My cousin said that it is legal to kill someone if they are on your property, is that true?
2007-11-19 16:23:12 · 10 answers · asked by danny 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
You've already gotten some good information. Just being on your property isn't enough. (I'm unaware of what Texas law states.) If you're afraid for your life, you're justified in using lethal force. However, there's a great big "But" here- you'll have to convince a jury that the circumstances were, in fact, sufficient to lead a normal person to the same conclusion. Clearly, an intruder that shoots at you and you return fire is one thing. Carl Rowan shot a trespasser in DC with an unregistered gun that his FBI agent son gave him. The trespasser was skinny-dipping in his pool. At the moment Rowan shot the kid, I'm not sure I'd agree he felt his life was in danger- the kid was naked (no weapon) and in the pool (not able to "attack") and the circumstances justified his shooting. The kicker here is that Rowan was a well-known anti-gunner. But that's DC politics, not real life.
Your cousin may see things a bit too much black-and-white. Ask him if it's legal to shoot the mailman, merely because he walks up to your mailbox. There's more going on, isn't there? You need better info than I can give you. Try talking to your local police. Try that citation above. Heck, give your local legal referral service a call- might be you can get a half-hour with an attorney for a very good price.
2007-11-19 16:45:48 · answer #1 · answered by going_for_baroque 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Under very strict circumstances one may defend oneself with lethal force. Basically the three conditions of ability, opportunity, and jeopardy that must be present in order to have a valid self-defense argument.
Don't guess though. Go take the first course of the series on self defense at the Lethal Force Institute.
http://www.ayoob.com
2007-11-19 16:28:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Not quite. A person can be on another's property without doing anything illegal then it would be totally illegal to kill that person. The perpetrator would be going up for murder. However, if someone broke into your house and tried to murder you or any member of your family then you could shoot him and if he died you would be exonerated.
2007-11-19 17:46:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Killing someone in self defense is legal only if it's the only way to prevent immediate death or injury to yourself or someone else.
Just because they're on your property doesn't hack it.
Richard
2007-11-19 16:27:05 · answer #4 · answered by rickinnocal 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Only in Texas
2007-11-19 16:25:51 · answer #5 · answered by October 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only if they pose an immediate threat to your life
2007-11-19 16:25:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Nope.
2007-11-19 16:26:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thank god in Texas you can. If you feel your life is in danger then YES YOU CAN if its on your property. WOOOOOHOOOO FOR TEXAS!!!!!!!!
2007-11-19 16:31:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, murder is always illegal.
2007-11-19 16:25:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
...i wish
2007-11-19 16:25:15 · answer #10 · answered by f0876and1_2 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋