Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: Please post reasons why it is OK to kill people in defense of property. [View all]Glaug-Eldare
(1,089 posts)To be brutally frank, I believe individuals have a natural right to protect their pocket lint with deadly force, if a criminal is willing to attack them for it. I also believe individuals possess a natural right to confront and interrupt thieves, and to use force (with or without a firearm) if they persist.
If a criminal demands anything from my person, I have the right to refuse and counter whatever force they decides to apply in pursuit of my stuff. If a criminal attempts to steal large property like a car or television, I have the right to confront them, stop them, and counter whatever force they decide to apply in pursuit of my stuff. If a criminal breaks into my home, I have the right to confront them, demand that they leave, and counter any force they decide to apply against me. In any of these cases, lethal force must be reserved for cases where there is a credible threat to my safety -- if the thief is running away with my Hogan's Heroes DVDs, I do not have the right to shoot him in the back to get them back. I'll admit that I'm conflicted on that point, but I prefer to err on the side that doesn't involve hot bullets of shotgun to die.
A thief is already known to be a person willing to disregard the law. It is not a safe bet that they value my life at all, let alone above property. It is more important for the innocent to have the right to enforce their absolute safety, even at the cost of another person's life, than for a criminal to enjoy occupational safety.