My friend told me that a police officer told him that you could. I find that very hard to believe.
2007-12-05 14:51:19 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
There will always be a possibility, and that question can not be definitively answered without a lot more information.
The right to kill someone to protect property is not always automatic, you need to articulate the reasons you felt it necessary.
There are several factors to consider, including the threat to your safety, the actions of the person who broke in, along many other things.
The bottom line, it will be treated as a homicide by the police, and you will need to convince them it was justified.
2007-12-05 14:55:16 · answer #1 · answered by trooper3316 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You need to type in "castle defense" into your search engine. The Wikipedia has a pretty good article explaining this law.
How liable you are for shooting an intruder depends very much on where you live. Some states impose a "duty to retreat" when someone breaks in. You are supposed to do every thing you can to avoid a confrontation. Shooting an intruder under those circumstances means you now have to convince authorities, criminal and civil, that you simply had no choice but to shoot.
Those states with castle doctrines style laws allow you to treat the intruder as a deadly threat to you and your family. The fact that the intruder was in your home is all the defense you need against criminal and civil charges.
2007-12-05 16:59:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Each state has different laws. Some states have "castle law" doctrine, meaning that you can shoot an intruder in your own home without further restriction. Others have more requirements, like you must first attempt to escape, and only shoot if you can't get out. It all depends on the state and the details of the incident.
2007-12-05 17:19:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can, it depends on the state you live in, some state allow you to shoot the intruder, and some states have exceptions, like for example, a man breaks into your home, he didn't have any weapon with him, and you shoot him, you could very likely be held liable for his death.
2007-12-05 14:55:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
This issue is not if they are breaking into your house. The issue is whether or not a reasonable person would be in fear of their life.
Shooting a person breaking into your house is pretty stupid. If you shoot them, you are going to have tons and tons of trouble. Most cops are furious if anyone besides them uses a gun. It's an exclusive club for them, and they want to see you punished. Cops see themselves as the only arbiters of life and death. You didn't go to the police academy. You should be a good little sheep and let your throat get ripped out by the wolf while waiting for 911. How dare you commit a blatant act of self defense!
If someone is breaking into your house, fire your gun into a safe direction once. 99% of all people will leave post haste.
If however, they are close enough to threaten your life, or appear armed, blast away.
2007-12-05 16:00:06 · answer #5 · answered by Jack Flanders 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
In Texas you can shoot anyone you want to if they are committing a crime, it's incredible, but true. I can't speak for the rest of the country, but a 61 year old guy in Texas called 911 and told them he was taking his shot gut out side to cap two guys who were ripping him off. He told them he "wasn't going to let them get away with it", and as the 911 operator told him not to do it, to stay in his house, you hear the gun shots, and then the guy comes back on the phone and tells the operator he just killed them both. The end result was the guy walked away scott free and the to burglars took the dirt nap.
2007-12-06 05:38:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
depends friend a mine caught somebody trying to steal his car guy took a swing at him my friend sorted him out ,mind you think the other guy may have lost a few teeth and a strange dent the shape of a head was on one body panel,my friend got 30days for it,next story young couple with 10 month old in house ,they hear a smash and this 17 year old had broke in at 3AM he grabs the kid who takes a swing at him the husband lays a poundin on the kid and guess what who gets charged as well ,the case against the kid went ahead the case against the father was thrown out but it would've gone ahead;but its better to be carried by 12 than it is to be carried by 6 anyway I guess self defence legally ends if you capture them if that's practical in some life or death blink
2007-12-05 15:44:39 · answer #7 · answered by Will 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2007-12-05 15:39:30 · answer #8 · answered by Not To Serious 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In America, anyone can sue for just about any reason. It really depends on which state you live in on what the law says about the use of deadly force, and when it can be used.
2007-12-05 16:08:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
You could be found guilty of manslaughter. An example is linked below.
2007-12-05 14:56:58 · answer #10 · answered by rod85 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋