Is it legal to shoot somebody who's stealing your stuff?

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FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
fobot.com
Originally posted by: Smartazz
Originally posted by: FoBoT
Originally posted by: Smartazz
Would they be allowed to sue you if you seriously injured them.
Would their family be allowed to sue you if you killed the trespasser?

anybody can sue and yes, if you killed a criminal, you can expect a civil lawsuit from the family, no matter how guilty the scumbag was

if you have assets or insurance, they'll sue the crap out of you

How could they possibily win? What else were you supposed to do?

if they don't win, you have to spend thousands of dollars defending yourself
if they do win, they get your stuff or a big payout from your insurance

either way, you end up loosing time/money - there you go
 

Killerme33

Senior member
Jan 17, 2006
399
0
0
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: Smartazz
Originally posted by: FoBoT
Originally posted by: Smartazz
Would they be allowed to sue you if you seriously injured them.
Would their family be allowed to sue you if you killed the trespasser?

anybody can sue and yes, if you killed a criminal, you can expect a civil lawsuit from the family, no matter how guilty the scumbag was

if you have assets or insurance, they'll sue the crap out of you

How could they possibily win? What else were you supposed to do?


see it really comes down to the jury.

i read of one case where a guy broke into a house while the owners were on vacation. the guy grabed a bunch of stuff. went into the garage and closed the door behind him. well the garage door was on a key code so he could not open it. Well the door to the house closed and it was locked. so he was trapped in the garage.

he was there for something a week. he survived on pop and dog food. he sued and won.

http://www.snopes.com/legal/lawsuits.asp

See #3.
 

thepd7

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2005
9,423
0
0
Originally posted by: Killerme33
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: Smartazz
Originally posted by: FoBoT
Originally posted by: Smartazz
Would they be allowed to sue you if you seriously injured them.
Would their family be allowed to sue you if you killed the trespasser?

anybody can sue and yes, if you killed a criminal, you can expect a civil lawsuit from the family, no matter how guilty the scumbag was

if you have assets or insurance, they'll sue the crap out of you

How could they possibily win? What else were you supposed to do?


see it really comes down to the jury.

i read of one case where a guy broke into a house while the owners were on vacation. the guy grabed a bunch of stuff. went into the garage and closed the door behind him. well the garage door was on a key code so he could not open it. Well the door to the house closed and it was locked. so he was trapped in the garage.

he was there for something a week. he survived on pop and dog food. he sued and won.

http://www.snopes.com/legal/lawsuits.asp

See #3.

pwned
 

Kelemvor

Lifer
May 23, 2002
16,928
8
81
Not in WI it's not. Only can use deadly force to protect yourself, not your property.
 

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
Originally posted by: FoBoT
Originally posted by: Smartazz
Originally posted by: FoBoT
Originally posted by: Smartazz
Would they be allowed to sue you if you seriously injured them.
Would their family be allowed to sue you if you killed the trespasser?

anybody can sue and yes, if you killed a criminal, you can expect a civil lawsuit from the family, no matter how guilty the scumbag was

if you have assets or insurance, they'll sue the crap out of you

How could they possibily win? What else were you supposed to do?

if they don't win, you have to spend thousands of dollars defending yourself
if they do win, they get your stuff or a big payout from your insurance

either way, you end up loosing time/money - there you go

Isn't that why you're supposed to make sure the bastard is dead? That way, its just your side of hte story instead of hte deadbeat making up claims to help his case.

This is of course in situations where it is a bastard deadbeat that is trying to steal/rape/kill and not in cases of a kid stealing a candybar.
 

AnyMal

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
15,780
0
76
If you believe your or someone else's life is in danger then, yes. It is better to be tried by twelve then carried by six.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: Killerme33
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: Smartazz
Originally posted by: FoBoT
Originally posted by: Smartazz
Would they be allowed to sue you if you seriously injured them.
Would their family be allowed to sue you if you killed the trespasser?

anybody can sue and yes, if you killed a criminal, you can expect a civil lawsuit from the family, no matter how guilty the scumbag was

if you have assets or insurance, they'll sue the crap out of you

How could they possibily win? What else were you supposed to do?


see it really comes down to the jury.

i read of one case where a guy broke into a house while the owners were on vacation. the guy grabed a bunch of stuff. went into the garage and closed the door behind him. well the garage door was on a key code so he could not open it. Well the door to the house closed and it was locked. so he was trapped in the garage.

he was there for something a week. he survived on pop and dog food. he sued and won.

http://www.snopes.com/legal/lawsuits.asp

See #3.

heh i read it years ago on sights on lawsuits. shrug ohwell.
 

AgentJean

Banned
Jun 7, 2006
1,280
0
0
In Flordia if someone attempts to commit a forceable feloney you can put 2 to the chest one to the head. No Questions :D. However not every state is as pro-self defense as FL. :(

I hope I see the day when the FED passes a national Conceal Carry law and sets standards for use of force in states that don't authroize it.

P.S Under the FL law, if it is a clean shoot, the criminal's family can not sue you. Nor can the criminal should he live.
 

Q

Lifer
Jul 21, 2005
12,046
4
81
I'm pretty sure you can anywhere in the US, but I might be wrong
 

AgentJean

Banned
Jun 7, 2006
1,280
0
0
Originally posted by: skywhr
Originally posted by: Quintox
I'm pretty sure you can anywhere in the US, but I might be wrong

You're wrong

Yeah, in DC you can't own a firearm period. That law has done a lot for crime.

In Comiefornia it is also illegal to use self defense.
 

Rage187

Lifer
Dec 30, 2000
14,276
4
81
SC you can shoot anyone for breaking in your house. You can also kill them for trying to break down your door or come through your window.
 
May 16, 2000
13,522
0
0
Originally posted by: AgentJean
In Flordia if someone attempts to commit a forceable feloney you can put 2 to the chest one to the head. No Questions :D. However not every state is as pro-self defense as FL. :(

I hope I see the day when the FED passes a national Conceal Carry law and sets standards for use of force in states that don't authroize it.

P.S Under the FL law, if it is a clean shoot, the criminal's family can not sue you. Nor can the criminal should he live.

If Florida didn't suck in so many other ways I'd be packing already. Need some far northern states to wise up.
 

RaiderJ

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2001
7,582
1
76
In my mind someone who breaks into my house for whatever reason is a threat to my life. Thusly, I would be within my rights to shoot them. Plus, if they are dead, they can't testify that they weren't a threat.
 

AgentJean

Banned
Jun 7, 2006
1,280
0
0
Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

If Florida didn't suck in so many other ways I'd be packing already. Need some far northern states to wise up.

So, so true. The "Make My Day" Law isn't quite enough to make me move there yet.

Vermont kind of has it right when it comes to consealed carry. You don't need a permit. Just be 21 and legal to own a firearm. I am not famiular with their use of force laws though. They could be as backwards as Kalifornia.
 

Smartazz

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2005
6,128
0
76
Is there a place you can check to find out what firearms are legal in your area?
 

TheNinja

Lifer
Jan 22, 2003
12,207
1
0
I live in California where the lawmakers are either hippies, or bleeding heart liberals. If I shot somebody in my house I'm sure I'd get sued and probably lose. California makes it hard to protect yourself.
 

SolMiester

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2004
5,330
17
76
Originally posted by: wetcat007
Originally posted by: Smartazz
Would they be allowed to sue you if you seriously injured them.
Would their family be allowed to sue you if you killed the trespasser?

I actually knew someone who was renovating their house, someone broke a window and got inside stepped on a nail sued and won for 30 grand.

LOL, isn't that just pathetic, over here I remember a case where some prisoners tried to escape by climbing over barbed wire etc, cut there hands to pieces, and claimed recompense from the government owned Accident Compensation Committee. Just crazy, sometimes I swear Law gets in the way of common sense Justice.
 

smack Down

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2005
4,507
0
0
Originally posted by: SolMiester
Originally posted by: wetcat007
Originally posted by: Smartazz
Would they be allowed to sue you if you seriously injured them.
Would their family be allowed to sue you if you killed the trespasser?

I actually knew someone who was renovating their house, someone broke a window and got inside stepped on a nail sued and won for 30 grand.

LOL, isn't that just pathetic, over here I remember a case where some prisoners tried to escape by climbing over barbed wire etc, cut there hands to pieces, and claimed recompense from the government owned Accident Compensation Committee. Just crazy, sometimes I swear Law gets in the way of common sense Justice.

Of course I bet your just full of it and don't have a link or any details to back it up.
 

userman

Banned
Mar 7, 2005
2,290
0
0
Originally posted by: NaOH
Originally posted by: userman
If he inside your house you can kill he bastage. But make sure hes inside 1st.

welcome back

LOl
Im not sure if its good to be back or not.

life can be easier in a smaller town. General rule is that if someone is inside your house you may use lethal force. Also there have been people that where stealing gas that got peppered with a 12 gage and tried to sue, the judge ruled that the perps got what they deserved and that they had to cover the court cost for the defence. :)
 

SViper

Senior member
Feb 17, 2005
828
0
76
If they break into your house, shoot them, but make sure you shoot them dead.

Dead men tell no tales.