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A homeowner shoots a robber that has entered their home, is that wrong?

Shooting an intruder in your home. Is it wrong?

  • Yes, unless that person is actively a threat

    Votes: 7 9.3%

  • Yes, you should barricade in a closet/room/leave and call 911

    Votes: 1 1.3%

  • No, they broke in the home, the homeowner has a right to protect themselves

    Votes: 63 84.0%

  • OTHER

    Votes: 4 5.3%
  • Total voters
    75
Renae

Renae

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A friend of mine and I were talking, he's from the UK, new here to Texas for his business, and he was flabbergasted to learn you can shoot an intruder. He felt it was immoral to shoot someone just taking your stuff.

I was curious as to yalls thoughts.
 
Renae said:
A friend of mine and I were talking, he's from the UK, new here to Texas for his business, and he was flabbergasted to learn you can shoot an intruder. He felt it was immoral to shoot someone just taking your stuff.

I was curious as to yalls thoughts.
Click to expand...

No, I don't think that's wrong. You have a right to protect yourself from intruders. Sometimes you can't just wait for the police to show up.
 
I could not kill someone with a clear conscience but I would do everything in my power to avoid being killed by him...running, hiding, or even maiming...but not killing...
 
Renae said:
A friend of mine and I were talking, he's from the UK, new here to Texas for his business, and he was flabbergasted to learn you can shoot an intruder. He felt it was immoral to shoot someone just taking your stuff.

I was curious as to all thoughts.
Click to expand...

Legally, yes you can and should have the right to do that. Is starting a gunfight inside your own home over some jewelry or a laptop a smart choice? Probably not, but you do have that right. Worst case scenario you're going to escalate an otherwise harmless robbery into a situation where you or a family member could get seriously injured, but that's a risk you want to take it's your choice.
 
To the OP question, it all depends on the situation. Not enough specifics are provided.
For me, if someone broke into my house and when confronted threatened me or my family, yes shooting the intruder is justified.
If the person was running away to exit the house, had not made any threats or hurt anyone then no. I would leave it to law enforcement.

Under Texas law, in general, a homeowner would be justified to shoot a intruder.

Texas Penal Code - PENAL - PENAL § 9.42 | FindLaw
https://www.bhwlawfirm.com/deadly-force-self-defense-in-texas/
 
mike2810 said:
To the OP question, it all depends on the situation. Not enough specifics are provided.
For me, if someone broke into my house and when confronted threatened me or my family, yes shooting the intruder is justified.
If the person was running away to exit the house, had not made any threats or hurt anyone then no. I would leave it to law enforcement.

Under Texas law, in general, a homeowner would be justified to shoot a intruder.

Texas Penal Code - PENAL - PENAL § 9.42 | FindLaw
https://www.bhwlawfirm.com/deadly-force-self-defense-in-texas/
Click to expand...

You have a point. That distinction is important.
 
How the hell are you supposed to know if they are there to just take your stuff, kill you, rape you, or all the above?

Are you a mind reader?

EVEN in the case of turning their back and running away... you have no idea if he has buddies, or if he is just trying to retreat then come back for better position.

If you intrude into someone's home... you are at risk for being a deadman... period
 
I do vacillate .. ideally - NO guns for either side - but in the open, conservative , and free USA this is nigh impossible .. Thus .. NOT so ideal and nice , but practical and pragmatic - YES guns, and I will shoot the robber, if he obeys me not, and I do not care if he has a weapon or not .. BUT, my experience , In York County, the law prefers that a man hides in his closet and only report the crime to his insurance company and then call 911
 
mike2810 said:
To the OP question, it all depends on the situation. Not enough specifics are provided.
For me, if someone broke into my house and when confronted threatened me or my family, yes shooting the intruder is justified.
If the person was running away to exit the house, had not made any threats or hurt anyone then no. I would leave it to law enforcement.

Under Texas law, in general, a homeowner would be justified to shoot a intruder.

Texas Penal Code - PENAL - PENAL § 9.42 | FindLaw
https://www.bhwlawfirm.com/deadly-force-self-defense-in-texas/
Click to expand...

I am of a mind that if you break into my home, you have forfeited your life, I'll shoot first and ask questions later. You already proved your ill-intent by breaking into my home. Which offended my new friend terribly.
 
earthworm said:
I do vacillate .. ideally - NO guns for either side - but in the open, conservative , and free USA this is nigh impossible .. Thus .. NOT so ideal and nice , but practical and pragmatic - YES guns, and I will shoot the robber, if he obeys me not, and I do not care if he has a weapon or not .. BUT, my experience , In York County, the law prefers that a man hides in his closet and only report the crime to his insurance company and then call 911
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but if you enter my home I'm going to defend my home, otherwise I might as well leave the door open with a "Take what you want" sign out front.
 
Renae said:
A friend of mine and I were talking, he's from the UK, new here to Texas for his business, and he was flabbergasted to learn you can shoot an intruder. He felt it was immoral to shoot someone just taking your stuff.

I was curious as to yalls thoughts.
Click to expand...

I would not kill someone over a TV/DVD players or such.


UK laws were recently changed due to the EU courts, and a perosn can only be charged when using force that is grossly disproportionate

Self-defending against intruders law ? Verisure blog

The Crime and Courts Act 2013 changed things. Whereas before a homeowner was not allowed to use “disproportionate” force in self defence, the new law allowed this, as long as the force wasn’t “grossly disproportionate”.

This law was challenged by the family of a man who was left in a coma after he was caught allegedly intruding in a private home and put in a headlock. They said it wasn’t compatible with European human rights laws. However, the UK’s High Court overturned the challenge in January 2016.
Click to expand...
 
Renae said:
I'm sorry but if you enter my home I'm going to defend my home, otherwise I might as well leave the door open with a "Take what you want" sign out front.
Click to expand...

Would you kill over someone stealing your dvd player
 
JANFU said:
Would you kill over someone stealing your dvd player
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How do I know that's all he's after? Also, you are in my home, you broke in, took my stuff. Yes, I would pull the trigger and sleep well that night too. If they are lucky it's the buckshot round loaded, if not it's the slug. (I have them alternating in the shotgun, really don't remember which one will fire first)
 
Mr Wonka, with GOOD , full insurance it might be ''harmless", but I do not like my space being violated , much less my possessions .. Obviously, what we need is a more effective , but less deadly weapon .
 
JANFU said:
I would not kill someone over a TV/DVD players or such.


UK laws were recently changed due to the EU courts, and a perosn can only be charged when using force that is grossly disproportionate

Self-defending against intruders law ? Verisure blog
Click to expand...

I think the disproportionate force thing is crazy, because you do not know what they brought with them.
In the UK for example, do they have a knife? is it ok then to defend you and yours with a sword?
Is it fair to blind them with wasp spray, before engaging with edged weapons?
 
Renae said:
A friend of mine and I were talking, he's from the UK, new here to Texas for his business, and he was flabbergasted to learn you can shoot an intruder. He felt it was immoral to shoot someone just taking your stuff.

I was curious as to yalls thoughts.
Click to expand...

California's self defense laws are actually fairly generous and accommodating.

California self-defense law also provides that you have the right to use reasonable force to make someone who is trespassing on your property leave.

You need to:

1. first request that the trespasser leave the property, and
2. reasonably believe that s/he poses a threat either to the property or to the people occupying it.

You have the right to shoot a burglar or other intruder in your home or business if they were not expressly invited to enter, especially if they are not someone that you know.
If a stranger enters your home or enters your business uninvited or after normal hours, it is assumed that you would view them as an imminent threat, and you are allowed to use whatever level of force you believe is necessary to neutralize the situation, even deadly force if necessary.

California is NOT a "duty to retreat" state.
 
MrWonka said:
Legally, yes you can and should have the right to do that. Is starting a gunfight inside your own home over some jewelry or a laptop a smart choice? Probably not, but you do have that right. Worst case scenario you're going to escalate an otherwise harmless robbery into a situation where you or a family member could get seriously injured, but that's a risk you want to take it's your choice.
Click to expand...

Good frikkin grief. A robbery is by definition not “harmless”.
 
TheGoverness said:
No, I don't think that's wrong. You have a right to protect yourself from intruders. Sometimes you can't just wait for the police to show up.
Click to expand...

As the old saying goes: "Help is minutes away when SECONDS count."

OR

"Dial 9-1-1, also known as Dial-A-Prayer."

I am a firm believer in dialing 9-1-1...AFTER I've taken reasonable steps to neutralize the threat.
 
The “no” vote is closest to what I believe so that’s how I voted, but doesn’t quite go far enough. I believe that home invasion is, in itself, a violent act and as such, those rightfully in the home have the right to not only protect people but also property with lethal force in that situation.
 
Dogs, the first line of defense!
 
Renae said:
A friend of mine and I were talking, he's from the UK, new here to Texas for his business, and he was flabbergasted to learn you can shoot an intruder. He felt it was immoral to shoot someone just taking your stuff.

I was curious as to yalls thoughts.
Click to expand...

If the perp is trying to flee, don’t shoot him.

If he turns to face you and you feel he is going to challenge you, then I guess you have to shoot him. It’s him or you.
 
Personally if the intruder were in the living room or kitchen and my family were somewhere else in the house I'd yell a warning and if the intruder didn't leave I may end up firing at them. However if the intruder were anywhere where they could instantly harm my family I wouldn't even warn.

I do believe that a person has the right to assume the worst when someone they didn't allow is in their home. However if that person is clearly fleeing and a person shoots anyway I'd consider it a crime.
 
Renae said:
A friend of mine and I were talking, he's from the UK, new here to Texas for his business, and he was flabbergasted to learn you can shoot an intruder. He felt it was immoral to shoot someone just taking your stuff.

I was curious as to yalls thoughts.
Click to expand...

The problem is that you don't know what the intention of the robber is. Is he/she there to just steal your stuff, kill you to leave no witnesses, etc. I know I have been woken up out of a dead sleep in the night and grabbed my shotgun. Turns out it was just my cats being assholes, but I can tell you I might have shot the intruder and asked later. IMO it has nothing to do with being moral, it has to do with protecting oneself.
 
You go into a bears cave, don't act shocked if you get mauled by the bear. That's just how life works.
 
Renae said:
How do I know that's all he's after? Also, you are in my home, you broke in, took my stuff. Yes, I would pull the trigger and sleep well that night too. If they are lucky it's the buckshot round loaded, if not it's the slug. (I have them alternating in the shotgun, really don't remember which one will fire first)
Click to expand...

And if they were exiting the house with your DVD player? Shoot them in the back?
 
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