The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Tactics and Training

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old December 1, 2007, 07:55 PM   #1
superfast61821
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 6, 2006
Posts: 112
My car has just been stolen Can I shoot IT?

It's late I am getting ready to leave for work and I forget something I run Back into the house leaving the car running in the driveway parking lot whatever. An oportunists walks by jumps in my vehicle and takes off. Am I able or legally allowed to fire on my own vehicle in an attempt to slow it down (tires) make it more identifiable for law enforcement rear window and side panels. Or if lucky strike the thief.
superfast61821 is offline  
Old December 1, 2007, 08:21 PM   #2
rickdavis81
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 3, 2006
Location: Missouri
Posts: 398
Pretty sure not in Missouri. My truck was stolen last summer. I would have liked to have caught them doing it. Some one else had a truck stolen just south of me and he opened up on them as they drove off. They found the truck wrecked with a bullet hole in the driver seat and blood. Later the perp was found at the hospital. Alive. Not sure if the victim was charged with the shooting or not. Hope not.
rickdavis81 is offline  
Old December 1, 2007, 08:22 PM   #3
rampage841512
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 16, 2007
Location: Gardendale, Alabama
Posts: 665
I don't think so.
__________________
"What is play to the fool and the idiot is deadly serious to the man with the gun."
Walt Rauch,Combat Handguns, May '08
rampage841512 is offline  
Old December 1, 2007, 08:33 PM   #4
BillCA
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 28, 2004
Location: Silicon Valley, Ca
Posts: 7,117
Seriously doubtful.

First, your life is in no danger. Unless you can articulate knowledge that the thief is an immediate danger to others in the community, your options are very limited.

I'll also add that as much as you might want to shoot the lowlife scum-bucket who's stealing your car, just think about it for a minute. If a round hits him in the head, it's going to take a professional several days and hundreds of dollars, to blot the guy's brains off the dash and disinfect the interior. Even a torso wound may bleed heavily all over your lovely grey/tan leather interior.

In any case... yer gonna be late for work.
__________________
BillCA in CA (Unfortunately)
BillCA is offline  
Old December 1, 2007, 08:44 PM   #5
tomh1426
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 17, 2005
Location: Youngtown Arizona
Posts: 1,135
I think Its ok in Texas
tomh1426 is offline  
Old December 1, 2007, 08:47 PM   #6
superfast61821
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 6, 2006
Posts: 112
OK placing others in danger.
Let's say the trunk is full of High powered rifles and shotguns and body armor. Now granted in this situation i wouldn't have been iresponsible enough to leave the car running and accesable. Or even if it's just one gun.
superfast61821 is offline  
Old December 1, 2007, 08:55 PM   #7
heatho
Member
 
Join Date: March 12, 2007
Posts: 20
I remember this happening here in Washington a few years back and I think the guy was charged. He ended up killing a 16 year old.

I understand the anger and not wanting to give up the car to a thief... but I wouldn't think taking someone's life is worth a car. Better to turn the car off and take the keys next time.

If you run out after him and he aims the car at you... then thats a different story.
heatho is offline  
Old December 1, 2007, 09:09 PM   #8
superfast61821
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 6, 2006
Posts: 112
OK perhaps I didn't specify clearly I don't want to shoot hurt kill the scumbag who stole my car I simply want to slow it down or make it easier to identify.
There is nothing that attracts a cops attention like a car with broken glass and bullet holes being driven by a shakey driver.
superfast61821 is offline  
Old December 1, 2007, 09:12 PM   #9
JohnKSa
Staff
 
Join Date: February 12, 2001
Location: DFW Area
Posts: 24,910
In general I would recommend not shooting at all in situations where deadly force is not warranted.
__________________
Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?
JohnKSa is offline  
Old December 1, 2007, 09:18 PM   #10
TargetTerror
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 28, 2006
Posts: 424
Quote:
In general I would recommend not shooting at all in situations where deadly force is not warranted.
Amen.
__________________
Head shots are hard, but nut shots are twice as hard.
TargetTerror is offline  
Old December 1, 2007, 09:22 PM   #11
mountainclmbr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 29, 2007
Location: On a mountain in the Colorado Rockies
Posts: 966
It would be a different story if there were a child or another person still inside as that would be stopping an abduction. Otherwise the risk of being charged and the cost of legal defense, even if you win in court, will make the car seem cheap.
__________________
"The unfettered free market has been the most radically destructive force in American life in the last generation." - Hillary Clinton
mountainclmbr is offline  
Old December 1, 2007, 10:50 PM   #12
Boris Bush
Junior member
 
Join Date: September 7, 2007
Posts: 921
Even if I could I wouldn't. They make new ones every day. If it was within the law and you wanted to then I say go for it.....
Boris Bush is offline  
Old December 1, 2007, 10:55 PM   #13
ISC
Junior member
 
Join Date: August 5, 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,982
It depends on the State. In Florida we have something called the castle doctrine that says that we have the right to protect our home and property. Its the same in some other states. In some places like Ma. you are required to flee your own home through a window rather than protect it.
ISC is offline  
Old December 1, 2007, 11:09 PM   #14
superfast61821
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 6, 2006
Posts: 112
SCREW THAT!!!!
I had an employer once try to tell me that
"there is nothing wrong with a tactful retreat"
The only retreat i am making is to heavier firepower or more ammo.
I am fond of the phrase House rules. My house my Rules.
superfast61821 is offline  
Old December 2, 2007, 01:48 AM   #15
Luis Leon
Member
 
Join Date: May 21, 2007
Location: Ulster County, NY
Posts: 53
Don't shoot...

One example I posed to friends or family that are left of center on 2nd Amendment issues is: If somone stole my idling car from my driveway, I would not shoot at them, I would just call the police. But, if the same scenario occur where my family or myself were threatened with imminent harm, all bets are off, and its shoot them to the ground.

Superfast,

Shooting at a fleeing auto seems like a bad idea, have you considered the possibility of wounding or killing an innocent bystander?

regards,

Luis Leon
Luis Leon is offline  
Old December 2, 2007, 09:02 AM   #16
kgpcr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 23, 2005
Posts: 955
Dont start throwing bullets around the neighborhood because you were an idiot. to great a chance of a round ending up where you dont want it. Not a wise play.
__________________
Colt King Cobra .357 Colt Anaconda .44mag
Springfield Armory .45 Double stack Loaded
XD40 service XD45 Taurus 617 .357mag
Smith M&P 40
kgpcr is offline  
Old December 2, 2007, 09:04 AM   #17
Hemicuda
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 13, 2001
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,757
Quote: Boris Bush "Even if I could I wouldn't. They make new ones every day. If it was within the law and you wanted to then I say go for it....."

I can asure you that they do NOT make new '70 Hemi'Cuda convertibles every day... they only made 29 of them in 1970!

When mine was stolen (later recovered and returned to me, with severe body damage) I'd have shot that SOB dead... if I could have... I did the restoration (to award-winning "concourse" level) MYSELF... it took me over 20 years... and he took it away from me... from a locked garage with an alarm...

I KNOW this is a bad attitude, but I still feel that way...

BTW, the thief who took the 'Cuda is dead now... he was shot by police in the raid that got me the 'Cuda back...
__________________
Hemi.

gun and car collector.
Rare cars, and rarer guns.
Hemicuda is offline  
Old December 2, 2007, 09:24 AM   #18
12-34hom
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 8, 1999
Location: Iowa - northeastern
Posts: 1,810
Grow up.

SCREW THAT!!!!
I had an employer once try to tell me that
"there is nothing wrong with a tactful retreat"
The only retreat i am making is to heavier firepower or more ammo.
I am fond of the phrase House rules. My house my Rules

Is that what you will tell a jury - if something goes wrong with shooting up your stolen car as it drives away?

Ever hear of insurance?

Being a responsible gun owner is your duty.

"Or if lucky strike the thief" Do you really believe that your car is worth shooting someone for?

If so, you got real problems.

12-34hom.
__________________
This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend, it is my life. I must master itas i master my life.Without me my rifle is useless, without my rifle i am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I Will. Before God i swear this creed. My rifle and myself are defenders of my country. We are masters of our enemy. We are saviours of my life. So be it until there is no enemy, but peace. Amen.
12-34hom is offline  
Old December 2, 2007, 10:49 AM   #19
DesertDawg
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 16, 2007
Location: So Cal
Posts: 158
In your scenario, you should place a sign on your car that reads "STEAL ME!" before running into the house.

A few years ago, there was a police pursuit of a "traffic violator". The officers in the pursuit were able to get the license plate of the vehicle, and the dispatcher ran it for "wants & warrants". It came back "clean", but....a few seconds later, an officer blared out over the police radio, "Don't shoot it! That's MY car!".

The pursuit didn't last very long, and the driver/suspect was taken into custody without any problems. It turned out that he (the suspect) had hopped a wall and "jimmied" the door of the car, then he disabled the steering wheel locking device and "hot-wired" the ignition. The suspect was unaware of the fact that the wall he had climbed over surrounded a police station where officers were allowed to park their privately-owned vehicles!

Shoot at your OWN car to "mark it for I.D."? HAHA! Cars have more "I.D." marks on them than you may be aware of! Besides the license plates and vehicle identification number (VIN), there are several "hidden" VIN numbers in various locations of ALL vehicles.
DesertDawg is offline  
Old December 2, 2007, 01:25 PM   #20
ZeSpectre
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 4, 2007
Location: Shenandoah Valley
Posts: 3,276
Quote:
In your scenario, you should place a sign on your car that reads "STEAL ME!" before running into the house.
Okay, hold up a minute.
Statements like this are flat out WRONG. I don't care how STUPID someone is you never, NEVER, blame a victim for the actions of a criminal.

Someone could walk down the street with $100 bills hanging out of their pockets and while they might be guilty of being stupid, it's not criminal, AND "good" people won't do anything to that person. Even in that extreme scenario it takes a CRIMINAL to create a problem.

Crime is the fault of the criminal, not the victim...period.
ZeSpectre is offline  
Old December 2, 2007, 01:28 PM   #21
Manedwolf
Junior member
 
Join Date: May 28, 2007
Posts: 3,266
I had Lojack installed. I would call the number, the tracking beacon would be activated, and the police would close in on them quickly. This would make it far more likely they'll be arrested and that I'll get the car back unhurt, since they tend to take them to drop points.
Manedwolf is offline  
Old December 2, 2007, 01:34 PM   #22
HankB
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 30, 2000
Location: Central Texas, outside of Austin
Posts: 1,698
The state you live in makes a HUGE difference in the answer to your question.

States like TX tend to side with the victim or intended victim of a crime.

States like CA, IL, MA, MD, and the District of Columbia do not.

Probably a matter of which part of society do the politicians most closely identify with.
__________________
To be kind to your enemy is to be cruel to yourself - Sun Tzu
HankB is offline  
Old December 2, 2007, 01:58 PM   #23
wayneinFL
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 18, 2004
Posts: 1,944
This happened in Miami once. A guy short out his own tires when someone stole his car. He lost a big lawsuit after the car thief wrecked and killed some woman.
wayneinFL is offline  
Old December 2, 2007, 02:07 PM   #24
IdahoG36
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 24, 2006
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 2,993
I say let the police do their job. They will have a vehicle description and license plate number to find your vehicle. In the mean time, if it's just your car that was stolen, no family members in the vehicle, just let it go. That is why you pay auto insurance. With the legal fees involved if you had to go to court, you could have bought a new Ferarri to replace your stolen car.

Quote:
States like CA, IL, MA, MD, and the District of Columbia do not.
These states create a haven for criminals by restricting handgun ownership by responsible citizens. Their gun laws do not cut down on crime. DC is still the most dangerous place to live in America. They are in the process of allowing handgun ownership again. I wouldn't live in any of the above states for anything.
IdahoG36 is offline  
Old December 2, 2007, 03:51 PM   #25
jfrey123
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 7, 2006
Location: Reno, NV.
Posts: 1,026
Quote:
I run Back into the house leaving the car running in the driveway parking lot whatever. An oportunists walks by jumps in my vehicle and takes off

Stupid senario, IMO. Yes, in a perfect world we would all drive convertables with no locking doors and be able to leave the keys in the ignition. But let's face reality here: you don't leave your debit card at Best Buy with the pin number on the back, do you? Just because someone takes advantage of your grave mistake concerning property does not give the right to stop them with lethal force.
__________________
Rock out with your Glock out!
jfrey123 is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:07 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.08589 seconds with 8 queries