POLL Question. WOULD YOU KILL
over your property?
The Taxas man who killed 2 men burglerizing his neighbors home raises some interesting questions as to what extent daedly force is warranted.
The facts as far as I know are not all in yet (IE:released) on the Texas shooting. So I'm not asking for opinions concerning that.
But I assume that the majority of us consider ourselves responsible gunowners and not the armed itchy triggered fanatics the media portrays us as.
So here's the scenerio I want you to consider.
You have arrived home and caught a thief in the act of stealing your prized valueables.
You are armed.
The thief begins to run away and will get away w/your stuff. He has not threatened you or anyone else.
Would you shoot him to prevent him from getting away w/your property?
IMO it's a pretty tough question. I know I'd be tempted.
The Taxas man who killed 2 men burglerizing his neighbors home raises some interesting questions as to what extent daedly force is warranted.
The facts as far as I know are not all in yet (IE:released) on the Texas shooting. So I'm not asking for opinions concerning that.
But I assume that the majority of us consider ourselves responsible gunowners and not the armed itchy triggered fanatics the media portrays us as.
So here's the scenerio I want you to consider.
You have arrived home and caught a thief in the act of stealing your prized valueables.
You are armed.
The thief begins to run away and will get away w/your stuff. He has not threatened you or anyone else.
Would you shoot him to prevent him from getting away w/your property?
IMO it's a pretty tough question. I know I'd be tempted.
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This is not "me" thinking. It's what I reconstructed as the mechanics of an actual situation several years ago. Excuse the melodrama, my fingers are shaking as I recall this.
Something didn't feel right as I step in my house. Perhaps a draft from an open window. Stop. Freeze. Adrenalin. Gun tucked on my belt. Is family in or out????? Don't call out. Wait for something, anything. A noise!! (noise is not natural...I know the noise my family makes).
Gun at the ready. Was I heard coming into the house????? Afraid to advance. Let them come to you. Am I sure the family is out??? Yell loudly, "honey, I'm home...come here for a minute". Dead silence.
Gun in hand. Get cellphone. Call 911. While talking on the phone, hear more noise. Somebody is moving. Escaping???? Coming toward me???
After terrified stillness, gun in hand, flashing lights outside. Thank God!! I'm not alone anymore!! I quickly move to the door, slip out and say I'm the one that called. "There's noise coming from the back/upstairs" I think I said. "No, I don't know if the house is empty [of family]" I can remember saying. Although I don't remember placing it there, the gun is in my front pants pocket. I keep it there. Go figure.
It's all a haze of memory. Stayed out at the curb, lighting up several smokes with shaky hands. I think they went in the back. They said it [back door] was unlocked. Found out later it wasn't re-locked after the trash was taken out. (Unrelated to story) So, in about twenty minutes, two PD emerge and tell me that animal control needs to be called.
....intruders were three big, fat raccoons. And there was an open window that I sensed. That's how they got in.
No, I didn't have a burglary that night. All's well that ends well, right? Just want you all to know it's something I don't ever want to experience again. Joe0 -
I was visiting my girlfriend down in Atlanta one weekend. It was a Sunday night at 10 pm. I saw this black guy walking across the yard, looked like he was headed to the front door. I just barely could see him in the light that came out from the living room windows, and into the front yard. The front porch lights were not on.
We didn't get many black visitors in that neighborhood, and never got a visitor at 10 pm. I went right to the front door and opened it. That is what saved my truck. I had left the truck door unlocked, but the truck was sitting in the driveway, fifteen feet from the front door.
This guy was sitting in my truck with the door closed. It hadn't been more than ten seconds since I saw him walking in the yard. I could see he was messing around with the steering column, and was about to hot wire it.
He saw me come out the door, and he jumped out and ran. I chased him around the yard for a minute, he ran into the back yard, climbed the neighbor's fence in a flash, then ran away.
To figure what my chance was of catching him, watch the Olympics next year and see how many finalists in the 200 meter high hurdles are black 22 year olds, and how many are white 53 year olds.
I was unarmed so I was not faced with the dilemma you put forth. Had I been armed I would not have killed the guy, for one reason I would have been tried before a jury of HIS peers, 12 blacks, and would have gone to the state pen for life. When HIS peers in the state pen found out what my crime was, I would not have lasted long.
Also, once he ran off my life was not threatened. Also, it just wouldn't have been a fair fight, I would have felt like a bully to shoot an unarmed man running away.
If I had had a gun, and he came at me, I would have fired, no way to see if he had a weapon in the dark.
At any rate I scared hell out of this guy and he never came back and stole the truck. I did begin locking it after that, but if he could hot wire the column, he could pick a door lock too I bet.
Really it wasn't too smart to chase this kid, I am lucky he didn't pull a little .32 and shoot me.0 -
I would never kill over property. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by nunn
That guy in Pasadena was a double dumb-ass. He told the dispatcher he was going to go outside and kill the burglars. Then he carried his phone with him, still connected so the dispatcher could hear, and record him saying, "You're dead," and then firing three shots with a shotgun.
What he COULD have done? Call 911, report the offense, and location, and hang up. Then, if he felt he had to do something further, he COULD have armed himself and gone outside to confront, arrest, and hold the burglars for the police. If the burglars then did something to cause him to fear for his safety, then he could fire, and kill them, and the only version of the story would be his.
Double dumb-ass.
Agreed, he is a DA. I live 10 miles from tha Sheriff's Office and the perp could be in either Texas or Louisiana before the officer could arrive. I would try to call, then protect my property with any means at hand. If they are in my house, one of us ain't walking away.0 -
YES 0 -
I couldn't kill unless it was life threatening for myself or an innocent person !!!
But I'd proabaly worry the rest of my life whether he might kill in the future to avoid getting caught!!!
Honestly it is one of those no win scenarios!!!!0 -
YES, for sure, it's mine 0 -
Yes, I'd kill them slowly. For 2 weeks at least. And if they died I'd revive them and kill them again. Maniacs. 0 -
Depends on what he stole. I'd kill them if they had some heirlooms or any of my guns. I'd be backed by the law also. That is considering they are not in my house and not any threat. In my home though I don't care if they care running the other way it would be a done deal if I caught them in it without hesitation.
Over a VCR or something. I don't think I would, but I can't say for certain when figuring in the adrenaline that would pounding through my system.
I sure as hell wouldn't fault anyone else if they would though, and think it should be perfectly legal.0 -
Maybe we should start a trust fund for the man's legal expenses. Put your money where your mouth is. Now, who can we trust to hold the cash? 0 -
i would kill people who are invading my country illegally. i would kill people who support those who are invading my country illegally. i would kill government officials who are defying their sworn oath to the constitution of the united states and allow my country to be illegally invaded. 0 -
Shoot him in the kneecaps then call the police and hold him till they got there. 0 -
My first reaction "on belongings alone" is to say no I wouldn't shoot to kill, BUT who is to say for sure what they would actually do until you are put in that kind of a situation. There are a lot of ifs, ands, and buts when thinking about that question. I guess I'm not sure what I would do. NOW, If one of my children or other loved ones life was in danger, I would shoot to KILL in a blink of an eye! Any other innocent life (whether I knew them or not)and I knew for sure they were in life threatening danger, then I would also shoot to kill! 0 -
Did the neighbors have kids? would they be home from school soon?
is he or she elderly? not you question I know.now on to your question if I found someone in my house?????? A split second decision,,,,,,,depends on that persons reaction between the the time I draw my weapon and have it on target and the reaction of that person in my house! if that person was not a threat or had a reason to be there they would cower or duck if that person showed any aggression then i would shoot! like i said split second decision!0 -
My neighbor once told me to shoot anyone snooping around his house.
quote:Originally posted by Da-Tank
Well after thinking long and hard about your question, I would call the cops to come and get the body out of my house. A muder causes immediade pain to your love ones. A theif causes pain to all he touches for the rest of his life. Theives go on forever becomeing braver till they use a gun then progress to muder. Theives are scum of the earth, They are liken to rapest.
TAKE A LIFE TO SAVE A LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Agreed.0 -
I live in Illinois. Unless you are an off duty Chicago police office, you cannot fire a gun at a threat. You know, it is amazing how many stories are reported on WGN or WLS Radio where an off duty police officer was forced to use his concealed weapon. Perhaps more of us residence should be allowed the privilegeright of a CCW. 0 -
You can't even legally defend ones self with a firearm against zombies in Illinois. 0 -
Hard to say without actually being there.
I had a friend murdered for 10.00 worth of stuff. Stuff is stuff and I really don't think I would kill fr it.
I have caught a couple punks vandalizing my stuff twice and beat the Crap out of them.0 -
I would not kill for "stuff" I have insurance to replace my things. 0 -
let me see the last part of your hypothetical scenario states "The thief begins to run away and will get away w/your stuff. He has not threatened you or anyone else." So what you asking is would I shot a guy in the back as he runs from me over a hand full of my things?
I think NOT! As well I would hope other's would agree.0 -
no property it self is worth a life, but with that being said, i have issued a few really good azz whoopins, i hate a thief, now if someone was in my house i would be armed, and if it escalated from there to the point i was threatened i would in no way shoot to wound, if your going to shoot someone it must be to kill them or don't do it
my wife once asked me if her or one of the kids was being held would i take a head shot to the person, i told her "faster than you can blink", out of over 100,000 rounds in i.d.p.a. i have never hit a non threat target, even covered 90% or fast moving0 -
quote:Originally posted by dano
quote:
But I assume that the majority of us consider ourselves responsible gunowners and not the armed itchy triggered fanatics the media portrays us as.
By the looks of the responses, I would think that your assumption was way off-base. [:(]
Feeling is mutual if you think someone should be able to take what you worked for or what a loved one passed down to you without possabilty of serious consequences.
What gives a piece of trash that right even after they are the one that created the situation to begin with?0 -
...yes 
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quote:Originally posted by HandgunHTR52
It really depends on the valuables. I have things that can be replaced. If those are things that he is taking, then no. I also have things that are not replaceable. If that is the case, I may try to "wing" him/her to prevent them from getting away with my stuff. I hesitate to say that I will kill for property alone, because honestly, it really doesn't belong to me at all.
Now, since I have a dog, and to get at my stuff, the thief would have had to incapacitate my dog in some way, and, my dog is like one of my children, if he hurt my dog to get my stuff, he is going to get shot.
+1
It would depend on the situation...and I hope I never find out. If they were found inside my home, they would pay with their lives.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Fatstrat
quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
"What if I had killed that guy over a few dollars?"
You would have done society a big favor. You aren't the first guy these scum attacked, and you probably weren't the last. They probably learned from fighting you that they needed a gun next time, and they probably went out and killed some innocent person.
Maybe so. But I have thought long and hard about it and I believe the voice that told me not to was a divine intervention. I fully intended to kill him until I heard the voice loudly and clearly say NOT TO. And what about the siren from the police car that wasn't there that scared them off?
All I'm saying is the decision to kill isn't one to be taken lightly. Perhaps guidence is there to help us decide if we'll listen to it. I'll bet the guy in Texas wishes he had.
The guy I had ahold of knew he was in trouble. When I got ahold of him, he went limp.
Maybe he got scared enough to turn away from crime? I think alot of people get some romantic idea's about killing and end up like the kid in the movie "The Unforgiven".
God may have had a plan for his life...0 -
It would be a grave mistake. But they can also bring friends if they want to. Plenty to go around.[:D] 0 -
If I came home and found someone INSIDE my house and I felt in danger, I would have no qualms shooting him. If he turns and starts running, in Texas, if you shoot him you are open for a murder charge. The only time you may leagally use deadly force in Texas is if you are in fear of bodily harm or your life, or if you are protecting someone else in that situation. Once they run, threat has disappeared and deadly force is not legal. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by oldnbald
If I came home and found someone INSIDE my house and I felt in danger, I would have no qualms shooting him. If he turns and starts running, in Texas, if you shoot him you are open for a murder charge. The only time you may leagally use deadly force in Texas is if you are in fear of bodily harm or your life, or if you are protecting someone else in that situation. Once they run, threat has disappeared and deadly force is not legal.
Untrue from everything I've read. You have the right to when it comes to your property here also.0 -
quote:The thief begins to run away and will get away w/your stuff. He has not threatened you or anyone else. NO. My life and the life of another is not at risk from this person. I don't think anyone owns a material object that is worth anyones life.
Please, let's not introduce any other factors, such as the Peter Parker/Spiderman scenario where the same dirtbag comes back later and kills a loved one.0 -
All I can say is obviously the fear of being caught and going to jail is not a deterant for thieves.Maybe if they realized they could pay with their lives with no repercussion to the victim they may think twice.I have zero respect or tolerance for thieves and feel that if they have the balls to go into someones home or even yard/garage,wich is just an extension of ones home and steal then they should face the consequences wether its being shot dead or getting a severe beating. In this screwed up day and age its too risky to assume that someone means no harm as they are robbing you.Iam not going to stop and ask the guy for an interview before I decide to use force,deadly if need be.That thief could give crap about your well being or respect for your property,why should I respect his? 0
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