I'm So Mad

[toobfreak]

No hope for this country

You've got that right Old Caj, if you can't feel safe in your home, then you are not safe anywhere. AFAIC, when you break into someone's home, you are taking the ultimate risk and all bets are off.
Whether gun, sword or crossbow, its up to you to go for the kill shot or just wound them; while you are fooling around trying to nick the bastard, for all you know, he intends to cut your throat.
And people have shot intruders just to maim, then the SOB turned around and sued them!
So the question is: Did you feel your life was threatened?
Nature has a way of cleaning the gene pool and the way I look at it, the world is already overcrowded, it can only make things a little better to eliminate a punk whose brain is so wired that his idea of a night out is to break and enter and rob you with a weapon. If he lives to see another day, chances are good that he'll just grow up to be another politician.
And you wouldn't want to wish that on us.
Go run at a cop with as knife. He won't be singing Kumbaya and looking for a hug. :mrgreen:
In a life and death situation, you often only have a split second to act and little time to debate the legal modalities. If you have to, wound yourself and stick a knife in the bastard's cold hands.
When assailants have more rights and protection than the victims, you end up with a world---- well, a lot like what we have now.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Trespassers will be shot. Survivors will be shot again.
Bravo young man. :clap:

 

[warren]

I read a story covering the same incident. I will iterate only the following as this seems the logical place to do so, and the the shooter made statements (if the story, as written is also fairly complete and factual).
Other than your name, all else should be filtered through an attorney. All the first cop would hear from me is, "I am Mr. ....... I called this in and my attorney is on the way." Then take a seat, stay out of the way of the police and keep your mouth shut. You really will want to tell your story and talk to anyone handy. Don't!!! Trust me, if this is your first killing you are going to want to talk, or babble. It can only go further downhill if you do.
When involved in such a situation use the protections available! Also, do not, under any circumstances, talk to the press. They are under deadlines, have papers to sell or audience to draw, a salary to earn, and really only want to hear something sensational from you. They want a sound bite for the story, or headline. By and large have utterly no interest in your best interests.

 

[indianafrank]

For those of us who lived during the 50's and 60's we know times have changed.
Never locked our doors at night. Stayed outside playing till 11pm. Walked the streets late without any provocations.
The city I grew up in is now gang infested, drugs are everywhere, high rate of crime, kids standing on street corners during school hours.
Sad!

 

[aldecaker]

It warms the cockles of my cold, black stony little heart to hear of homeowners blasting criminals. Every time a shitbag bites it, society improves incrementally. Or an angel gets its wings. Either way, it's all good. Superb way to keep those youthful mistakes from being repeated, isn't it?

 

[mortonbriar]

The guy did what anyone else would have done. Three guys in black wearing masks break into your house... you shoot them.

I want to emphasise that this guy might have done what anyone else would have done IN AMERICA, but for a lot of other countries, (including the two I have spent the majority of my life in) having guns on hand and shooting/killing stupid teenagers breaking into your house is not even remotely normal.

The world is a crazy place.

Yes, it certainly is! But in this instance? America is a crazy place!
Isaac

 

[cabinfever]

The sad thing is, even if it is determined that the homeowner was in the right, he will likely end up spending 10s of 1000s in attorney fees to prove it.....not to mention the civil suits that may be brought against him by the families of the perps.

 

[aldecaker]

Do they only give stupid teenagers a pass there, or the homicidal ones, too? Barge into my home brandishing a knife, and I don't care if you're a teenager or a 90 year old, I'm going to do my level best to kill you. I don't give a shit if I have to use a gun, a knife, a brick, or a snowglobe. It's my house, goddammit!

 

[warren]

Other than civil suits, a real possibility, why, if the DA reads the police reports and concludes the actions to be lawful, would the shooter have to spend many thousands of dollars to prove what the state says is true? I'm missing something here. There would be no charges brought so why would there be large attorney fees?
If the newspaper account is reasonably correct the shooter would likely only be required to give and sign give a short statement, under the supervision of his attorney, and he's done. (An attorney is required to keep the interrogation focused on actual events and facts, and prevent wee side trips many coppers like to stray into.) The DA reads all the paperwork, concludes that no charges will be filed and... case closed. If the DA finds sufficient information to charge only then would the legal fees start to soar.

 

[woodsroad]

I hope that someone with deep pockets steps up to help the kid and his family. No matter how justified the shooting was, and even if they clear him quickly, an arduous and expensive road lies ahead.

 

[mortonbriar]

Aldecaker, no one in any country is going to appreciate their home being invaded, and even less so when done violently with weapons.

I guess I just want to point out (this forum has a clear American majority) that having a situation where three people are shot dead in a house they have broken into is not universally a likely outcome, and to me it seems vastly more complicated an outcome for all involved than if it had of happened in New Zealand (my home usually), although in the short term the solution solved the 'problem' for the homeowner...
I also want to say I am not just having a go at Americans for being gun crazy, more just wading in with a (probably unwanted) outsiders perspective...
Isaac

 

[warren]

I think different perspectives are a good thing when the boys start to talk tough around the old chuck wagon.

 

[aldecaker]

So, what do you guys do with a trio of armed home invaders? If it's something that simply doesn't happen there, you're a lucky man indeed.

 

[woodsroad]

Well said, Warren.

 

[aldecaker]

Well, Warren, ol' 23 year old Oklahoma guy didn't talk, he did. Just expressing my wholehearted support of him.

 

[wyfbane]

Last I checked, we still have the right to protect our persons and property. With guns. Too bad he had to kill, but better them than him. Hope his eggs aren't too scrambled as a result of this. Prayers to him.

 

[tbradsim1]

I want to explain about my Foul Mood my wife is a hair dresser in a Nurseing home and told me about her afternoon. A local Policeman has an Uncle there and my wife has been cutting his hair, he came to see her and explained money was tight and he would try to pay her for the haircuts. She explained it was not necessary because it was just a buzz cut and to not worry about it. He told her who he was and my wife then knew my Deceased Aunt was a Hardy as he was. I know the Family well. He told her 25 yrs ago his older Brother a Policeman did a traffic stop in Abbeville La and while he was takeing info the guy in the passengers seat got out , came around and shot his brother in the head with a 45. He's up for Parole , he told my wife I pray he doesn't get out because I'm gonna kill him and spend the rest of my days in prison. 25 yrs and you're good to go out in Society, something is wrong Big Time. What have we become.

 

[aldecaker]

Hearing that story would put me in a foul mood, too, Brad. I'm not real big on giving murderers second chances. The rehabilitation department is upstairs, if you know what I mean.

 

[tschiraldi]

Okay, I have taught Use Of Force for my Department for 16 years. These weren't "Stupid teenagers breaking into a house". These were armed aggressors breaking into a house with people inside (the difference between Burglary and Robbery). Don't believe in bringing a gun to a knife fight??? There is something known nationally as the "21 foot Rule". It has been shown clearly that 21 feet is the minimum distance a TRAINED OFFICER needs to draw his weapon while moving backwards and to the side, out of the line of attack, and fire a defensive shot against an adult with a knife. Any closer, you're dead. Period. Knives are lethal weapons. This certainly meets the requirement of "Risk of serious bodily harm or death" if you don't act. Deadly force is justified when defending yourself or another person in such a situation. Of course, there HAS to be an investigation in order to determine whether a shooting was justified. You can't just leave it to the opinion a responding officer. All the facts have to be checked.

 

[warren]

Based on a newspaper article? I simply can't make serious judgements based solely on some reporter's superficial and rushed story. Too much shallow reporting in newspapers and on the TV. I read something like the above and simply note it. I make no judgement as to its facts or lack there of. I simply understand that I am getting quick news, incomplete news, and tomorrow there will be another story pretty much the same. The final results and facts will never appear in a follow up story a month or year from now.
I support his and everyone's right to defend themselves, I simply do not make judgements based on reports of events I have no "real" knowledge about. That's all I'm saying. I know people who form opinions based on three second sound bites, AP reports, and what the seer down the street reports as the future. They depress me, because they vote.