Posted on 08/11/2011 1:48:27 PM PDT by Celerity
“I was in fear for my life and felt I had no other choice, officer.”
Ask Jerome Ersland.
Interesting question. Legally what rights to we have in defending our homes and property against people with Molotov Cocktails for instance. Is shooting someone legal? I live in California and the laws may be different.
“IT’S COMIN’ STRAIGHT FOR US!”
Throwing Molotov Cocktails into homes? How dangerous!
This needs to be stopped before it grows!
That’s attempted murder in my opinion.
In both situations, just the sight of a gun would make most of the mobbers turn tail and run. You might not have to fire, and if you do have to fire, there will suddenly be fewer potential targets.
I wouldnt bother calling any “officer”. They only make a bad situation worse.
It needs to be stopped by authorities before it ever gets to that point.
If you have elderly parents sleeping in their own home when it happens.
Or you are away and your children or grandchildren are home sleeping when they come breaking through the window.
Or if nobody’s home but your helpless pets are there when the house starts burning.
It needs to be stopped or we will be seeing worse then London.
The smartest thing to do would be to evade and get the hell out of the danger area without even brandishing a firearm.
The next smartest thing would be to brandish it and not use it.
The last resort would be to shoot someone with it, you would have to be defending someone who’s life you believe is in danger.
There would still be a very costly and lengthy court process to go through to prove that you acted legally.
What might be all right in one state might land you in jail in another, I’ve read several posters here on FR state how they would start shooting, that would be a very unwise thing to do, don’t expect the law to be on your side if you do that.
The worst feeling is when you need x and don't have it. That's why I started carrying a BOB long before I knew that they had a name. And having them doesn't mean that you must use them, but it certainly expands your options.
You can survive an attack without weapons, tactics and strategies, but you'll fare better with them ;-)
I’m glad you have asked, because I have been running these things in my head as well. I have my concealed permit, and have finally found a firearm I feel happy with. Now I need to know exactly when to shoot! I will be checking back to see what everyone says. If someone told me 5 years ago that this was going to be something I would dwell on...
During any neighborhood riot, me and my neighbor will put out lawn chairs and sit out front with our shotguns in plain view.
I live in california also and if they are trying to hurt you, you can shoot. If they break into your house you can shoot. I Have a CCW(Amador county gives them out)and if your life is threatened, in your house or out, you can shoot. Better to shoot anyway if you are in doubt. The rule is, "Better to be tried by 12 then be carried by 6". This holds true. Rioters in the USA better be f***ing aware, their a** is in danger of being shot full of holes.
Well I searched the net to find out what a BOB was. The closest I could find was Battery Operated Boyfriend.
So you pull out the BOB and everybody falls on the floor laughing? Do you think that will work?
Thank God I am moving to Texas.
Here in Minnesota one would likely get charged with violating the criminals civil rights. Even though Minnesota has concealed carry. Euphorians here freak at the mere word “gun”.
Flash mob meets flash BANG!
I don’t care what the laws are, if someone is about to toss a Molotov at myself, my family, my car, my house they’ll get shot. No matter what state I lived in. Here in Washington state it would be legal as you are stopping a felony.
Not sure if the looting of a store is a felony or not. A felony robbery is over $750 in Washington. So a convienence store probably not. The local video store yes. However, if a rabble of “youts” are running all over the place it would seem to be likely to be “in fear for your life”. However, while those security cameras are always blurry in trying to catch the young punk robber, I’m sure it would capture in full clarity some older white guy putting a stop to a flash mob. Of course if they came after me directly that would be a different matter.
“Brandishing” a weapon during a flash mob may or may not be legal - I’m not sure. Probably not.
I think you just answered your own question.........Destruction of property does not allow for use of deadly force because property can be either repaired or replaced.......
Personally, if I'm caught in the midst of a riot situation, I'm getting the hell out of there because if I were to brandish my firearm there is a good chance that I could be mistaken for an armed rioter..........
I live in CA and if a saw a piece of human vermin standing outside my home, about to throw a Molotov Cocktail through my front window, I would blast him with my 38 police special, no questions asked.
As the saying goes, better to be judged by 12, then carried away by six.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.