Alphecca

Another Intruder Shot

Why all states should have the "Castle Doctrine" law: From the Macon Telegraph (GA):

MACON, Ga. - A Mercer University law student shot and killed a man who broke into his home, police said.

Frederick Taylor, 21, and his companion, Adrienne Warren, 22, were in the upstairs bedroom early Sunday morning when they heard glass break, police said.

Warren stayed upstairs and called 911, while Taylor went downstairs. He saw the intruder at the bottom of the steps, said Macon police Sgt. Cornelius Pendleton.

Taylor shot and killed the intruder about four minutes after the initial 911 call was made, police spokeswoman Melanie Hofmann said. The intruder was shot in the upper torso and pronounced dead at the scene, she said.

The burglar had no identification on him and has not been identified, officials said.

The Bibb County District Attorney's office will determine whether Taylor will face charges, Hofmann said.

If criminals such as burglars don't want to get shot, they should find an honest, legal profession instead.

Okay, that's the tough talk. Obviously a homeowner DOES need to feel that they are actually under threat. If they yell "halt" and the intruder doesn't, that is a threat but if the mutant takes off running out of the house, then I don't think there's justification for shooting him.

Also, the homeowner needs to identify whoever has broken into their home. After all, it could be a concerned relative who hasn't heard from you in some time and is trying to determine if you are alive and well.

Florida's "Castle Doctrine", which is also being considered for Michigan, does not relieve you of ALL responsibility. It uses the "what a reasonable person would have done" clause.

My point, though, is that DAs and juries should not be allowed to second-guess someone who defends themselves when the facts indicate that the homeowner feared for his life. Taylor and his friend did phone 911 so it's obvious that they were scared of what was happening down on the first floor of their home. Once the burglar was in the home, he clearly should have heard that the home was occupied and gotten the hell out of there if he was not planning to harm anyone. Instead, he continued to the stairs even after he heard Taylor approach the top of the stairs. In my opinion, at that point Taylor was justified in shooting him.