Lou Dobbs poll about deadly force

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I say a big NO. No life is worth taking over some material goods.
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You go, Cornman. Let us know how you feel when the bad men come and steal the last bite of food from your kids' mouths when they're starving to death. Oh, you say you'd stop them then? Well, then. The only thing left to debate here is where to set the boundaries...
 
Do you believe Americans are entitled to use deadly force to protect their homes and the homes of their neighbors from burglars?
Yes 94% 13813
No 6% 930
Total Votes: 14743
 
Do you believe Americans are entitled to use deadly force to protect their homes and the homes of their neighbors from burglars?
Click to expand...

It would be nice if we could rerun the poll with only one minor change: "Do you believe Americans are entitled to use deadly force to protect their homes and the homes of their neighbors from home invasion."
 
I say a big NO. No life is worth taking over some material goods. We have police for these situations. Are any of you honestly thinking you would shoot a human being who was walking out of your neighbor house with a TV???
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Someone decided that material goods were worth their life when they decided to run the risk of breaking into someone else's house.

But that aside, if someone breaks into my house when I'm home (home invasion) I'm not thinking about the TV or the cash or whatever, I'm thinking that someone just used force to enter my abode and I'm not going to spend too much time ruminating on their possible motivations, poor childhood, disadvantaged social status, etc.

Nor am I, at this point in my life going to try to go toe-to-toe with them as one good pop to my surgery scars could kill me.
 
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Just hit the poll with a Yes. I would qualify it, though as I believe that deadly force in use of protecting property only, where life is definitely not at risk, is not worth taking (even a sleaze bag's) life. I am sure it is illegal in a lot of States.

If any life might even be possibly be at risk (even the neighbor's lives) and I could determine that the intruders were definitely armed and ill-intentioned, I would have no hesitation at all.

NA26
 
Do you believe Americans are entitled to use deadly force to protect their homes and the homes of their neighbors from burglars?
Yes 94% 13987
No 6% 941
Total Votes: 14928

This is not a scientific poll


06:01 MST
 
The poll says nothing about being under threat. That is a HUGE point of contention imo. If someone breaks into my home AND is ARMED, then I would make the call on what action to take. I find it sad that so many of you fear your fellow man. I have been in many dangerous encounters with people and many of them were armed. Not once was I armed, but I used my wits and remained calm and nobody got hurt, ever. Everyone has a right to defend there lives and the lives of there family, neighbors and to help strangers in danger. I don't think ANYBODY would dispute this, but to shoot some kid steeling an IPOD from your home?
 
The poll says nothing about being under threat. That is a HUGE point of contention imo. If someone breaks into my home AND is ARMED, then I would make the call on what action to take.
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Cornman,
I've got news for you. If someone breaks into your home while you are present you are under threat. I've never, not once, seen a case where someone forcefully entered a house to leave milk and cookies for the occupants.

Defending your neighbors house (especially if nobody is home)... that's not quite the same thing and would require a lot more thought but I do feel that at some point we (the wage-earning, non-criminal, trying to live a decent life type people) have to start saying "NO" to crime.

As for "armed", by the time you have verified that you've put yourself into a really poor position to defend your life. (and what does "armed" mean? I've seen two different times where someone was killed with ONE "unlucky" punch from an average sized guy).
 
I say a big NO. No life is worth taking over some material goods. We have police for these situations. Are any of you honestly thinking you would shoot a human being who was walking out of your neighbor house with a TV???
Click to expand...
The poll says nothing about being under threat. That is a HUGE point of contention imo. If someone breaks into my home AND is ARMED, then I would make the call on what action to take. I find it sad that so many of you fear your fellow man. I have been in many dangerous encounters with people and many of them were armed. Not once was I armed, but I used my wits and remained calm and nobody got hurt, ever. Everyone has a right to defend there lives and the lives of there family, neighbors and to help strangers in danger. I don't think ANYBODY would dispute this, but to shoot some kid steeling an IPOD from your home?
Click to expand...

Here's the problem: if people do not have the right of deadly force, then people simply cannot stop burglars who "pose no threat." (Aside from the fact that those who "pose no threat" can still kill you)

People should be allowed the use of deadly force in defending their property so that the THREAT of deadly force carries weight behind it.

Otherwise, if you pull a gun on a burglar, the police come and put you away for brandishing a weapon and assault with a deadly weapon when you pull out your gun and say to a burglar- "Don't Move"
 
When the rap sheets of car jackers, home invaders, murderers, etc, get run, the early crimes in their history tend to be burglarys. Criminals train and "promote" just like anyone else in a given field. They start small and go big. Deterring them from small crimes helps deter them from bigger ones.
 
If any of you feel threatened then you have to do what YOU think is best. Lets just all pray that none of us have to make this kind of decision.
 
The problem with legislating "no" to deadly force for the protection of property, is that it removes the risk from property crime. "Am I gonna get shot for stealing that guy's tv? No... oh well, might as well continue taking his stuff then."
 
Amazing results, especially considering it is a poll on a CNN site.
I wonder with results like this where the disconnect is between what Americans are saying and what politicians are doing.
 
My feelings on the matter is I worked hard for what I have risked my life on a number of ocasions to do my job. My property is an extension of me, you steal my property its like stealing my livelyhood.

Here is an example. I bought a brand new Harley with the money I earned from being in Iraq, most of it was my reenlistment bonus, if someone was to steal that, I view it as thm stealing the time it took me to make the money to purchase the hog, and there was alot of blood, sweat and tears in that time, so yeah I'll defend my property with deadly force if need be.
 
Are any of you honestly thinking you would shoot a human being who was walking out of your neighbor house with a TV???
Click to expand...

I often feed my neighbor's (friend's) livestock and watch his house when they are away. I always have a gun with me, usually a shotgun.

Would I shoot a burglar? Unless he immediately hit the deck spread eagle, you bet your *** I'd shoot him.
What they are carrying doesn't make a bit of difference since I don't intend taking inventory before shooting them.

You look at them as human beings, I look at them as parasites.

If that makes me a bad person?
Doesn't bother me a bit.:)
 
I must have missed the memo...

When did the rules change from "Use your weapon only as a last resort" to "Shoot first and ask questions later?"

So now I can simply blast away at someone creeping out a window with some silverware and candlestick holders under his arm? Cool. How bout shoplifters...open season on them too? BANG,BANG,BANG...DROP THE KIT KAT!!!

No! I'm not a troll. No! I'm not an anti. No! I'm not a tree hugging hippie. Perhaps I am guilty of taking the question too literally...maybe not. I was ALWAYS instructed to answer a question as it is asked and not to read into other meanings it may have. NOWHERE in the question does it mention the burglar being armed.

burglary
(bûr'glə-rē) pronunciation


n., pl. -ries.

The act of entering a building or other premises with the intent to commit theft.

Would I chase the guy down and tackle him? Sure. Would I draw and order him down? Very good chance. If he came at me with a gun, knife, bat would I fire? Yup. Would I use deadly physical force on an unarmed skell because he stole some material possessions? Not ever.

Think you're getting the job if this question was asked on a test to become a LEO?
 
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