So, I almost got robbed today.

[childress_london 3]

what if the "intruder" is a family member?...

Well my family is white, so if the intruder is black, then I think I can rest assured that it's not a family member. Besides, even my own family wouldn't just walk in the door! I don't keep my doors or windows unlocked ever, so whoever breaks in would make a lot of noise or have a key. My ex-roommate used to keep the front and/or back doors unlocked all the time. I'd either wake up to an empty house or come home to an empty house and everything was unlocked! Drove me crazy! Even after I told him of home break-ins and one rape in the area, he still did this! I work for the police department, so I know what's going on around here. I do live in a relatively safe area, but people get complacent and get the attitude that it can't happen to them so they let their guard down. Criminals take advantage of easy targets, not hard ones.

Ohhhh controversial!

Oh so it's controversial that my family happens to be white? :-P I don't think I had a choice in that matter. LOL. Also, if the intruder has on a hoodie and his face is covered, I also think it's not a family member. Unless I have alzheimer's, I think I know who my family members are! (Oh and yes, I did use HIS for the intruder. Is it controversial that I'm assuming it's a man and not a woman?). OK, so if my family is black and the intruder is white, I think I again can assume it's not my family. SHE is probably there to rob my house and kill me! I will defend myself. :-P

[childress_london 3]

Please read OP's original post to this thread.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

I clearly know who is rustling about, in my house.... others will be shot...

around here, it might be nessa's cat.

[childress_london 3]

I clearly know who is rustling about, in my house.... others will be shot...

around here, it might be nessa's cat.

Awwww poor kitteh. He just want some kat fud.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

I clearly know who is rustling about, in my house.... others will be shot...

around here, it might be nessa's cat.

Awwww poor kitteh. He just want some kat fud.

he usually winds up with a shoe thrown at him for making noise in the middle of the night

[john & jean 37]

what if the "intruder" is a family member?...

Well my family is white, so if the intruder is black, then I think I can rest assured that it's not a family member. Besides, even my own family wouldn't just walk in the door! I don't keep my doors or windows unlocked ever, so whoever breaks in would make a lot of noise or have a key. My ex-roommate used to keep the front and/or back doors unlocked all the time. I'd either wake up to an empty house or come home to an empty house and everything was unlocked! Drove me crazy! Even after I told him of home break-ins and one rape in the area, he still did this! I work for the police department, so I know what's going on around here. I do live in a relatively safe area, but people get complacent and get the attitude that it can't happen to them so they let their guard down. Criminals take advantage of easy targets, not hard ones.

Ohhhh controversial!

Oh so it's controversial that my family happens to be white? :-P I don't think I had a choice in that matter. LOL. Also, if the intruder has on a hoodie and his face is covered, I also think it's not a family member. Unless I have alzheimer's, I think I know who my family members are! (Oh and yes, I did use HIS for the intruder. Is it controversial that I'm assuming it's a man and not a woman?). OK, so if my family is black and the intruder is white, I think I again can assume it's not my family. SHE is probably there to rob my house and kill me! I will defend myself. :-P

I DON'T GIVE A DAYUMM IF THEY ARE GREEN, BREAK IN AND YOU WILL GET SHOT SEVERAL TIMES

[childress_london 3]

what if the "intruder" is a family member?...

Well my family is white, so if the intruder is black, then I think I can rest assured that it's not a family member. Besides, even my own family wouldn't just walk in the door! I don't keep my doors or windows unlocked ever, so whoever breaks in would make a lot of noise or have a key. My ex-roommate used to keep the front and/or back doors unlocked all the time. I'd either wake up to an empty house or come home to an empty house and everything was unlocked! Drove me crazy! Even after I told him of home break-ins and one rape in the area, he still did this! I work for the police department, so I know what's going on around here. I do live in a relatively safe area, but people get complacent and get the attitude that it can't happen to them so they let their guard down. Criminals take advantage of easy targets, not hard ones.

Ohhhh controversial!

Oh so it's controversial that my family happens to be white? :-P I don't think I had a choice in that matter. LOL. Also, if the intruder has on a hoodie and his face is covered, I also think it's not a family member. Unless I have alzheimer's, I think I know who my family members are! (Oh and yes, I did use HIS for the intruder. Is it controversial that I'm assuming it's a man and not a woman?). OK, so if my family is black and the intruder is white, I think I again can assume it's not my family. SHE is probably there to rob my house and kill me! I will defend myself. :-P

I DON'T GIVE A DAYUMM IF THEY ARE GREEN, BREAK IN AND YOU WILL GET SHOT SEVERAL TIMES

[justashooter 430]

Even if they are unarmed and running away?

State laws vary widely. read up on it before trigger time, but in general, if someone is facing you and has any kind of weapon or is significantly stronger than you, you can shoot them until they fall, and then tell police "I thought he was going to kill me, so I had to shoot him. I'm not saying anything else until I talk to a lawyer".

[Caladan 19]

I think HannahP's response -- confusion, followed by a slow realization -- is psychologically quite common, which is something to keep in mind when running through hero scenarios in your head. (Also, the castle doctrine varies between states, and it often makes a difference whether the person is outside or inside the house.) A similar break-in attempt happened to a friend of mine about a year ago. She was putting her toddler down for a nap, and heard some glass smash, and came downstairs to see someone running away from the house (another guy who figured no one was home.)

I'm glad you're okay -- and good for your dog!

[childress_london 3]

I think in most places you can't shoot someone who is unarmed and running away. Because then it's not really self defense.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Definitely tell the police just in case he IS working the neighborhood. Even if you didn't get a good look it still puts the whole neighborhood on alert and make people more cautious.

As for guns...well be careful the burglar will probably sue you and win if you shoot them. In england this farmer named tony martin shot some gypsies in the back after he caught them, again, on his property. Unfortunately they started to run and he shot them, in the back. He was sued and convicted despite the fact that they had terrorized him for years.

In the USA, an intruder inside your house, can be stopped with deadly force. Period.

Outside the house becomes an investigative case.......Where all are suspect.

I bolded the part where he went from protecting his land to illegal shooting. If they were attacking him, he would not of been convicted or sued for that matter.

In the US, the only time you can shoot to kill is if you are in fear of getting killed yourself, or your stopping someone from getting killed. Just because you have a gun doesn't mean you can just kill someone.

If you can prevent someone from doing something with just brandishing the weapon, then that is all your suppose to do. If they run, without trying to fight you, then you can't shoot them, you have to let them go.

Doesn't even need to be a gun. If your trained in martial arts, and you "kill" someone with your unarmed skills, instead of disabling them, you could be brought up on charges because you didn't exercise control over your actions. (like to just disarm/incapacitate).

Oh - to the OP - get an alarm system, have it on when your home alone, that way, if it goes off, it will scare the intruder, they will call to check you, and you will know someone is prowling.

Not withstanding the dog

good doggie!

Edited March 24, 2009 by Bobby_Umit