Why cant we shoot robbers in the back?

Question

if somebody breaks into your home and threatens ur family with, say, a shotgun or something. u have a gun of your own, so u threaten the robber, then the robber runs out of the home and tries to escape. by law, ur not allowed to shoot a burglar in the back while hes escaping, no matter how violent and dangerous he is. but if u just let him get away, who knows what he can do next? shouldnt we citizens at least be allowed to shoot them in the leg so they cant get away?

Answer 1

You would go to jail the way today's laws are written. You can only discharge your firearm if directly threatened, and you believe yours or someone else's life is in danger. Even if he entered your home, shot your dog, and fled, you cannot shoot him.

Answer 2

The way it works is In the home yes shoot them. Outside no unless you're threatened. But if they're running away than the threat is gone. If you do shoot them in the back and turn them over and do it again any forensic scientist can tell what happened. Blood trail, pooling, drag marks etc. From a law enforcement  perspective it's not recommended.

Answer 3

Not everyone who owns a gun legally has been trained to use it accurately - I wouldn't want to have aimed for the guys legs and ended up killing him...

Also, if it's dark, say, how do you know the person you are firing at is actually the burgular. And since when were some material goods worth potentially taking a life - that would make you no better than the criminal.

Answer 4

We are protecting life loved ones and property.  They don't belong in the residence.  They may have your property with them.  Protect it. Kill them under every circumstance.

Answer 5

What gave you the idea that you can't shoot them in the back?  It might be some law that I'm not aware of, but I'd totally agree that you should be able to shoot them in the back.

Answer 6

YOU can shoot them anywhere you wish, however YOU better have a very good lawyer with you when YOU appear in court.

Answer 7

A burglar sneaks into a home and tries to get the goods without being detected. An armed robber threatens you to get your goods. The penalty for these crimes is not death. With the armed robber you might succeed in arguing self-defense even if you shot him in the back.

Discharging a firearm in a residential area is dangerous business. If you are going to shoot at somebody you should shoot to kill.  Most people don't have the skill to shoot accurately for a leg. If you don't take the person down and he is armed he might turn around and shoot you.

Answer 8

maybe we can clip his leg or arm  but shootin him in the back would kill him therefore...Manslaughter

Answer 9

If you shoot them in the back, tell the cops he turned around

and you though he had turned to shoot you and he had a gun in his hand.  That covers you.

The idea is that if his back is to you you aren't in danger of your life and you can't respond to someone who isn't endangering your life with fatal force.

Once you fear for your life you can.

That's why if you shoot a burglar coming into your home, make sure he is in you home when the cops get there.

Then be too shocked to remember anything.

What you are suggesting, shooting him at least in the leg to hold him till the cops come in won't work, you aren't the cops, and he will be alive to come up with some story.

Make sure you kill him.

Oh yes, and I'm a liberal.  With a gun.

Answer 10

nice one there... ehh just shoot in an arm or the arm used i meen as in weapon shoot the weapon go running for him through something to his back make have a nervous colapsed and shorten his breath and turn him over  shoot him in both knees and hands make sure he will never steel again or if he looks lke a nice guy that just need resources just shoot him in the thigh or forarm and the reason why you cant shoot a robber in the back probly becous you can paralize him if you get his spinal cord or kill him easly  that to avoid big time charges to inocent or just nervous people

Answer 11

IF they are in the house, you can shoot'em where ever you want.

Answer 12

you can.  It all depends on how good your aim is.

Answer 13

Only Uncle Fester could,  in reality they see it as how could a person be a life threatening threat to you, if he/she (robber) isn't facing or technically attacking you. As for shooting someone in the leg they'd see that as the person held no threat towards you.

It's sad but this is how the law is, the criminal has rights too in a Judges and the criminals defence lawyers eyes. You could be the one spending time behind bars.

Regardless how you look at it we still get robbed illegally and legally by the law.

Answer 14

What you do is shoot him in the back, when he is doen turn him over and shoot him in the front....problem solved!

Answer 15

call 911