Muddyvalley wrote:
Talk is cheap! You might want to put some more thought into this blustering.
Killing somebody, even a burglar, might, and probably will, cost you more than he will have stolen, and no end of hassles, emotional and legal as well as financial. Even dead men have relatives with lawyers. It doesn't even matter if you were justified legally. It will still be very expensive.
If an intruder is in your house, their intent or what they are capable of doing to you and your family is unknown. I'm sure they didn't call ahead to let you know they will be paying your house a burglary visit...no need to be concerned if you see a scary stranger in your house...they just want your things, not your life. Geez! I suggest, assume the worst. (warning: this is gruesome)
Talk can get you DEAD! I would suggest if confronted by an intruder in your house 1. Leave as fast as you can if possible, 2. Call the police, 3. If you can't do 1 or 2 then defend yourself and your family like your life depends on it. Do you think you will win a fist fight? Do you think you can win a knife fight? You might have a chance with a gun. I wish Tom (click on the AP link above) had a gun that evening. Maybe he and his wife would be around today for us to enjoy their company. If he shot the intruder and it caused him legal expenses, so be it. I'm positive the community would have chipped to take care of it. That would have been a more favorable outcome than what actually happened. The people in the article are dead because they recognized the intruder and he did not want to go back to jail.
With that being said...I am not a cheerleader for anti-gun or pro-gun. But I do believe you have a right to defend yourself.