What is the law? Shoot 'em or not? (King, Simpson: neighborhoods, contractors)

[Mike409]

Originally Posted by Simpson12

So great to live in the land of redneck.

Wow, that's nice.

[remedy a4]

LOL @ the claim of "most criminals do not have health insurance"

[Whytewulf]

Originally Posted by Mike409

I will recommend that you DO read the middle pages before making such a post. You just made a blanket statement accusing EVERYONE who replied, that we get a kick out of shooting people.

EVERYONE is NOT amped to shoot people. Quit the opposite in fact. From the replys, it does appear that everyone is in agreement to protect our own lives and that of our family. I absolutely believe that not EVERY thief is looking to kill people, that is completely obvious. HOWEVER, it absolutely does happen. I've experienced it, more than a few times.

We are all in agreement, well maybe most are in agreement, that as firearm owners, we are to use great judgement in the use of weapons. That FIREARMS should be used to protect life, not property.

We should be able(choose) to protect our property without fear of serious physical injury or death. We should not have to hide in a closet as a thief pilfers our hard earned "stuff". We should not have to wait for the government to protect us, we should be able to protect ourselves.

Again, not advocating shooting someone over property, but if we attempt to protect our property and it's escalated by the thief, it may end in his/her demise. Life is about choices, if someone choses the wrong home, it may be the worst choice that person ever made. Then again, maybe not.

You don't need to recommend anything to me, You can get the tone of threads and threads prior to this for the past 2 years that advocacy of gun use is not shy here. So after 4 or 5 pages I figured I would respond since the original question was answered. So I provided my opinion, which is that I would at all costs avoid it, thus not needing the worry about the legality of such matters. Everyone is entitled to protect themselves, but in certain groups a mentality can arise if your feel threatened or even just have a sense of "everyone out to get you", like after tragedies we tend to be defensive. So you are correct, not EVERYONE is amped up to shoot people, but again I was referring to tone versus detail.

[BrusselsSprouts]

I'm no redneck! I personally think that thieves are terrorists, and ultimately should be treated as such. They cost us much more money a year than most people know in increased insurance, increased cost of goods and services, the need for security systems in houses, cars, businesses, identity theft, inconvenience (sometimes a death blow) to people who lose their only mode of transportation, and the loss of an overall sense of security.

A thief is a gambler, and takes a risk every time he/she takes something without the owner's permission. I know some won't agree with me, but at that point in time when a thief is thieving, in my mind, the thief stops being a human being, and becomes a target. It doesn't bother me in the least when I hear a homeowner got the drop on a thief, and puts them down for good (as long as it's a legitimate shoot).

What each of us would do when confronting a thief is an unknown (although we say we know). I have come face to face with a thief, in action, and would have had the drop on him (could have run him down with my car)...I decided to get the people I was with out of harms way, and in the process, the thief got away. The good news is that he was arrested not too long afterwards, and spent two years in jail. After his sentence ended, the court asked if I wanted anything from him. All I asked for was his obituary. I am still waiting.

[Mike409]

Originally Posted by Whytewulf

You don't need to recommend anything to me, You can get the tone of threads and threads prior to this for the past 2 years that advocacy of gun use is not shy here. So after 4 or 5 pages I figured I would respond since the original question was answered. So I provided my opinion, which is that I would at all costs avoid it, thus not needing the worry about the legality of such matters. Everyone is entitled to protect themselves, but in certain groups a mentality can arise if your feel threatened or even just have a sense of "everyone out to get you", like after tragedies we tend to be defensive. So you are correct, not EVERYONE is amped up to shoot people, but again I was referring to tone versus detail.

Absolutely, my recommendation stands. Don't come in here and sh*t on everyone with your "everyone is amped to shoot people". Take it to another thread, because that is NOT the "tone" of THIS thread. Everyones opinion matters, but not with blanket statement. Just like "all thiefs are looking to kill" would be uncalled and inappropriate.

I see nothing wrong with "advocacy of gun use". Read, not "trigger happy", but advocacy in the right to bear arms and self preservation.

If you want to avoid the possibilty of causing harm and death upon someone, when it's brought upon you, just because you avoid the legalities, that's perfect. Lay down and hope for the best. It's all about choices and options. My choice is to be judged by twelve then to be carried by six. If I had to make another last millisecond decision, hopefully it'll be the right decision again.

We can agree to disagree.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by Simpson12

So great to live in the land of redneck.

Gee, Simpson. Sorry you feel that way. Maybe you would be more comfortable elsewhere. May I remind you that 2/3 of the people who live here (and I daresay - even a higher % of those posting on this forum) are NOT Southerners, nor are they from NC. So I think you just used a very wide brush to paint a lot of people who are simply concerned about how to deal w/ thugs who may threaten their lives.

This has been, overall, a very civilized and informative discussion b/n concerned residents of this region, who are exploring what we can do to protect our lives and our property, WITHIN THE LAW. I personally have felt we have expressed our frustrations w/ our limitations in a very moderated manner . . . Over and over, we have stated that no one is interested in being a vigilante. In fact, most of us cannot live our lives that way. We are just middle class folk trying to live decent lives and feeling not only frustration, but apprehension and concern about the options should someone decide to target us or our loved ones.

I am very grateful for the responses on this thread. I feel it is something we should be discussing so we are informed and so we can consider different ways to address criminal activity. I, personally, am not into victimology - I prefer to be a survivor. Unfortunately, a thug can instantly put us into the victim category . . . and it is up to us to have learned what we can do to remain a survivor. Perhaps these things are not easy to discuss, and indeed, awkward to think about. But knowing what to do - or at least having some previous knowledge about our options - could mean the difference b/n a person surviving a situation w/ a criminal - or becoming a victim.

If that discussion makes you feel compelled to label us as "rednecks," so be it. May I wish for you that you never have to deal w/ a situation w/ a thug who is armed and carrying off thousands of dollars of your possessions - or who is in the process of breaking into your abode.

[BrusselsSprouts]

Originally Posted by anifani821

I am very grateful for the responses on this thread. I feel it is something we should be discussing so we are informed and so we can consider different ways to address criminal activity. I, personally, am not into victimology - I prefer to be a survivor. Unfortunately, a thug can instantly put us into the victim category . . . and it is up to us to have learned what we can do to remain a survivor. Perhaps these things are not easy to discuss, and indeed, awkward to think about. But knowing what to do - or at least having some previous knowledge about our options - could mean the difference b/n a person surviving a situation w/ a criminal - or becoming a victim.

Very well put Ani! Thanks for this thread...a good one. Regarding "victims", I too often see in the media words that make it seem like the THIEF is the victim, a victim of their circumstances in life. A thief is a thief, period, regardless of circumstances (real or imagined). They should be punished; we owe them nothing. The victims are the rest of us, the law abiding citizens who end up paying, even if we're not an actual vicitm of a break in. It is vitally important that we all understand what our options are. I agree with Ani that no one (it seems) is advocating a vigilante approach to this problem. However, I personally don't feel any compassion for thieves, and do seek to understand what I am allowed to do, what is the furthest extent of an allowable response that will hurt the thief, but not me (avoid being hoist by my own petard.)

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by BrusselsSprouts

Very well put Ani! Thanks for this thread...a good one. Regarding "victims", I too often see in the media words that make it seem like the THIEF is the victim, a victim of their circumstances in life. A thief is a thief, period, regardless of circumstances (real or imagined). They should be punished; we owe them nothing. The victims are the rest of us, the law abiding citizens who end up paying, even if we're not an actual vicitm of a break in. It is vitally important that we all understand what our options are. I agree with Ani that no one (it seems) is advocating a vigilante approach to this problem. However, I personally don't feel any compassion for thieves, and do seek to understand what I am allowed to do, what is the furthest extent of an allowable response that will hurt the thief, but not me (avoid being hoist by my own petard.)

Hee Hee Hee - petard. Haven't heard that word in a while.

Our society has gotten to the point of justifying the criminal's behavior. I am sorry. I don't care if he is a psychopath or just has no ethics and morals. Criminal behavior is just that. We have laws supposedly to protect society. I can't help there are people w/ deviant behavior out there.

I don't subscribe to the Hug-A-Thug program. BTW - you might be interested in knowing some of the programs this city funds to help felons get back on their feet - or receive legal assistance. I have not decided whether those are programs that are worthy of my donations/tax dollars or not. I have thought about it a lot . . . just not sure.

[rosstermyer]

boy i miss texas when it comes to topics like this.

i too am worried about what the gray area is with this law. i heard something russtling outside in close proximity to my back door one night. i immediately grabbed my gun(just moved here from texas) and headed towards the back door. it turned out to be some coons digging in my trashcan and recycling. man they mad all kindsa noise out there! in hindsight, it prob wasnt smart for me to head over there with the gun, cause i woulda shot someone if they were messing with anything outside on my property.

[BrusselsSprouts]

Hey Ani, a little off topic I know, but in the knew movie "The Dark Knight", Batman has a gun that shoots petards. These are little gooey piles of explosives, with a digital timer, about 2-3 inches around, that stick to things, and explode. Are these an allowable response if you catch a thief? just shoot an explosive goo ball at them?

If only...