how many CT people have had break-ins?

I maintain that if he is crazy enough to break into my home while I am there, he is unstable enough to be an unknowable danger to my life. So I am in danger. If he has a gun I am justified in shooting him, even in the back as he runs away, as long as he is within range on the grounds that since it only takes him a moment to turn an shoot me, my life is STILL in danger.

 

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It depends on the state, but there are some states where your statement is not true. If a home invader does not have a weapon in evidence, you can get into a lot of trouble (in those states) for shooting them.

There have been several cases where a property owner was charged with crimes for using excessive force. For example, if you pull out a gun on a criminal and you shoot them in front of witnesses as they are running away across your front yard, there are many states where you will be charged.

 

You are absolutely correct that it is illegal in some states. However, if you come into my home when you know or believe that me or my family are inside, you are an immediate threat to our lives and I will do everything in my power to ensure you die....I'll take my chances with where, when, how.

 

The idea of shooting an intruder is to stop the threat - bad news if your intention is to kill.

 

Exactly. The law generally doesn't care if you feel that someone is a threat (or can justify it through some tortuous logic) - the law generally cares what a reasonable person would decide. Wounding an intruder in your house in the dark who may or may not be armed: generally okay. Emptying a clip into someone who has there hands in the air and is shouting "I surrender!": generally not okay.

Even if a criminal is running away, some have argued that they "had to" shoot the criminal because s/he might be running to fetch a weapon/reinforcements/come back at another time. That argument has had mixed results in court.

 

Two of my friend's houses got burglarized, later I heard from police that at least 40 houses in my neighborhood got burgarlized, there is mexican gang that had little kid knock on people's door pretending to sell things during the afteroon to test which house are unoccupied, the thiefs also had van with ladder and painted to make it appear like home improvement company so neighbor won't question them if they see it parked in front of the house, they are just either waiting on the street and see which home owner leaves or driving around and see which car leaves from which house, then they would come and steal things. One family was gone for a hour and their house was ransacked.

 

In Michigan we have what is called the Castle Law.. You come into my house unwelcome and its open season. Doesn't matter if the person is armed, or unarmed, one legged, blind in one eye and cant hear.. A person enters another persons home here in Michigan, the homeowner has the right to protect themselves. Just had one about 20 miles from here, guy 29 years old broke into the wrong house, owner shot him, he staggered outside and died on the neighbors sidewalk. No charges are being brought against the homeowner. Homeowner should get spanked in my opinion, how could he let him make it that far? Perhaps he ran out of bullets and was using a peashooter.

 

It stops the threat, but good.

And will get you sued for his injuries which will cost you a lot more than he would have stolen.

 

Yea, I've heard about home owner shoot or injure the burglar, and turned around got lawsuit by injured burglar and had to pay alot of damages..

 

In my opinion, it's me or them. I d o n ' t want them to steal anything, BUT, I would rather they just took what they want and get out, rather than have them make it all the way upstairs to me, my dogs, and my gun. They get that far, and they intend me harm. Boom! (Right after I give them the verbal announcement)

I took defensive handgunning a number of years ago (put on for women, very intensive) and one thing I remember clearly: know what you will do and then do it. AND if you haven't the guts to pull the trigger, DON'T KEEP A GUN around; that could end up getting you killed. For me to pull the trigger, I really would have to believe I was in physical danger. Hope I never have to find out.

Lucy

(p.s. At the ripe age of 20, I had my first apartment broken into while I was asleep in my little bedroom; the guy came into my bedroom, and I woke up because I could SENSE him in my room. Screamed, hid under the bed, phoned the police, and cried until they got there! THAT GUY, stole my next months rent! He fled, they never caught him, and the fear I had took a long time to go away.) I kept on thinking/worrying he would come back, since I lived alone.

 

A number of States have "Castle Laws" and/or "Stand-your-ground" laws. Wikipedia has an acceptable write-up on such laws. In many cases, the laws protect the property owner/occupant from both criminal and civil charges.

Here in Wyoming, self defense has been standing common law, even fatal defense. In 2008, Wyoming passed an actual "Castle Law", though the common law already protected the occupant.

Instinctively, it is easy to have the feeling that you would take down any intruder that would dare "touch my stuff". But, human life has a bit more value to it than as many digits in money that I can count on one hand. As a responsible homeowner, I have insurance policies to cover my "stuff" extensively.

It is when the lives and safety of family and friends are at stake that an intruder better watch out.

 

I guess Colorado is an exception with our "make my day" law. If someone breaks in my house, I have a right to shoot them. Not that I would though, I don't have a gun. If they're looking for coins, they'll be ticked off to just find 30 pounds of modern pennies on my living room floor. I'd be happy to give them to a few masked robbers with guns, too. I don't think they'd force me by gun point to the safe deposit box in my bank so I'm not that worried about break ins.

 

If you wanted my stuff, I would help you load it into the car if that was the case....do that when no one is home.

Personally, I said if you came into my home when you knew that myself or my family was home. In that case, you are an immediate threat to our lives. I'm not going to shoot you in the leg. I'm going to do what I've been trained to do, it's simple.

Also, if you have a gun only for home protection and you don't carry on your person anyway, I highly recommend something like a Mossberg 500 pump 12 gauge with buck shot. Even people who have been trained to shoot handguns and do it on a daily basis can have difficulties in the dark when suprised out of bed. The point and shoot aspect of the shotgun is much nicer, of course it's harder to carry concealed

 

Poor choice of words. Don't let a judge hear you utter that. Do everything in your power to subdue the person in question, and if it comes to ultimate demise, well you did your best.

 

You're probably correct, but you dont' shoot in the leg to subdue a perp. Ask any cop, military etc who deals with armed or potentially armed people where they decide they have to shoot...

 

Center mass shot placement is the most effective means of stopping any threat.

 

Anything less doesn't end the threat.
If anything a pizzd off assailant is more of a threat.

 

I trust you all won't mind if I bring this old thread back to life.

I received a letter from the department of corrections on June 29th. It stated that my "bad-guy" was being released to a half-way house in advance of serving his two 5-year consecutive sentences. (This is the habitual criminal that had negotiated a 15-year mandatory sentence to two 5-year consecutive sentences). I agreed to the 2x5-years. Execution was suspended after 3 years on both counts. He has been in prison for 5 years and was released on July 1st to serve his sixth year in a half-way-house. I am tracking this guy so I'll be notified if/when he has any arrest warrant issued going forward.

Just to summarize: His sentence went from 15 years (mandatory) to 10 years (negotiated) to five served.

 

Ridiculous. I believe it was the Chicago police chief after that little boy got killed recently who said something to the effect of the system is failing us. That boy would have been alive if his father was serving the time he was supposed to do for his crimes. Some 45 charges and he was still on the streets.

Same situation here, when this assailant kills his next victim it will be too little too late. Personally I think the state should be able to be sued in cases where they have given people abundant chances to change and do not acknowledge that they are truly menaces to society.