Man sets off own booby trap in house

[Exmasonite]

Not sure where to put this... seemed like an example of a BAD strategy or tactic. blew a good amount of his arm off, apparently:

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=80836

Lansing man loses arm when home booby trap explodes

Courtesy of the Lansing State Journal


Created: 9/13/2007 12:35:03 PM
Updated: 9/13/2007 3:27:54 PM


LANSING - Police are investigating an explosion that injured a Felt Street man.

The man, a neighbor said, apparently lost a considerable part of his right arm today after tripping a booby trap he'd set in his home to catch burglars.

The man, whose ID has yet to be released, apparently tripped the explosive about 8:30 a.m., and then ran to a neighbor's home for help. City police spokesman Sgt. Bruce Ferguson said the man was "working with or creating some sort of explosive device."

Neighbor Patrick Struble, 48, said the victim rigged his home with booby traps of gun powder and water piping after being burglarized two years ago.

The explosion, "I guess about took his hand off," Struble said.

Lansing police have blocked off the entire block of Felt Street to investigate. Members of the state police bomb squad will enter the home before 11:30 a.m., local police said.

Police said they are conducting a criminal investigation and are eager to talk to the victim who is undergoing emergency surgery at an area hospital.

 

[Geno]

Booby traps are highly illegal in Michigan. His lost arm may be the least of his problems.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

It was established some 30-40 years ago that booby traps of this kind are illegal. They might ensnare someone you didn't want to blow up.

I won't deny that when my home got burgled the thought didn't cross my mind.

 

[campbell]

Another near Darwin award.

Legalities aside, it ain't real bright to be rigging pipe bombs around your own home.

 

[Tim Burke]

Not only are booby traps illegal, so are pipe bombs.
In for a penny, in for a pound...

 

[Fred Fuller]

Not only is it a bad strategy, it's illegal in every jurisdiction I know of. There is simply no possible up side to setting booby traps.

lpl/nc

 

[inherentical]

See, this is why I use punji pits in my home.

 

[Elmer Fudd]

I studied a booby trap case in a legal class a long time ago. Definitely illegal.

Another great example of obsessing on one threat so much that you ignore the risks of the course of action you choose to counter the first threat.

 

[JLStorm]

Finally, I can give my wife an example of what true paranoia is so she can stop confusing me with someone who has it

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Man sets off own booby trap in house

I could make a cruel comment that it worked: it trapped a booby,
but I shall refrain.

This is why landmines--outside of specific, marked minefields--
are such a bad thing: they are weapons that kill without a human
aiming or controlling, often years after the war is over. They
are even stupider as home defense. Suppose you pass out or die:
who gets killed checking on you: a family member, a EMT first
responder? Booby traps are for boobies.

 

[BullfrogKen]

I'm pulling rank on Lee and closing this one. There's not anything to be gained from this discussion besides the opportunity to ridicule. Hopefully we already know better not to do this, and don't need this story to illustrate why.