Property protection

[NavajoNPaleFace]

Considering (what appears to be) the increasing number of crimes against property should we, the general puplic demand the ability to protect our property?

We constantly turn on the television news or open the papers to find out about the alarming amount of home invasions, burglaries, muggings, vandalism, identity theft, etc. and it should upset every responsible citizen.

Criminals are not the stupid ones they were decades ago but, instead, they are very sophisticated (in some cases very well educated) and ruthless. And, in many cases they may cerate more hovoc for us after their crimes then when the commit them.

They have a belief that their activities won't result in their death or injury since, provided under the laws, their actions are not severely threatening to us at the time.

Is it time that we, the public, demand of our governors of all levels the right to protect our homes and our property even when there is not a threat of severe bodily harm or death to us?

Perhaps if we do the numbers or those crimes might drop and we have ur property, and us, intact and safe.

I vote yes!

 

[NG VI]

Well it takes a lot of time and effort to build up your personal property, and I see no reason personally why some punks desire to avoid getting a job trumps my right to retain the property I work for and would have to spend money to replace. Besides that I can't really afford to go replacing everything, so it would negatively impact my quality of life. Much like a pair of bullets would negatively impair a career criminals quality of life. I think it would be in our mutual best interest if my property stayed where I left it and my ammunition could also stay put. And that would eliminate the chance of harm coming to me and my family in the process, so maybe home invasion oriented criminals need to stop being coddled.

 

[j_charles]

I fully support the right of anyone to protect their "castle" from those who would seek to do harm. I only have two caveats:

1) I'm not going to shoot someone over a TV or other material item, that's jsut me, since I have to live with that. If in the course of a home invasion I happen to confront a thief (not that I plan to go a-huntin' or anything) and they cut and run, then fine.

2) If they have entered my home with the intent to commit crimes, and I confront them, and they do not flee, then I have to assume they are there to commit violence and will do anything I can to prevent that.

 

[NG VI]

1) I'm not going to shoot someone over a TV or other material item, that's jsut me, since I have to live with that. If in the course of a home invasion I happen to confront a thief (not that I plan to go a-huntin' or anything) and they cut and run, then fine.

2) If they have entered my home with the intent to commit crimes, and I confront them, and they do not flee, then I have to assume they are there to commit violence and will do anything I can to prevent that.

That looks exactly right, but I also would have no reservations about confronting someone who was in the process of stealing my things, so the situation might culminate with a very bad decision on their part, i.e. moving towards me at all, moving towards my wife at all, moving quickly, anything like that. No reason to get into a scuffle with someone when you are armed.

 

[Loosedhorse]

Can't say it better than j_charles, so I won't try.

 

[Maelstrom]

1) I'm not going to shoot someone over a TV or other material item, that's jsut me, since I have to live with that. If in the course of a home invasion I happen to confront a thief (not that I plan to go a-huntin' or anything) and they cut and run, then fine.

Perhaps I'm a little more cold-hearted but letting a thief leave only victimizes the rest of society. If the courts won't punish or deter then laws should be enacted allowing us to.

 

[Jeff White]

Sorry, we're not going into a political and philosophical discussion of the use of force to protect property. This is the legal forum, not the political and philosophical forum.

You must obey the law. Many states don't permit the use of force to protect property, some do. Obey the law where you are at and discuss the rest over at APS where the subject is on topic.

Jeff