[bernie_g]

In my limited experience it depends on the cops you get on the day.

Some years ago, I was visiting relatives in my home-town, a rather rough place, which had a major junkie burglar scum problem at that time.

We heard a noise, someone was trying to break in at the back of the house, in the part where my Granma lived.

Preparations had been made preparations for this kind of thing, and we came flying down the connecting stairs with 'items' in hand.

The guy was fleet of foot, and neither of us felt like chasing him much beyond the end of the road. I was waving an ax handle, which is hard to conceal in public or to use on junkie scum discreetly.

When the cops came, my Gran, bless her heart, said:

'They went chasing him down the road, our Bernie had a great big stick and was going to bash his head in with it.'

To say that I was concerned that she'd said this to the cops would be understatement. I must have looked horrified because the lead cop said in effect:

'Don't worry son, just leave the stave next to the body, we hate these little junkie ****'s too and we'll back your story.'

Clearly though, some cops don't share that enlightened attitude, and it was some years ago. I certainly wouldn't like to put it to the test again any time soon.

A bouncer/martial arts instructor of my acquaintance, who has thought long and hard about these issues for professional reasons says in effect:

'90% of the time in these situations, if you get in trouble it's because of something you or someone else *said* not what you did.'

The case of that farmer a couple of years ago is a classic example. He shotgunned two obvious junkie scum, killing one, *in his own house* but still went to jail.

He went to jail because he'd been broadcasting his intent to do exactly that kind of thing to the next set of burglars as some kind of ill-conceived deterrent. So lots of people said in court. "Tony often said he was going to ... etc'

[gieriscm]

'90% of the time in these situations, if you get in trouble it's because of something you or someone else *said* not what you did.'

Which is why, in my concealed-carry course, the attorney advising us on the laws about the use of lethal force stated that if we students ever were in a self-defense shooting, to NOT SAY A WORD about it to the cops and to demand to have an attorney present while we were being questions. This was even if we were not placed under arrest.

Why? The cops don't know if the incident was a good shoot or not. All they know is they have a shooter (you) and (if you did things right) a body.

[Righty1]

I agree it is almost always the cops protecting their union positions that cause problems for people legally defending themselves. I have known DAs and the only time they really go against the cops is when gross police misconduct has occurred and the public knows it.