Replies

“1. ID the target as friend...don't shoot.
2. ID the target as foe...shoot.
3. Obtain no positive ID and relocate because at this point you have completely given away your position to an unknown.”

Two nights ago, I had an intruder in the house at about 0430 hrs. That's the third time in my life I've had to deal with that situation. My approach is to light the place up like the 4th of July. All the lights go on. I get big and loud. I get angry. I issue simple, direct, and clear commands, and I've done it in two foreign languages. So far the technique has resulted in the sounds of panicked flight, and a perp taken into custody a few blocks away. I'm not interested in effecting an arrest. I would prefer to avoid having some perp’s entrails draped over my new sofa. I don't do “sweeps,” or shoulder rolls into the living room. I don't use lasers or weapons mounted lighting systems. We have too many “innocents” living with us, coming and going at all hours. I don't want a laser guiding the muzzle of my shotty to the chest of a family member. That's the rules of engagement for our house. It will, no doubt, be different for somebody else's. It's all situational.

In my State, you have to be very careful of Nr. 2. It's against the law here to even threaten the use of deadly force if it doesn't involve countering a direct threat to your life. Use a gun to stop someone from stealing your car in the driveway, or the TV from your living room, and the law will put you in jail. Everyone needs to understand that when the Sheriff arrives, you must be prepared to make a credible statement to the effect that you feared for your life.

Good points. Those three points are of course overly constrained. In our state, you can't legally issue deadly force unless you are confronted with an equal force, or are in "fear of your life, or the lives of your family (occupants)". Strangely enough, it is legal to shoot through a door, window, or exterior wall of a dwelling IF an exterior breech is imminent and you are in fear of your life. I don't think it's been tried in court yet though. I have very close contact with large components of our LEO community here (on account of my profession) and they've all told me the same thing...which is...after a shooting, the standard line is, "I was in fear of my life, and the lives of my family!" Say no more, and no less...irrespective of whether the perp is armed or NOT. Also, most of these have also told me that a teenaged daughter in the house is an "ace in the hole" if you end up killing a B&E perp. I wouldn't use that as an excuse for killing an intruder though. She'd probably kill him first. She has better reflexes that I do, better eyesight, and keeps an AR-15 where it's easy to reach and quick to load! I guess in my house it's like the humorous sign I've seen before, "Forget the dog. Beware of the kids!" :-)

Having said all that, I don't relish the thought of killing somebody in my home. Anybody who says they "look forward to it" has a problem (I'm not saying that you do!). I've seen people die before, and it rarely happens like in the movies. They bleed, and puke, defecate, urinate, and cry for their mothers while they're dying and bleeding out. If I have to, I will. But our goal as an armed household is to see that everybody simply stays "safe"....the perp included. Now if the perp wants to have a shoot out, then we're going to oblige. But we honestly don't look forward to it and would be happy to just have "zombies" stay AWAY and save them and us the trouble, mess, and aggravation. :-)

Your approach sounds effective, and from your own account, it IS. But you have a realistic approach. It's the people who believe that noise and "effect" alone will frighten badguys away who are potentially setting themselves up for a big disappointment. These people don't seriously consider the "what if" it doesn't frighten them away. It's akin to the thought that brandishing a weapon will simply cause somebody to run away. But if they themselves draw a weapon as well, then the dynamics of the situation change completely and the advantage is lost.

I'm glad everybody stayed safe in your encounter two nights ago!