CNN....fair and balanced (Gun Control = DC handgun Ban)

[Yeager]

not to mention it is extremely poor form to shoot someone in the back 

[NUTTZ]

What if they are running down the street with your heart medicine they just stolen, and you would die without it?

NUTTZ

[texasmom]

If it was prescribed by a doctor, just get a new prescription. Then you won't die.

[Yeager]

I would go for a leg shot I guess.......heart meds can be the difference tween life and death 

[Gman]

Agree with Toad.  I've taught a number of CCW classes, and in addition to what he mentioned, you legally and morally are obligated to retreat if you are able, so long as it won't jeopardize you or another innocent parties safety.

Yeag is right too, shooting somebody in the back in a non-battlefield situation is poor poor form.  Also, is somebody is stupid enough to give you their back, you should IMMEDIATELY be following the Time - distance - cover rules of a gunfight and be moving to better/some cover, as well as doing a tactical or emergency reload of your weapon if required.

I hope this guy gets off, I'm no fan of B and E, but IMHO technically he is guilty of the very least of using extremely poor judgment. 

The flip side of the argument I guess is that in the dark he can argue that it's very hard to tell if his opponents were armed (not sure if they were, didn't read the articles), and back shooting them when given the opportunity could have been a "oh my god I was scared they were coming back, or getting friends, or more/bigger/some guns from their car etc".  He still should have moved to cover first and re evaluated his situation.  Then he wouldn't be in this mess.

[Nilsen]

Are you serious?


It's not murder to keep your property from being stolen.

Yes it is.

Life is more valuable than property, stuff, gadgets and any consumer product.

[Hornet33]

I have to agree with Laser here. Someone trys to take off with my stuff, I'm dropping them with 2 to the chest and 1 to the head.

I'll protect myself and my property with lethal force. Besides anyone who steals lost his value of life in my book. A crook is a crook is a crook. Take em out and be done with it.

[lazs2]

shooting in the back is poor form unless... the guy is still a threat.. it would be really poor form to not shoot him in the back if he was just running for cover in order to reload.

It is always a judgment call..

lazs

[Toad]

Besides anyone who steals lost his value of life in my book. A crook is a crook is a crook. Take em out and be done with it.

Stealing a loaf of bread was a hanging offense in the England of the 1800's.

Would you kill a man for stealing a loaf of your bread?

[Hornet33]

Stealing a loaf of bread was a hanging offense in the England of the 1800's.

Would you kill a man for stealing a loaf of your bread?

If he breaks into my house, or truck to steal my loaf of bread, you bet I'll drill him. A THIEF is a THIEF. The dollar amount of whatever they are taking DOES NOT MATTER. If they are willing to break into my home or vehicle to take what does not belong to them, they shouldn't be surprised when I as the owner of said items decide to NOT let them take it, and if I have to shoot them to keep my property from being taken away from me then I will.

Will I shout a warning?? NOPE. Only warning they get is the click when the safety goes off, after that it's going to get real loud real quick.

If you think that makes me a bad person, so be it. Nothing you can say will change my mind about it. I will not be a victim. That's my choice and I stand by it.

[Toad]

So I guess if some 18 year old swipes a penny off your porch table, you'd drill him in the back as he ran away?

In some states, maybe yours, I suppose you'd be cleared for a legal shoot. Not in mine though.

If I did live in a state that allowed that, I still wouldn't shoot. YMMV, but I'm not pulling the trigger unless there's a life in danger. As you have your code, I have mine. In the end we all have to live with ourselves. I'd be pretty unhappy with myself if I killed a man over a loaf of bread.

[lasersailor184]

Yes it is.

Life is more valuable than property, stuff, gadgets and any consumer product.

No, no it isn't.  This guy doesn't respect you, your life, your hard work, or anything else you do.


So why should you respect the idea that he doesn't need another hole in his head?

[Hornet33]

I look at it like this Toad, if someone is willing to come onto my property, into my home, to take something that isn't theirs, then what else are they willing to do? I don't go walking into someones home or onto their property without being invited, so why should I let someone into my home or on my property uninvited? I shouldn't, and if someone does then I have a right to defend myself and my property. I'm not some nut job that is just waiting for the chance to shoot someone. That's the last thing I want to do, but I won't hesitate if the situation ever happens either.

I have caught people breaking into my truck and garage before. I didn't have to shoot on those occasions because as soon as those idiots saw me and my gun, they dropped what they had and ran away. At least the guy breaking into my truck did. The kids I caught in my garage had no where to go except through me and my 12gage. That wasn't going to happen and they and I knew it. My wife called the cops and I turned them over to the police when they arrived. I had my property, and no one got hurt. All is good in the world. Had they tried to run off with my property when I was standing right there, yes I would have shot them to prevent the theft of my property, and been justified in doing so.

But in both of those cases I never said a word to the punks. I racked the action on my shotgun and when they turned around they were looking down the barrel. No need to say anything at that point.

[Toad]

As I said, in your state I assume you would be on safe legal ground.

Not so in Kansas, where I live. Even if it were allowed here though, I wouldn't shoot someone over a TV set. It's just not in my personal code.

You're entitled to your own code and views, of course.

[Leek]

First off, I just want to say that everyone has brought up valid points. I do believe that human life is a very precious thing that should not be taken lightly. At the same time I believe that the only thing that keeps criminals at bay is deterance. If a criminal knows he can break into your house, steal your belongings, and the worst he will get is maybe a years worth of three hots and a cot, cable TV, state sponsored education, and the chance to learn the tricks of the trade from the baddest of the bad, then where is the deterance? On the other hand, if he knows theres a chance that by breaking into my house he may be confronted with lethal force, which house do you believe he will decide to visit?