Deadly Force

[GlueGuy]

<font color=blue>if the sound of my rifle being cocked doesn't scare them off</font color=blue>

Sometimes something like that is the most effective. I've long felt that there is nothing like the "cha-chink cha-chink" of a pump action shotgun to give an interloper pause.

But I'm like you; I hope I would never ever have to pull the trigger.

The GlueGuy

 

[cowboydoc]

I have two instances of break-in, personally. One was when I was in undergrad. A guy broke into my house and I woke up and saw him in the kitchen. Grabbed my handgun and told him not to move. He also had a gun and fired at me!!! I dropped to the floor and he went out the backdoor. If I had it to do over again I don't think I would say anything. Tough call but I know I wouldn't hesitate if it happened again.

Second time was not me personally but the girl I was dating in grad school. She was held up at gunpoint and never recovered. She dropped out of school form having post traumatic stress syndrome. She went back home and her life was just ruined. She was scared to death all the time. She finally went into counseling and got somewhat better, but never went back to school. Now how fair is that that her life was ruined?

 

[Roy]

<font color=blue>Sometimes something like that is the most effective.</font color=blue> Somewhere along the line I remember (maybe a news show interviewing a law enforcement official) that with laser sights, there is a need to shoot far less. One would hesitate (assuming a rational individual) when there is no doubt where the bullet would be going!

Roy

 

[RobertN]

A slide shotgun can be diffucult to manuever around with. But, it definitely has a most distinc sound that really gets attention. When that slide racks shut, it is very obvious what just happened...

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[ERNIEB]

<font color=blue>If I had it to do over again I don't think I would say anything. </font color=blue>
Funny that you should say that, as not long ago I was reading on the midwest gangsters of the early 30's. Law enforcent officers in their first encouters would ask the outlaws to surrender. The outlaws were shrewd, bold, well armed, and had no intention of surrendering. The result was disastrous with many lawmen being wounded or killed.
The officers quickly changed tactics. Charles Floyd was shot in the back while running away from "little Mel" Purvis and posse. (at that time the FBI was not authorized to carry firearms). Bonnie and Clyde were riddled with bullets before anyone even mentioned the word surrender. And so on it went.
The situation you were in, is one I wouldn't want to be in. As so many others have said here. But it does happen all to often.

Ernie

 

[GlueGuy]

<font color=blue>A slide shotgun can be difficult to manuever around with</font color=blue>

Not with a shorty 18" barrel and a pistal grip. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Could be tough to hang onto when you pull the trigger though. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

The GlueGuy

 

[RobertN]

A good load of rocksalt is perfect for chicken nabbers.

Only things these days though, they are likely to come back mad and looking for revenge; that the REALLY scary part!

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[FarmerBob]

In many cases I've read, and in most states, use of deadly force in protecting one's home is justified if the victim is "in fear" of bodily harm. It doesn't make much sense to wait and see if an intruder is going to harm or kill you or a family member before you act. Most prosecutors are quite reluctant to bring charges against a citizen who has killed or wounded an intruder. I, for one, am from the old school and believe I have the "right" to protect myself and my property. Hopefully, I'll never have to excercise that right.

 

[GlueGuy]

<font color=blue>they are likely to come back mad</font color=blue>

And we wouldn't want any mad chickens on our hands. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif... Whoops! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Bet you were talkin about the nabbers, and not the chickens /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

The GlueGuy

 

[ERNIEB]

Bird
There is, or was a web site called the Texas Cop Shop that has everything from the 2000 penal code to Vernon's for online veiwing. I'd give you the link, but lately it doesn't come up. I don't know if it's been moved or taken down or what. It was in cowtown.net. A lot of news and info for Texas Police too. A nice site, too bad if it's been removed from the web.

Ernie