. they get break-ins and burglaries but the thieves take what they want and leave; they are seldom after anything more than cash or your TV so why be so keen to shoot? Sure they're not nice people, but I wouldn't kill a human being for the sake of a couple of hundred dollars.
2007-07-27 18:05:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
you have the right to bear arms, no?
I think your question is so important in light of a home invasion in Connecticut where an entire family was killed, except for the father...as citizens, i feel that if you have a legal hand gun or firearm in your home, the law should protect you if you should have to use this to protect yourself....
somehow? The folks who do the initial crime will be the ones who win, no?
2007-07-27 18:01:42 · answer #5 · answered by jennifer p 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on where you live. In Texas, the law says you can only use leathal force if a reasonable person would not have retreated. Can you believe it... in Texas? You think we're the first state that would say go ahead and blast an intruder.
2007-07-27 17:55:27 · answer #6 · answered by Michael C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called defense of yourself and of others, and of your property, and it's legal.
If it's not totally obvious, though, you might have to prove it in a court of law, so a night in jail might happen if the DA decided to prosecute you for it.
2007-07-27 17:55:17 · answer #7 · answered by Hillary 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the state, some state its ok to shoot in your house not outside the house, some states it ok for both in and out and some states don't you dare, jail is no fun.
2007-07-28 12:17:29 · answer #8 · answered by donald j 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If someone breaks into YOUR home, you have every right to protect yourself and your family. It is the LAW!!!! But make sure that your firearm is licensed.
2007-07-27 17:59:40 · answer #9 · answered by Tonya W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just make sure they die inside your house because if you shoot them and they die outside like crawl out or anything like that you have to go through a ton of stuff to try to show the robbers intent and your intent
2007-07-27 18:00:06 · answer #10 · answered by northwestbballkiller 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋