Don't encourage them!
 

Oh ye gods...
I can only tell what will be the buzz at "Team Hellmore's" Martialism insanity site once they read this

Teen Scares Off Burglar With Samurai Sword

See! See!
You SHOULD keep a Wallhanger in the house!
The Ninjas are REAL!
http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...cross_eyed.gif:

The kid's lucky he didn't seriously injure the burglar (lawsuit) or worse, get himself killed.

"A teenager with a brown belt in karate used a samurai sword.."

Yes, because that makes him qualified to nearly get himself killed...

What's worse is that they went to steal a Playstation 3 >_>

Actually, if the kid had killed the burglar, he would not have been prosecuted. Florida has a "castle-doctrine" law, which means that you are allowed to use whatever force necessary to defend yourself and your family within your home. If that means you kill the bastard, oh well, he shouldn't have been there. Now, I'm not advocating going all out and shooting someone, or stabbing them and killing them, but I will use whatever I deem appropriate for the situation. It might be something as simple as picking up my suburito, or something as easy as getting the hell out of the house with my cell phone as I call the sheriff. But, if I'm cornered in my house, I have a .45 Automatic pistol that I keep at hand, as well as a 12-gauge pump shotgun. If I feel my life is in danger, I am legally released from liability if I shoot and kill the bastard.

Now, I wouldn't be using a wallhanger, either. My bokken is sufficient to kill someone, but then, if I can escape, then I do so. He can have the damned stereo, it's not that valuable that I can't replace it. But if he hurts my cats, all restraints come off.

Amazingly, that is also the case here in the UK. Common Law states that you can use 'appropriate' force if you feel that your (or someone else's) life is in danger. However, it is all about being able to justify your actions.

There was a farmer here who got prosecuted sucessfully when he was burgled by a bunch of youths and he shot one of them. The only problem was that the kid was fleeing and got shot in the back, so the murdering farmer's 'self-defence' case held no water.

I've gone through the mandatory 16 hours of classroom and range training for carrying a concealed weapon. I have not applied for one, just have gone through the training.

In Ohio, you cannot shoot someone who illegally enters your home, unless your life is threatened or you are in danger of grave bodily harm. If the guy is lifting your TV set, you cannot shoot, but....you CAN point the gun at him. That's usually enough to scare the hell out of them so they leave and don't try to pick your place again. However, I don't let it stop there, I call the sheriff, let them handle the investigation and whatever force is necessary is then transferred to their responsibility.

I remember a story about a farmer who was continually burglarized, he rigged a shotgun up so that when the burglar opened the door, he would get the full blast in the chest. Well, he did, it did, he did, he died, the farmer went to jail for manslaughter, lucky it wasn't first-degree murder.

You have to know what you're doing when you decide to take a weapon in your hands and use it against someone, and I don't mean physical capability, you have to know the consequences of your actions.

ah i so enjoy Texas. Here the law states that if you see someone stealing your property and you have reason to believe you will never see it again you can shoot them. recently some guy got shot for stealing car rims. The shooter got aquited.
1 question though what are the requirements for carrying a concealed weapon and what kind of training do you need to go through? Is it only guns or knives as well?

It's gotta feel crappy to see a dipstick running off with your most valued possession, oh I don't know say an anime girl figurine, and you can't do anything about it. However silly the possession might be, it will hurt if you like it. Maybe I should keep a slingshot or something like that to disable or tie down their legs while running away. Bastards. No one touches the sailor venus. Or the Luke Skywalker collector's edition. All hell would break loose. I wish I had those action figures.

Don't think it helped that he had been saying in the pub some nights before that he was sick of being burgled and would kill the next f*****r who came into his house.

Moral: if you are going to kill anyone do not tell the whole pub about it.

That's just great.

So remember folks, while in staying in Texas:

Petty Theft = The death penalty.

Judge: Why'd you kill him?
Dude: He needed killin' yer honor!
Judge: Guffaw! That's a good one..but seriously...
Dude: I saw him stealing my stuff.
Judge: What stuff was that?
Dude: He was stealin' my newspaper.
Judge: Good for you m'boy! Don't take $hit 'off'n nobody!
(gavel slams) case dismissed! Beers are on me!!
Yeeeeeee-HAWWWWW!
http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/silly.gif

Do you not have 'reasonability' in the US

Umm....No?

If I remember right we can use 'minimum force to restrain' here in the UK, not too sure how difficult it is to prove what 'minimum' is...

"Why did you break his legs?"
"Well I had him in an arm lock and smashed his face into a wall but he still kept trying to run away, so I broke his leg. He then tried to hop away so I broke his other one."
"Riiight..."

No, it is reasonable force for the public. Minimum force for the Police, the Prison Service and Custom and Excise

Ah I see, learn something new everyday http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.gif I suppose theres not that much difference between the two really though. I also imagine the lawyers to love those words 'reasonable' and 'minimum' :P

Ask your county sheriff's office, they can be a great source. Also, if your state Attorney General has a website, oftentimes they'll post CCW information there.

As for shooting someone who was stealing my car's rims, I don't think it's worth it to shoot someone like that. Again, my feeling is that if your life is in danger, or the lives of your family, or even a complete stranger, then you have the justification to shoot. Otherwise, the rims can be replaced, unless they're those god-awful spinners that Latrell Sprewell first started selling.

Kyung, make yourself a set of bolas and learn how to use them. The gauchos in Argentina use them to bring down cattle, I'm sure they'd work well on a jerk who's stealing your stuff.

No i agree with you. Shooting someone for theft...how can you be sure they are not starving and really need it? Id only shoot if someones life's on the line.
Florida i hear is worse though. Parents told me that they can shoot if they feel threatened and will not get prosecuted.

Those tossers came up with the idea. Just keeps them in business of course.

I propose a third version;

Anyone is allowed to use maximum wanton force when dealing with Solicitors(lawyers - US). Do I have a Second?

I'll have to ask my lawyer before I am allowed to answer that.