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Politics : Just the Facts, Ma'am: A Compendium of Liberal Fiction

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To: Lazarus_Long who wrote (33811)4/30/2005 5:05:38 PM
From: Ira Player  Read Replies (1) of 90947
 
"place you in imminent danger of death before you would be entitled to use deadly force"

I find it unreasonable that the courts (and laws) have taken this position. It isn't sufficient that someone makes the decision to break into your home, demonstrating contempt for societies rules against trespassing and most likely theft. The homeowner that protects his family and property must rely on the criminal also being incompetent at the use of force because they have to give them the first shot and hope they miss. The deck is being stacked more and more against the innocent in favor of the criminal. I tend to think that if someone is willing to break into your home, while you are there, that you should be afraid for you "life and limb".

How is the average individual supposed to judge the degree of danger when there is a home invasion? Is the presence of a weapon required?

I knew someone when I was in the army that didn't look particularly dangerous. Most men in the US would not feel threatened by him. 5' 9", 140 pounds with wet clothes on! Honestly, he is the most dangerous man I've ever met. Well trained 220 pound guys found themselves at the edge of permanent damage before "giving in" to him.

He once told me that he believed in the principal of minimum pain...to him. If the options were a fat lip for him or a destroyed knee for you, see you in the hospital, because he wouldn't accept a fat lip for himself.

What if someone like this guy, with a criminal disposition, broke into your home and you don't feel threatened enough to stop him while he is several feet away? You probably will not survive. But with most laws and courts, if you shot him, they would claim that because he is so much smaller than you and didn't have a visible weapon, it's murder.

Regarding English common law, Great Britain has outlawed most firearms. It is illegal for a homeowner to protect his home that way. Gun crime is up. Armed home invasions while the people are home is almost 4 times as high (percentage) as the US.

Ira
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