Guns and self defense
06-10-2015, 09:27 PM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 34
Guns and self defense
Im watching this prison doc and I see this guy locked up for manslaughter, killed someone he claimed was self defense. I start asking myself, what is the purpose of firearms? Self defense strictly in the home ? This guy got 15 years for voluntary manslaughter, so if you're OCing and your life is in danger what are you supposed to do
06-11-2015, 03:44 AM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: MICHIGAN
Posts: 2,568
Build a safe room get in it and call 9 1 1. Also helps to get the rep of the crankiest SOB in the county. Put no Trespassing signs at the end of your driveway. stick a shot gun barrel under the nose of every door to door sales person who can't read and also those do gooder church people. Word will get out.
Al
Al
06-11-2015, 04:04 AM
#4
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: south eastern PA
Posts: 15,436
To kill a person under a claim of self defense you must be able to show you had a reasonable belief that you were in eminent danger of death or serious bodily injury. Just as an example, if the person had a club or a knife and they were 50 yards away from you and you shot them, you would have a problem, they have to be close enough (opportunity) that it would be reasonable to believe you had to shoot right now or die yourself. Killing in self defense is still commiting a homicide, you are going to have to show it was a justifiable homicide. Nothing to be taken lightly, there are no do overs when you kill someone.
06-11-2015, 06:00 AM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,695
Shooting outside of your home is always a messy proposition. In some states, even INSIDE your home you can still land in jail. Whats even messier is the monetary side of things. Many times, people that have defended themselves against intruders have been sued by the family of the intruder and lost due to ignorance of the jury. The legal system of this country is in serious need of an upgrade to put it mildly. You know it's bad when you have to shoot an ARMED intruder in your home and the family of that intruder gets paid for it! And lord help you if that intruder actually survives! There have been many cases where the person that PROVED to a criminal court they were shooting in self defense that has had to PAY for hospital bills and damages to the intruder!
06-11-2015, 10:13 AM
#6
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allegan, MI
Posts: 8,019
Shooting outside of your home is always a messy proposition. In some states, even INSIDE your home you can still land in jail. Whats even messier is the monetary side of things. Many times, people that have defended themselves against intruders have been sued by the family of the intruder and lost due to ignorance of the jury. The legal system of this country is in serious need of an upgrade to put it mildly. You know it's bad when you have to shoot an ARMED intruder in your home and the family of that intruder gets paid for it! And lord help you if that intruder actually survives! There have been many cases where the person that PROVED to a criminal court they were shooting in self defense that has had to PAY for hospital bills and damages to the intruder!
06-11-2015, 10:56 AM
#7
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: south eastern PA
Posts: 15,436
PA recently passed a Castle doctrin self defense law that elininates the duty to retreat but inside and outside your home. In the past in PA the law required you to retreat if outside your home if confronted by someone threatning your life, no more. In addition, the law also says regarding civil suits against someone who defended themselves with lethal force for the killing or wounding an assailant that if the assailant or someone suing on his behalf if deceased, is unsuccessful in their law suit they must pay the costs of the lawsuit to the person who defended themselves including lawyers, expert wittnesses ect. It doesn't prevent you from being sued for using lethal force, but if you win the suit, it will not destroy you financially like it did in the past.
Last edited by Oldtimr; 06-11-2015 at 03:32 PM.
06-11-2015, 11:37 AM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,695
PA recently passed a Castle doctring self defense law that elininates the duty to retreat but inside and outside your home. In the past in PA the law required you to retreat if outside your home if confronted by someone threatning your life, no more. In addition, the law also says regarding civil suits against someone who defended themselves with lethal force for the killing or wounding an assailant that if the assailant or someone suing on his behalf if deceased, is unsuccessful in their law suit they must pay the costs of the lawsuit to the person who defended themselves including lawyers, expert wittnesses ect. It doesn't prevent you from being sued for using lethal force, but if you win the suit, it will not destroy you financially like it did in the past.
06-15-2015, 05:58 PM
#10
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: lynn haven fl USA
Posts: 234
Amen Sheriden. I live in Fl. and we have "Stand Your Ground" which basically says anywhere you have the reasonable expectation of Safety you don't have to retreat.
My view has always been that if you put me in a position to defend myself or family I will deal with the legal ramifications afterwards.
My view has always been that if you put me in a position to defend myself or family I will deal with the legal ramifications afterwards.