Unreal but true story.. Two summers ago, friend of mine is on his own farm. When he and his brother see 6 people on horses entering there pasture field. They <w/o weapons> drive up to them and simply ask them to leave. They had entered the field by cutting the fence BTW. OK, long story short, 5 men and one woman, all drunk and or high get chitty with the owner. Attack both of them, basically 5 on 2, beating them with everything they can get there hands on. My friend, on the groud now see's 3 of the men on top of his brother. Crawls to his truck and manages to get in. One of the tresspasers high on whatever stands between my friend and his beaten brother. Well my friend ran him over. Did not kill him but hurt him pretty good. In the end my friend <the landowner> is charged with felonious assault and pleads to much lesser charge. Slug sue's him and insurance company settles the case for 100grand.. Sad but true story.. Tied up in court for nearly two years. Settled 2 months ago. Landowner model citizen no trouble ever. Slug RAP sheet nearly 10 pages long.
In Missouri those trespassers would have been in serious trouble. Last August, Missouri amended the "Castle Doctrine" to include all of the owner's property in addition to an occupied dwelling. If the landowner feels his life is in danger he has the right to use lethal force anywhere on his property. Of course, good judgment is also necessary. In the above case, I think lethal force would have been justified as those guys lives were clearly in danger due to intoxification and drug use.
I have a permit to carry a concealed weapon (CCW) and although I don't always carry, its there if needed. It's too bad our society has deteriorated to the point of this becoming a necessity.
