Four burglars enter, three burglars leave... Householder arrested for murder...

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

Ah here now, there is absolutly no call whatsoever for all that arrogant, condscending bullcrap.

But then maybe you all know much better than me :rolleyes:

I certainly wasn't setting out to be condescending AH, as I said in my post you quoted. I was saying in practical terms knocking a fully grown man out, or incapacitating him in a selective way only happens in the movies. I also pointed out that I would run and hide as first response, second if I was confronted capitulate, if however it escalated and I felt me or mines lives were in danger I would not hesitate to use lethal force if I got the chance.

As MM pointed out;

Manic Moran wrote: »

I have never yet heard of a successful prosecution either in the US or Ireland which involved someone who used 'excessively lethal force.' Lethal is lethal. you attack someone with a knife, it's lethal force. If the first stab didn't end the threat, do it again. And again. Repeat until confident that the threat is ended. Only if it is obvious that there is no longer a threat (eg the guy has ceased struggling) is one no longer permitted to continue attacking, and that point is never obvious. But by that point, lethal force of any sort, even just one stab, is no longer authorised, it's not a matter of 'too many stabs', it's a case of 'was every individual stab deemed necessary at the time?'

Bear in mind that there are very few immediately incapacitating wounds. When one gets shot, it is actually the psychological effect which puts one down, not any physiological reason, unless the round actually hits something immediately vital such as the nervous system or an applicable muscle/bone. If the will is there for the target to continue going even after being shot or stabbed, he can continue to pose a threat, even though the wound may be ultimately mortal.

Just backing up what I also suggested in my earlier post. I've had relatives in combat who have told me similar and how surprising the amount of damage the human body can sustain and still keep going(and the opposite of where someone can get a bare flesh wound and expire). A partial reason some US (and others) cops use tasers over firearms in some situations(mainly drug related) is that the attacker can often enough take a few shots and keep going. The taser can stop and drop them faster.

Hasn't in the US. It is far less likely that a burglar will meet a homeowner in the US than in Ireland (By about a 5:1 ratio), as the burglar will make particular effort to ensure that the homeowner isn't around at the time. Encounters in the US can routinely be lethal, and the burglars tend not to think that the burglary is worth risking their life when it's far safer to ensure nobody's home in the first place. Paradoxically, this means that burglary is safer for everyone (homeowner and burglar) in the US than it is anywhere else. Burglaries happen about as often in the US as in Europe, but people take more care when going about it.

This is what I've gleaned from yanks I know as well. They've told me it's very rare to find an intruder in your house. Here I know of two people who awoke in their beds with two scumbags above them. One with a hammer as a threat and the other time with a kettle of scalding water held above them demanding their car keys.

Actually of the folks I know that have been burgled MM's UK figures would apply funny enough. Half of them were in the house at the time. One woman I know was on her own as they tried to break in her patio door. She screamed and they stopped, but then started again. She had rung the Gardai who said they were on their way and then rang me in a panic. The scum finally ran away when a neighbour heard the commotion. The Guards showed up an hour later. Another mate of mine heard a noise one night and went downstairs to see two scum(its usually two or more) trying to break in his patio door, they ran when they saw him. They tried a week later. I know if they ever get in his house, his kill mode in defence of his two young children will kick in and woe betide the scum. he'll make mourners of their nearest and dearest.

These bastards can really ruin lives. I knew one old woman who was burgled and it affected her so badly she actually took an overdose . I've known others who have moved from a much loved family home after a string of burglaries. Some who become paranoid and require mental health help. Others who just don't feel safe.

For many it's NOT just property. It's NOT just theft. It's a violation almost a rape of ones safety and place of safety.