I say yes....You don't have time to see their weopon, whether they have one or not....SHOOT THEM I SAY..they have no rights in your home!
2007-12-15 13:20:58 · 29 answers · asked by jalady 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I can, I am not absolutely sure of what the law would like me to say but if they get past the alarm, the dog, my husband and his shotgun, then I guess they will have to get the pistol from me.
2007-12-15 13:24:25 · answer #1 · answered by Mrs. Mad Maddy 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The law says the only time you have the right to use "deadly force" is to protect your life or the lives of others from imminent danger. If someone kicks your door down and enters your home but isn't threatening yours or anyone else's lives, you'd better wait until the nice men and women in the neatly pressed blue suits arrive or you could be in a world of hurt where the law is concerned. Should you be able to shoot someone that kicks your door down? Sure. Are you? Well, ...see above.
2007-12-15 22:02:09 · answer #2 · answered by CV59StormVet 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No.
The law says you must do what Redskins football player Sean Taylor did: Wait to see if they kill you.
If they do, then you have the legal right to have exercised your natural right to defend yourself.
In Sean's case, the "burglars" shot him so fast (as soon as they saw him), he couldn't possibly have reacted in time. Good thing too. They saved him a lot of legal trouble, and years in jail.
The law in almost every state says that when someone enters your home in the middle of the night, you legally owe it to the intruder to run away. If he keeps chasing you and shooting at you, at SOME point, the game switches and you suddenly no longer owe it to him to run, and you have the right to stop him from killing you. But you still might owe him the duty not to kill him.
But there are two difficult sociological and psychological problems for you to work out in your head while you are running away: (1) when do I get to stop running and stand up for myself? and (2) what means can I use to stop him? Can I shoot? or can I only point a gun and say, Hey, stop chasing me in my own house in the middle of the night when I don't even know if you have a gun or why you are here, that doesn't seem very nice!
Your home is your castle. And it is the criminals' playground.
2007-12-15 22:19:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Much depends on your state. I live in Oregon where firearms need not be licensed and can be openly carried nearly anywhere. But you have already doomed yourself if you ever act on your statement. There is something called premeditated murder. When you shoot, even an intruder, with intent to kill, it is murder. And in all states, the degree of defence must be justified by need. So you're in very deep trouble if you kill anyone ever. All Internet posts are permanent and recorded forever. If you went on trial, someone would very likely find your premeditation.
- Reserve Sheriff Officer 35+ years
Justice of the Peace 6 years
Special Investigator to the Arizona Arrorney General
2 years
Patron Member of the NRA since 1977, first a member
1962 and Life Member in 1965
2007-12-15 21:34:08 · answer #4 · answered by genghis1947 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
In some states, where they have a Castle Law, you may be able to defend yourself with deadly force. However, as a practical matter, you could be charged for murder, or sued. Therefore, you have to be careful. In a state with no Castle Law, you cannot shoot them unless you retreat, and they pursue with the intent to cause injury or death. In either case, I would not just shoot someone without giving them the option of leaving . . . really fast .
2007-12-15 21:25:06 · answer #5 · answered by WVAttorney 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on your state. Some states have "castle law" meaning you can shoot immediately. Others don't, meaning you must attempt to escape first. Look up "castle law" on wikipedia for the list of states.
2007-12-15 21:56:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You damned sure can kill them, at least in Tx. It's called the Castle Doctrine. Remember, it's better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.
In some states (like Oregon...yuck) you have a "duty to retreat", meaning that if you light some jackass crackhead up when he breaks into your house to rape/murder/pillage you, you'll go to jail. Better look up your particular state's laws... and then move to a state where it's still ok to protect yourself and your family.
2007-12-15 21:45:18 · answer #7 · answered by Freethinker 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. This is part of the government's plan to make everyone a criminal. When you are the victim of a crime, the police arrest both the criminals and you. In theory, that is. In practice, the criminals will go free, and you will go to jail Then the criminals will sue you in civil court, and you will lose there too.
The long and the short of it is: You may not protect yourself, and the cops will not protect you either.
2007-12-15 21:42:18 · answer #8 · answered by nobodyhere 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can do whatever you want to them, but instead of trying to kill them wouldn't it be better to try and shoot them in the leg or something this way they will suffer longer with the pain, plus the fact they would have to go to jail.
2007-12-15 21:54:06 · answer #9 · answered by 24Special 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
What you do is run around to the back of your house and set in on fire. Make sure its not on loan and you don't have fire insurance so you won't be charged with arson. Either they will leave or burn.
In the end you don't have to worry about anyone ever coming into your home because you won't have one for people to come into.
2007-12-15 21:30:36 · answer #10 · answered by Arcanum Noctis 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋