WOULD YOU SHOOT???????????

[zbordas]

I would not shoot somebody outside of my house unless they are a potential danger to me or my family. If they try to get away with my property I need for my living (including my vehicle) I would certainly try to stop them but only if 100% sure that only the BG gets hort and nobody else. Otherwise I would just try to gather as much information as I can.

[aardwolf]

For those who respond yes....you might find yourself spending a ton of money defending yourself for killing someone over property; whether it be in criminal or civil court and if your really unlucky, both.

With the civil immunity we got passed last year, I think there's more risk of losing a lawsuit if I drive to work. After all, a child could run out in the road and I might not have time to stop and the parents could sue me. Even before Texas closed the "crime pays" loophole, grieving parents of a small child were more sympathetic plaintiffs than a criminal killed in the act.

I also think the loss of innocent life, even by accident, would have much worse emotional impact on me.

To put it quite simply, it's not worth it.

To you.

[locknload]

Hoss, my heart goes out to you. I, too, have been the victim of crime, though mine was attempted rape ... twice. So, I understand being so angry and hurt and violated that you could kill. However, if you missed, and the bullet entered a neighbor's house and hit someone, could you live with it? That is what I have had to wonder in my own case. If I hurt someone in the process of defending my property, I don't know if I could live with that. If I had a clear shot and the BG refused to stop and was facing me, I might shoot, if I had no other option. However, I have decided that I would have to not be angry at the time and would have to make certain that I had my wits about me; otherwise, I have decided not to put my finger on the trigger, because my decision process would be compromised. Also, I have decided that I would have to feel that in some way my life was in danger. Of course, unlike you, I have no tools of my trade to worry about. That would put a whole different spin on my decisions, and I would have to work through that aspect and haven't a clue right now what I'd decide about that. You have to do what you have to do, and no one has the right to second guess you or judge you, as they are not the ones who have to live with your decision ... you are. I will support you, whatever you decide to do, even if I might not decide to do the same for myself. In my case, I'm hoping that I never have to face a third rape attempt. However, if I do, I'm hoping that the BG will see my gun and run, as I will only do what he forces me to do.

Other suggestions: Have you checked local Pawn Shops, Sales Ads, machine shops, chop shops, etc.? Also, I would be on the lookout, if the welder could be removed from the trailer, for what the lawn men using to pull their equipment.

Many illegals make their livings from theft. That's a way of life in their country, and they bring their ways with them, when they come here. How do I know? My church's Mission Board has made a report to that effect. Also, I caught a couple of illegal men in a stolen P/U, with plates from a different car, trying to steal my neighbor's trailer out of his yard. I just happened to be going out my front door, and one of them was knocking on the front door, calling out to them, asking if anyone was home. Everyone, even their lawn crew, knows that they are gone during the day, so something just struck me as being wrong. I stood behind my car with my hands on my hips, watching the man examine the hitch on the trailer. When they saw me, they left really fast. They were young, but they had a walker in the bed of the truck, along with a little kid's bicycle. So, I followed them around the neighborhood at a distance. It was obvious that they were cruising the neighborhood, looking for things to steal. Then, one of them went to the front door of a house and knocked. No one answered, so he took the lawn mower that was on the front lawn. I called 9-1-1, and followed them until the cops arrived, giving them a description of the P/U and license plate number. They were illegal, and the 9-1-1 operator said that was the way many of our local illegals make a living or supplement their living. They sell what they steal to local perpetual Garage Sales.

I second the recommendation to get video surveillance. Also, there are those cameras at Academy that take pictures of the deer, when they go by and trigger the electric eye. We have lights that go on, when someone goes by. You can also buy an alarm at Home Depot that will go on, when the lights go on ... either in the house only or outside, too. The camera systems can be found at Home Depot and Sam's, too. Don't rig up a gun to go off, because that's illegal ... however tempting it may be.

From my perspective, it is much more delicious a victory to become pro-active and set a trap/self-defense system for these BG's that will identify them to the Police. I'd have cameras all over the place to "shoot" them from every angle possible, plus alarms, plus lights. Now, that's the kind of shooting that would just thrill me to no end! Think how great it would feel, sitting in court, as your evidence sends them away ... or, more likely, gets them deported.

Being pro-active, also, helps to get over the bad feelings of being violated. It's the best cure that there is for the PTSD that follows something like what happened to you. Post Traumatic Stress does not have to be permanent or bad, if you do something to counter-act it. Working it out, like you are doing, in this thread is a good step.

Good luck!

[Geopagus]

For those who respond yes....you might find yourself spending a ton of money defending yourself for killing someone over property; whether it be in criminal or civil court and if your really unlucky, both.

With the civil immunity we got passed last year, I think there's more risk of losing a lawsuit if I drive to work. After all, a child could run out in the road and I might not have time to stop and the parents could sue me. Even before Texas closed the "crime pays" loophole, grieving parents of a small child were more sympathetic plaintiffs than a criminal killed in the act.

I also think the loss of innocent life, even by accident, would have much worse emotional impact on me.

To put it quite simply, it's not worth it.

To you.

I respect your opinion.

[KD5NRH]

Other suggestions: Have you checked local Pawn Shops, Sales Ads, machine shops, chop shops, etc.? Also, I would be on the lookout, if the welder could be removed from the trailer, for what the lawn men using to pull their equipment.

Every pawn shop I'm familiar with turns in copies of the pawn/sale tickets, with serial numbers, to the police frequently enough that the surveillance tapes will still be available if something is found that way. OTOH, this only applies to stuff they actually buy, so if you have a list of items with serials, they might be willing to help out. In at least one case I know of, the pawnbroker bought one item from a lot that he otherwise wouldn't have touched, so that he got the seller's ID and one of the pieces of stolen property to turn over to the PD as evidence, which, with his statement, was enough to get a search warrant and find the rest of the property before it could be sold.

[hoss4570]

Hoss, my heart goes out to you. I, too, have been the victim of crime, though mine was attempted rape ... twice. So, I understand being so angry and hurt and violated that you could kill. However, if you missed, and the bullet entered a neighbor's house and hit someone, could you live with it? That is what I have had to wonder in my own case. If I hurt someone in the process of defending my property, I don't know if I could live with that. If I had a clear shot and the BG refused to stop and was facing me, I might shoot, if I had no other option. However, I have decided that I would have to not be angry at the time and would have to make certain that I had my wits about me; otherwise, I have decided not to put my finger on the trigger, because my decision process would be compromised. Also, I have decided that I would have to feel that in some way my life was in danger. Of course, unlike you, I have no tools of my trade to worry about. That would put a whole different spin on my decisions, and I would have to work through that aspect and haven't a clue right now what I'd decide about that. You have to do what you have to do, and no one has the right to second guess you or judge you, as they are not the ones who have to live with your decision ... you are. I will support you, whatever you decide to do, even if I might not decide to do the same for myself. In my case, I'm hoping that I never have to face a third rape attempt. However, if I do, I'm hoping that the BG will see my gun and run, as I will only do what he forces me to do.

Other suggestions: Have you checked local Pawn Shops, Sales Ads, machine shops, chop shops, etc.? Also, I would be on the lookout, if the welder could be removed from the trailer, for what the lawn men using to pull their equipment.

Many illegals make their livings from theft. That's a way of life in their country, and they bring their ways with them, when they come here. How do I know? My church's Mission Board has made a report to that effect. Also, I caught a couple of illegal men in a stolen P/U, with plates from a different car, trying to steal my neighbor's trailer out of his yard. I just happened to be going out my front door, and one of them was knocking on the front door, calling out to them, asking if anyone was home. Everyone, even their lawn crew, knows that they are gone during the day, so something just struck me as being wrong. I stood behind my car with my hands on my hips, watching the man examine the hitch on the trailer. When they saw me, they left really fast. They were young, but they had a walker in the bed of the truck, along with a little kid's bicycle. So, I followed them around the neighborhood at a distance. It was obvious that they were cruising the neighborhood, looking for things to steal. Then, one of them went to the front door of a house and knocked. No one answered, so he took the lawn mower that was on the front lawn. I called 9-1-1, and followed them until the cops arrived, giving them a description of the P/U and license plate number. They were illegal, and the 9-1-1 operator said that was the way many of our local illegals make a living or supplement their living. They sell what they steal to local perpetual Garage Sales.

I second the recommendation to get video surveillance. Also, there are those cameras at Academy that take pictures of the deer, when they go by and trigger the electric eye. We have lights that go on, when someone goes by. You can also buy an alarm at Home Depot that will go on, when the lights go on ... either in the house only or outside, too. The camera systems can be found at Home Depot and Sam's, too. Don't rig up a gun to go off, because that's illegal ... however tempting it may be.

From my perspective, it is much more delicious a victory to become pro-active and set a trap/self-defense system for these BG's that will identify them to the Police. I'd have cameras all over the place to "shoot" them from every angle possible, plus alarms, plus lights. Now, that's the kind of shooting that would just thrill me to no end! Think how great it would feel, sitting in court, as your evidence sends them away ... or, more likely, gets them deported.

Being pro-active, also, helps to get over the bad feelings of being violated. It's the best cure that there is for the PTSD that follows something like what happened to you. Post Traumatic Stress does not have to be permanent or bad, if you do something to counter-act it. Working it out, like you are doing, in this thread is a good step.

Good luck!

I respect your opinion and thank you for your comments and yes, I have checked around at the pawn shops, welding machine type mechanic shops and everywhere I could think no, no luck. We have had a rash of welding machines stole here, some 400 in our town alone in the last year. The sherriff here told me my machine was probally out of state before the sun went down the next day, either in Louisanna, new mexico or even old mexico. It's gone. And with reguards to shooting one of me neighbors, I live in the county with my nearest neighbor nearly a mile away. And I will shoot next time, given the oppertunity.