Can you shoot a home intruder?

Question

would there be any penalties or anything against it?

Answer 1

Yes you can, no there would not, and this question doesn't belong under the Hunting category.

Answer 2

in texas you can legally shoot an intruder if they are anywhere on you property. just check your state laws that should tell you

Answer 3

Each state has different requirements for self defense.  Any time you shoot someone there is a potential for either criminal charges or civil lawsuits.  Some states have what is called Castle Doctrine which is normally pretty straight forward in your ability to defend yourself in your home with no requirement that you retreat first.    Some states extend this to their cars.  

What state do you live in?

Answer 4

Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

Answer 5

I will if they break into my house, no problem.

Answer 6

Yes you can , even in D.C.   Fire a quote unquote warning shot though.  So as long as two shots are fired no one will know that the warning shot came second

Answer 7

U can shoot them its called personal defence completely legal.  

Answer 8

in most cases you cannot use deadly force to protect your "things". deadly is only ok if you are being treatened with personal harm. taking the life of another person is no small thing regardless of how some speak about it.

Answer 9

In most cases, you can shoot an intruder, but you should check with your local police to know for sure. Every state, and some states, have their own rules. In Texas, the Castle Law applies (As in a man's home is his castle), and you can kill an intruder in your home, business, or vehicle. But take the advice I got from an old detective years ago - If you shoot an intruder, kill him. That way, yours is the only version of the facts. If he survives, you never know if he will sue you, claiming that he was sleepwalking or something. Juries today are just stupid and gullible enough to believe that, and you could be the one paying the price.

Answer 10

Yes, you can shoot them, but you should know the laws in your state.

Answer 11

It will depend on the state that you live in. In Texas a recent law was passed that allowed citizens to shoot any one robbing them, even of out side of your house. But most states will allow you to shoot an intruder in your home, if you fear for your life.

Answer 12

In most situations, yes.  Remember: DON'T shoot to kill, DON'T shoot to wound and DON'T fire a "warning" shot.  ALWAYS shoot to stop the threat.  Aim center of mass and continue shooting until you are sure the threat is stopped, that way it is the intruders own fault that he died, since he shouldn't have forced you into a shoot situation by presenting a threat.

1. If you shoot to kill, you can be charged with murder since your intent was to kill, but if you shoot to stop the threat your intent was to stop the threat, the dead guy is dead as a result of HIS intentions.

2. If you have time to aim to wound there is not enough of a threat to warrant shooting, (That said, if you happen to miss and the intruder gets hit in the crotch, and that is his only wound, too bad for him, you were just trying to stop the threat so it is his own fault he is wounded.)

3. A warning shot is a careless risk to those around you and an indication that there might not have been enough threat to warrant deadly force.

Ways to say that you shot to stop the threat;

"I thought he was going to kill me!"

"I had to protect my self/children"

"He was coming at me!"

After a phrase similar to those above, SHUT UP!  Don't say another word until you have a lawyer.

Answer 13

If he broke in. Make sure he's dead though or you wil go to jail. It's better when there dead, they can't speak and they don't waste the state money in court cases or prison time.

Answer 14

In my state you cant just shoot a burglar because they are in your home.The intruder must be wielding a weapon and making an aggressive move towards you which causes you to fear for your life.

If you shoot them and it's ruled a good shoot. The crook and his family may still sue you.

Answer 15

Yes...BUT!  Know your state, county, city laws and ordinances related to self/home defense before anything happens.  Go to your local law enforcement headquarters and get informed.  There will be a truckload of questions you will be asked after a shoot-out.  And everyone of your answers must be the right one, or else!

Never be afraid to defend yourself, just do not try to "Hollywood" your motives.

Answer 16

Every state is different...... Here in New York if an attacker comes at you then you can use deadly force to stop them.... On the other hand if you come home thru the front door and see some kid climbing out the window with your laptop you can not shoot him... The district attorney will say that kids life was more important than the laptop he was stealing. You will get a murder charge.......... If he is not threatening you or attacking you then you cant shoot him just because he was there....

Answer 17

Q:  Can you shoot a home intruder (would there be any penalties or anything against it)?

A:  Do you know where the truism 'It is better to be judged by twelve than carried by six' comes from?  I'll elaborate.  First, to answer your first question:  Can you shoot a home intruder?  

That depends on many, many factors the most important one is this:  Did the intruder put you in fear for your life or the life of someone else?  Other factors, was it nighttime?  Was the intruder armed?  Did he/she articulate any threats against you?  Did he move toward you in a menacing manner?  Let your conscience and how you answer these questions be your guide.  Can you still look at your own reflection in the mirror and still like what you see?  You're going to have to live with the fact that you've shot a human being and maybe even taken a human life.  

Your next question:  Are there any penalties?  

If you kill someone, anyone, you are automatically charged with homicide.  If a driver accidently kill someone, say in a car accident, it can be ruled accidental or unintentional homicide or it can be ruled vehicular homicide.  In the event of one shooting an intruder then it is decided if the shooting was righteous and therefore justifiable.  Then the official verdict becomes some degree of homicide, hopefully it will be justifiable homicide and the shooter will be no billed by a grand jury.

More:  If the home intruder survives he could sue you.  If the intruder does not survive then the intruder's survivors could contend wrongful death and sue you.  You could be cleared by a grand jury and end up losing big in a civil court.  

So you see, it is not just:  Well I shot him cause he was trespassing!  That only works in the movies.  But if you fear for your life (or the life of another) then do what you have to do.  Better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.

H

Answer 18

CHECK YOUR STATE LAWS!  From a legal perspective, this answer varies greatly depending on where you live.  For example, in my current residence in Hawaii, I can only shoot someone if it will prevent them from

1. Doing me grievous bodily harm

2. Killing me

3. Raping me

4. Committing forcibly sodomy on me

5. Kidnapping me

If I'm not in danger of one of those five things, then legally, I cannot use deadly force.  A person merely intruding into my home may not be adequate provocation.  (Actually, with our current DA, there can be no adequate provocation.  He sends everyone who successfully defends themselves to jail.)

Answer 19

if there is a person in your home . yes you can shoot them. dont shoot to kill. go for knees or shoulders. to wound them. if they pull a gun on you. shoot to kill. the right chest area to you.

Answer 20

Using deadly force to protect your person or your family member, that's a much easier choice to make, but to use deadly force to prevent someone from committing a property crime, that's going to be tough to live with in the future. you must be willing to live with the actions you take

Answer 21

in Michigan you can shoot and kill a carjacker in self defense.