The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Homeowner Shoots Burglar-911 Tape Link

skydiver3346 · August 8, 2008, 10:04 AM

About killing a burglar:
Quit saying he is a 15 year old kid....How the hell is the home owner supposed to know he is only 15?
Is he required to say, "Excuse me sir, can you tell me how old you are before I shoot you?" A lot of kids are way bigger than me, (6 ft.+) and at night it is sort of hard to distinguish a young man or adult (especially when you are in fear of your life or bodily harm). Lets quite making excuses for the criminals. Most of them already have a prior record and just keep getting off.
Who knows down the road if the bad guy didn't kill or rape another victim (because he got away with this one).
Bottom line: Sure he might have handled it better,if he had a lot of time to reflect on it, but at the time he was just reacting to the situation. Does that make him right or wrong? Who really knows all the answers to each situation like this, NOBODY does...........Its easy to read about this days later and make a judgement but its a lot different being there and actually experiencing it firsthand. Belive me, I know because I was robbed at knifepoint by 5 dudes in Macon, GA (Hilton hotel) some time back and had no weapon myself to fend them off and had to just take it. Scared the hell out of me for a long time afterwards. I since got a weapons permit and carry a .45 auto in certain places. Hope to God I never have to use it but it is there if need be.

August 8, 2008, 10:04 AM	#52
skydiver3346 Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,222	Killing a buglar: About killing a burglar: Quit saying he is a 15 year old kid....How the hell is the home owner supposed to know he is only 15? Is he required to say, "Excuse me sir, can you tell me how old you are before I shoot you?" A lot of kids are way bigger than me, (6 ft.+) and at night it is sort of hard to distinguish a young man or adult (especially when you are in fear of your life or bodily harm). Lets quite making excuses for the criminals. Most of them already have a prior record and just keep getting off. Who knows down the road if the bad guy didn't kill or rape another victim (because he got away with this one). Bottom line: Sure he might have handled it better,if he had a lot of time to reflect on it, but at the time he was just reacting to the situation. Does that make him right or wrong? Who really knows all the answers to each situation like this, NOBODY does...........Its easy to read about this days later and make a judgement but its a lot different being there and actually experiencing it firsthand. Belive me, I know because I was robbed at knifepoint by 5 dudes in Macon, GA (Hilton hotel) some time back and had no weapon myself to fend them off and had to just take it. Scared the hell out of me for a long time afterwards. I since got a weapons permit and carry a .45 auto in certain places. Hope to God I never have to use it but it is there if need be.