Gun Control & RKBA

Lurks Often

(5,455 posts)

38. There is no simple yes or no answer

Tue Dec 13, 2011, 11:50 AM

Dec 2011

to this question. First you have the individual state laws governing when lethal force is legally acceptable. Second you have the situation itself.

Example 1: If I am sitting on the couch and someone tries to steal my car, it is likely that the theft of the car, if not recovered, will cause me financial hardship as I am unlikely to get enough from my insurance company to get something equivalent. However I am going to call the police and let them deal with it, as the car thief is not in position to present a threat to me.

Example 2: I am at home and someone breaks in to steal my flat screen TV. I don't care about the flat screen TV, however by breaking into my home while I am present, he now presents a danger to me. So if it becomes necessary to shoot him, I am shooting him because of the threat he presents to me, not because he is trying to steal my TV. (I'll note, since it is relevant, that given the layout of my home, the only feasible exit would be the same entrance the criminal used to break in, if I was inclined to flee my home and if I was even to able to out run an attacker)

There are lots of variables on when legally you CAN shoot and whether you SHOULD shoot. Far more then will ever be correctly covered on a discussion board such as this.

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Please post reasons why it is OK to kill people in defense of property. [View all] digonswine Dec 2011 OP

I can understand essentials, such as insulin or scarce clean water, ZombieHorde Dec 2011 #1

Agreed- digonswine Dec 2011 #2

+1 Callisto32 Dec 2011 #37

So now you get into a judgement call. Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #52

I already know what is essential in my life. ZombieHorde Dec 2011 #55

So now it's about survival? Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #66

The examples I gave were survival examples. ZombieHorde Dec 2011 #69

I dont LIKE the idea We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #72

Killing thieves is not necessary. ZombieHorde Dec 2011 #84

Citizens United 2 will make guns people. onehandle Dec 2011 #3

LMAO. LAGC Dec 2011 #111

LOL bongbong Jul 2012 #154

What if it is the tools and equipment needed to make a living? oneshooter Dec 2011 #4

In the long run safeinOhio Dec 2011 #5

It depends on your personal definition of "cheap". oneshooter Dec 2011 #6

You could sell a few of your guns instead of shooting an unarmed man rummaging through carport. Hoyt Dec 2011 #22

Why should I have to... We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #40

Exactly. n/t Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #53

Thats just a stoopid post rl6214 Dec 2011 #70

Jesus, what if that "idiot" is starving and looking for food to feed family? Hoyt Dec 2011 #101

other than what's in the safe gejohnston Dec 2011 #103

Like me -- I hope they take it so that I don't have to haul it off. Hoyt Dec 2011 #104

Food in the carport?? one-eyed fat man Dec 2011 #106

One-eyed, the world is not out to get you. Put your guns down for a week and enjoy life. Hoyt Dec 2011 #120

A lot of wisdom was engraved on Zippos half a century ago one-eyed fat man Dec 2011 #129

If he's starving.... We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #108

Sounds so TBaggerish to me. Hoyt Dec 2011 #119

Oh my! discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2011 #122

Seriously? We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #128

Actually, I'm suggesting it sounds like Newt saying 5 year olds can clean bathrooms. Hoyt Dec 2011 #132

Maybe you can explain one-eyed fat man Dec 2011 #133

So you're suggesting HALO141 Jul 2012 #152

Food? In my toolbox? AtheistCrusader Jul 2012 #147

How do I know that he is unarmed? GreenStormCloud Dec 2011 #140

And when they come back to steal more, you can just sell more guns. NewMoonTherian Jul 2012 #145

Not really, Shilka-Gunluvr Jul 2012 #144

That is what I was getting at-- digonswine Dec 2011 #8

I would not generally kill just to stop a theft. PavePusher Dec 2011 #7

I agree-in general- digonswine Dec 2011 #10

The decision whether to shoot, or even the ability shoot another person is very situational ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #15

If someone is on my property without my permission and/or has come into my house uninvited Tuesday Afternoon Dec 2011 #9

That is a very broad set of circumstances there. ManiacJoe Dec 2011 #11

true, but -- Tuesday Afternoon Dec 2011 #16

Context matters in this issue ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #12

yes. context matters Tuesday Afternoon Dec 2011 #17

You post gets to the heart of the matter... SteveW Dec 2011 #141

Depends where they are. hack89 Dec 2011 #13

correct...someones in the garage, I'm not going to expose myself. ileus Dec 2011 #18

To me, it will revolve around the nature of the property being stolen. ManiacJoe Dec 2011 #14

I can only justify harming someone in self defense. AtheistCrusader Dec 2011 #19

You never know when a simple burglary may escalate into violent combat. alp227 Dec 2011 #20

This. TupperHappy Dec 2011 #125

Here�s a possible reason MicaelS Dec 2011 #21

If you have $100K worth of tools, I think I'd buy some insurance -- and not an S&W. Hoyt Dec 2011 #23

You get partial credit. ManiacJoe Dec 2011 #24

He also seems to assume that insurance will always fully replace ones' losses. PavePusher Dec 2011 #25

Oh, so it's OK to shoot unarmed person as soon as you calculate potential insurance coverage? Hoyt Dec 2011 #100

Surely you can cite where I said that... yah? PavePusher Dec 2011 #107

I have a friend with well over 100k in tools....he has plenty of S&W's, alarm and video monitoring. ileus Dec 2011 #89

Shoot an unarmed man for stealing and safeinOhio Dec 2011 #27

No it wont. We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #30

That is a bit scary- digonswine Dec 2011 #78

Now that's the kind of gun owner I grew up with -- and helped me realize we gotta problem. Hoyt Dec 2011 #102

In Ohio, if an home or occupied vehicle is broken into then justified self defense is presumed. OneTenthofOnePercent Dec 2011 #34

My reply to #21 about a truck being stolen safeinOhio Dec 2011 #51

Wrong, it is not "playing" at anything MicaelS Dec 2011 #42

"Playing cop, judge, jury and executioner" rl6214 Dec 2011 #71

It's impossible to be very specific on that. rrneck Dec 2011 #26

It is VERY possible to be very specific on it We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #43

I would say that some form of agression is required on the part of the robber. discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2011 #44

The very act of theft is agressive We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #45

As I said... discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2011 #48

Well yeah, rrneck Dec 2011 #58

I think we can expand a little Euromutt Dec 2011 #139

Back in the day one-eyed fat man Dec 2011 #28

It would help... We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #29

I have seen this argument before- digonswine Dec 2011 #79

I'm not the one deciding that We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #109

My opinion is that it is not OK to shoot people in defense of property...Period. n/t Bonhomme Richard Dec 2011 #31

That and $5 will get you a Grande Mocha at Starbucks.... We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #35

There is at least one state, TX, that makes provisions for using lethal force to stop prop. crimes aikoaiko Dec 2011 #32

Its not the only one We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #36

I will use deadly force to protect... jeepnstein Dec 2011 #33

+1 n/t Bonhomme Richard Dec 2011 #39

There is no simple yes or no answer Lurks Often Dec 2011 #38

Its simple for me. We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #41

That's the best answer right there. Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #54

Thank you We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #57

We each have our own choice to make Lurks Often Dec 2011 #56

Man - sucks for you.... We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #60

I was thinking of "should" shoot- digonswine Dec 2011 #80

The "should" shoot and "legal" shoot question is important... SteveW Dec 2011 #142

Premise appears generally flawed in that the victim will have zero idea... LanternWaste Dec 2011 #46

I have no duty to wait until I am attacked before taking action to defend my health and property. PavePusher Dec 2011 #59

I imagine any "duty" we have are merely the ones we set for ourselves... LanternWaste Dec 2011 #63

Depends on the state, actually. OneTenthofOnePercent Dec 2011 #64

I have been giving a lot of thought to this thread since I posted last Tuesday Afternoon Dec 2011 #87

My police department is 3 minutes down the road... so I'd guess 5-10 mins. OneTenthofOnePercent Dec 2011 #88

When I called about my last two vehicle break-ins in my driveway, the police never came. PavePusher Dec 2011 #91

interesting -- Tuesday Afternoon Dec 2011 #94

Apparently there is a policy that they have to show up for stolen firearms. (Tucson, AZ) PavePusher Dec 2011 #96

What was your truck doing in a bar? n/t oneshooter Dec 2011 #97

Trying to pick-up chicks..... PavePusher Dec 2011 #99

are kids considered property? ileus Dec 2011 #47

no We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #61

There are many people living hand to mouth. aikoaiko Dec 2011 #49

Why it's OK to kill in defense of property. Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #50

Never judge a man with a gun in your hand. rrneck Dec 2011 #62

I can't. Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #65

There is a huge difference rrneck Dec 2011 #67

Their life is forfeit if they try. Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #73

You can't honestly shift the moral responsibility of your position onto others. rrneck Dec 2011 #76

Of course I can. Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #113

Would you steal medicine to keep your wife alive? nt rrneck Dec 2011 #117

Would I? We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #118

Imagine harder. rrneck Dec 2011 #123

Yes. I would murder to keep my wife alive. Atypical Liberal Dec 2011 #124

As would I. rrneck Dec 2011 #126

That's pretty rude. ileus Dec 2011 #127

Lets look at the ultimate cause of the issue here shall we? We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #115

Hmmmmm. rrneck Dec 2011 #121

Hmm to you too We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #130

It's nice that you agree with me rrneck Dec 2011 #131

As I originally said.... We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #136

I agree! bongbong Jul 2012 #158

If you dont want to get shot while stealing... We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #74

What are the terms of the contract? nt rrneck Dec 2011 #77

That is the question- digonswine Dec 2011 #82

At the risk of speaking for others and getting it wrong rrneck Dec 2011 #85

Actually, there is rationality to "It is legal here - so watch out"... SteveW Dec 2011 #143

It sounds good until... rrneck Dec 2011 #86

Let me get this straight.... We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #110

Well, I might be insane but I'm not a thief rrneck Dec 2011 #116

Careful with a post like this bongbong Jul 2012 #160

In that effort, I am under no obligation to endanger myself. PavePusher Dec 2011 #92

Sure. rrneck Dec 2011 #95

You know, it is interesting one-eyed fat man Dec 2011 #134

If the property is replaceable, regardless of cost, then killing for it is rarely justified. Starboard Tack Dec 2011 #68

One more time for the REALLY slow ones in the group.... We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #75

i read it ten times- digonswine Dec 2011 #83

No, at that point he is no longer a danger to you. If you shoot then YOU are in the wrong. oneshooter Dec 2011 #98

Of course not. mvccd1000 Dec 2011 #105

Depends. We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #114

My home is a physical manifestation of the portion of my life that I have spent working slackmaster Dec 2011 #81

Anytime... discntnt_irny_srcsm Jul 2012 #150

I will defend my family and property 41mag Dec 2011 #90

my body is mine StarsInHerHair Dec 2011 #93

It is never "OK" to kill people in defense of property DWC Dec 2011 #112

I think I posted about this on DU2, but will repeat. chrisa Dec 2011 #135

I agree with almost all of that.... We_Have_A_Problem Dec 2011 #137

I probably should have said "anyone." chrisa Dec 2011 #138

Bank guards and museum guards. Remmah2 Jul 2012 #146

Only way that would work is if the criminal was nice enough to leave a warning note. Clames Jul 2012 #148

One must always draw one's own lines. discntnt_irny_srcsm Jul 2012 #149

I definitely would not shoot someone unless there was personal danger. digonswine Jul 2012 #159

Thanks discntnt_irny_srcsm Jul 2012 #162

I don't recall anyone proposing killing to defend property. HALO141 Jul 2012 #151

Boy-I barely remember posting that OP. digonswine Jul 2012 #157

EXCELLENT bongbong Jul 2012 #153

Interesting bongbong Jul 2012 #155

Interesting #2 bongbong Jul 2012 #156

I agree- digonswine Jul 2012 #161

Don't forget bongbong Jul 2012 #163

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Glaug-Eldare Jul 2012 #164

I think I remember now-- digonswine Jul 2012 #165