There was a similar thread last year, with most freepers saying to be careful before shooting, me among them. One freeper criticized me, saying it's better to shoot into the dark garage and stay alive. I said no, you must know your target before shooting. Other incidents have happened where homeowners shot and killed their own teenage children who came in through the garage at night.
If you feel threatened by someone your garage, be armed and ready to repel the threat but best to get some light on the target and be sure it isn't a harmless threat. In this case, homeowner had light in the garage and fired away. He's in trouble, if there was no weapon on the intruders.
That depends on the details. Three to one odds are an immediate danger in my book if any of the three makes a threatening move.
Something similar happened to a lady at church. Her grown daughter was walking in her bedroom with the lights off. The son-in-law, her husband woke up in the dark, assumed it was an intruder, grabbed his gun and shot, killing his wife instantly.
Of course you might kill a family member that way, but that is a small price to pay for personal safety.
Yup. Every time some jerk pumped up on testosterone brags about taking out a thug with his Glock 17, I mention to the moron that behind every one of his 33 rounds, there is a lawyer.
> He’s in trouble, if there was no weapon on the intruders.
Note to self:
Stop by Goodwill.
Buy a couple of unmatched butcher knives.
Wear rubber gloves.
Agreed.
The homeowner in this story is going to take it on the chin legally. I’d be surprised if he’s not charged with some sort of manslaughter.
Personally, I think someone trespassing and doing drugs in a garage belonging to someone else has no excuse if they get popped. But the law says different.
You summed it very well. Victim is in trouble if there was no weapon on the intruders. Maybe. Victim most likely will have a harder time. But it might take more work to be exonerated without being charged or taken to trial. I know of one case where unarmed criminal in break in was shot in the back, died. Case went to trial - deadlocked 8 - 4 in defendant’s favor. State chose not to retry. Better to be alive and charged than dead. Unless one has been in such a situation, one does not know what the heat of the moment will do to one’s thoughts and actions. Monday morning quarterbacking is easy.
The stupid, it burns.
Seventeen year olds can be weapons.
You have lived a blessed life, and have not everyday facts. Other people are not so lucky as to retain the ignorance from whence your posts are completely drawn.
Morally the homeowner was correct to shoot to kill.
Legally is another matter.