If A Thief Breaks Into Your Home, Is It Wrong To Shoot Them?

[bshark]

Had an interesting conversation with some coworkers earlier regarding a news story that happened in Georgia (US) recently:

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - DeKalb County police are investigating after they say a homeowner shot and killed someone who had broken into their house.

The shooting happened shortly before 5:30 a.m. along Peachcrest Road in unincorporated DeKalb County.


According to investigators, the homeowner caught the suspect trying to break into his house and opened fire, killing them.

A neighbor who lives across the street said she was awake and making breakfast when she heard the gunshots.


"I was in the kitchen and then there were gunshots and it was really loud," Melan Sydnor said. "I heard a few gunshots and then about five minutes later the police pulled up."

At this time, police have not released the identity of anyone involved in the shooting.

The homeowner will face no charges in connected to the shooting.

The investigation is ongoing.

Click to shrink...

Source: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/homeowner-kills-intruder-peachcrest-road-dekalb-county

TLDR: Thief attempts to break into someone's home, and the homeowner shoots (killed) them - before the police were called/arrived. The homeowner is not being charged at this time.

Based on the discussion, some felt it was completely justified, while others felt it was wrong. Others stated that the homeowner should now be charged with murder, or the homeowner should have not acted until police arrived.

Curious what ERA thinks here? Do you think it's wrong to shoot a thief (defending yourself/property), or should you simply wait and let law enforcement handle it?

 

[Slayven]

details too vague, was it an actual thief or someone at the wrong house or something?

 

[Volimar]

In general I don't think you should kill to protect property. But if someone breaks into your home you have no idea what their intentions are. Even if they told you they just wanted your stuff, would you believe them? I wouldn't risk mine or my family's lives on it.

 

[DGenerator]

99.5% of the time, yes.

Because I live in Canada, and nobody in the city legally owns a gun, is licensed for its use, and is stored properly.

 

[The Albatross]

I don't have a gun, I don't believe in having guns inside my house. I think whatever perceived benefit there is, is offset by factual increase in risk to the people in your house. I've been told that this is naive from people on both sides of the ideological spectrum, I don't care, it's my house, you can do what you want in your house.

If someone breaks into your house, and you have a gun, you have no idea what they're there for. Are they there to rob you? Optimistically, maybe. Are they there to assault you? Maybe. Are they there to sexually assault you or someone in your family? Maybe. Are they there to commit some other crime against you or your family, which could result in severe harm? Maybe.

If everybody had all of the facts, "Hello sir, I'd like to rob you of a few petty items, may I?" Then it might not be justified to shoot someone dead. But, in most breaking and entering, I don't think that's really the case.

I don't think that a homeowner can be charged with murder if someone breaks into their house, with what our gun laws are. I dunno, maybe some sort of manslaughter or lesser charge? But without knowing the facts, I think it's hard to assert premeditation when someone breaks into your fucking house. Now... if the home owner... trapped the assailant, or tied them to a chair or something and executed them? Well, that's different. But I don't think we have those facts established. Personally, I think in most split second situations, I think it's wrong to put the burden of legal responsibility on the victim of a crime.

If someone broke into my 4 year old daughters room and I picked it up on the nest cam, saw a strange adult in that room who had broken into my house, I'd grab whatever thing that could be used as a weapon, flip the lights on, and would assault them and try to do everything to keep me between them and my kid, which could result in me being hurt or them being hurt or either one of dying. Shrug, not letting that happen.

 

[Bedlam]

It's more complicated. But generally, yes.

 

[PinkSpider]

99.9999% time yes. Sort your gun shit out. In the UK the chance of being murdered or injured when burgled is almost zero, burglers want your stuff not to harm you generally.

 

[scottbeowulf]

It depends. Someone touches your front door handle, no dont kill em. But if someone came into my home with me and my family there, I'm not gonna hesitate to defend my family. I don't know wtf they're doing.

 

[cvbas]

Yes. Unless the thief is actually threatening your life, yes.

Your property is not more important than someone else's life, even if said person is trying to steal from you.

 

[DanteMenethil]

Shoot only if in immediate danger. If someone is trying my doorknob or something, I'd yell at them, call the cops and warn them to not come in my home but not shoot. From what I understand of this story the guy was trying to break in but didnt actually enter. If they actually break in and they come toward me, fuck them up.

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

I have no idea why a normal person would have a gun for self defense instead of pepper spray.

The consequences of aiming badly are a lot less dire.

 

[WascallyWabbit]

Yeah even if we were talking like a sword or other deadly weapon I gotta say the answer is yes

 

[diakyu]

Were they in the house or not? It just says trying to break in but that can be seen as they're outside or inside. If they're outside and the person didn't yell they had a gun then the shooter is in the wrong.... I think. If they're in the house I can't fault em for shooting

 

[InfiniteKing]

How can you tell a home invasion from a burglary? From a homeowner's POV?

 

[nsilvias]

as long as you dont run after them to shoot them after they leave your property its fine. obviously dont have intent to kill in your home

 

[ThreePi]

Someone breaking into your home is probably one of the few completely justifiable instances of defending yourself with a firearm.

 

[Dest]

Generally speaking yes.

Loss of life is unfortunate always, but the moment you threaten my safety and the safety of my family on my own property that's it. I don't know you, I don't know why you're there and those are questions I really don't want to wait around and find answers to.

 

[Sabot]

Without knowledge of the perpetrator's armaments or intentions, I really don't have the right to judge someone reacting that way to a break-in.

 

[Richiek]

If your life is in imminent danger, then sure. But if the person is running and no longer a threat, then absolutely not. Funny how gun nuts fail to understand this.

 

[Helix]

there is nuance to this but generally, yes

 

[Nax]

Once they are in your home, you can certainly do whatever necessary to protect yourself. You could give a verbal warning. But what if they have a weapon too?

 

[Parthenios]

Thieves aren't typically looking to commit violent crimes so if you have an opportunity to shoot them you'd have the opportunity to deescalate as well.

Firing a weapon in your house increases the odds that you shoot one of your family members by accident.

You're shooting someone over property. I've been burglarized several times and had my car stolen twice, but I'd never hurt someone for property and neither should anyone else.

 

[Isilia]

That's why I installed the railgun

But seriously, I wouldn't. Can't say I'd want to do so.

 

[pioneer]

I like to think if I were in this situation I would try to give the thief a chance to leave with their life before killing them. But I don't know. And I never will because fuck guns.

 

[Deleted member 14518]

No of course not. wtf?

You are allow to use reasonable force to defend yourself and your family. If you shoot them in the back as they run away from your house then of course thats straight up murder.

 

[bastardly]

i mean if someone has wife/kids in the house, yeh i dont blame them for protecting their family first and foremost

 

[Eagledare]

How can you tell a home invasion from a burglary? From a homeowner's POV?

Click to shrink...

Yeah, this is the crux of the issue. There's no way to tell someone's intent, and if they're in your home they've already decided that they're willing to engage in a confrontation with you. Unless someone dropped everything they were carrying and flew out of the window like a fuckin' luck dragon I'm probably going to at least wound someone.

Edit: Dropping my shit isn't required to avoid getting capped, but GTFOing is.

 

[Deleted member 7529]

[deleted]

 

[jotun?]

Yes, it is wrong to shoot and kill someone who breaks into the houses of ordinary people. They deserve much worse than that.

 

[QisTopTier]

If a stranger is advancing on someone in their own home I cant blame them for using deadly force in reaction to the invader, even if all the person was going to do was throw the owner in the closet why expect people to risk their life in the one place that is supposed to be a safe heaven for them?

 

[odiin]

Only if they are just breaking into your house as a prank.

 

[Ché]

Get a poll going?

I wouldn't feel wrong about shooting a home invader personally (in the scenario I did have a gun)

 

[Tagyhag]

Shoot only if in immediate danger. If someone is trying my doorknob or something, I'd yell at them, call the cops and warn them to not come in my home but not shoot. From what I understand of this story the guy was trying to break in but didnt actually enter. If they actually break in and they come toward me, fuck them up.

Click to shrink...

This is where I am.

If they're outside my house ill do whatever I can to get them away without resorting to shooting but if you're inside my home? I just can't risk it.

 

[Seahawk64]

I don't own a gun but if I did, I would shoot em if they're already in the house. Not taking any chances.

They shouldn't be breaking into anyones house to begin with so fuck that.

 

[Coyote Starrk]

In the process of breaking in? No. You have many options to deter them other than shooting them.


Once they are inside and are not backing off? Absolutely. You don't know why the person is in your house or what they are planning to do to you or your loved ones in the process of their crime. I have no sympathy for the criminal at that point.

 

[NickatNite]

If their inside going looking around and going through my stuff, I would yell at them first then shoot if they advance on me.

 

[Nobleman Swerve]

How can you tell a home invasion from a burglary? From a homeowner's POV?

Click to shrink...

Especially with how awash in firearms certain corners of this country can be. Generally speaking homeowner should make their armed presence known, but if the intruder is visibly armed I'm not holding it against anyone for shooting.

 

[louiedog]

Time travel movies would have really unfortunate and unsatisfying endings

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJzUHopoQ-w

 

[CJSeven]

I'm of the persuasion that if someone breaks into your home it's reasonable to respond as though your life and your family's lives are in imminent danger.

There are a lot of factors that can influence what that response is, but deadly force could be one of them.

 

[Dekuman]

No. I don't have a gun but have heavy objects i would use against a home intruder, if they die, that's their fault.

 

[105-Shake]

I think if a thief is willing to break into your house while there's people inside then the thief is more than ready to cause you or your family harm if you try to stop them.

They're most likely not going to be Catwoman sneaking in and out without a fuss and taking all your jewelry with them.

 

[RoaringMdog]

No. If someone is making their way into my house i'll do whatever i can to protect myself. How am i supposed to know what their intentions are? For all i know they're coming into my house to hurt me or my loved ones. Fuck around and find out, its that simple.

 

[Crayolan]

Yes. People have a right to defend themselves but not to deign themselves judge jury and executioner whenever someone wrongs them. Even if your only way of warding off a thief is a gun, you don't have to kill them. Even shooting in their general direction but not directly at them will be enough to scare off the majority of thieves.

The only time I would support someone using lethal force is if an attacker is coming at them or someone else nearby with a weapon. But obviously America being the gun haven it is everything gets muddied since you never know who might be hiding a gun.

 

[jph139]

It's always wrong, but sometimes it's the least wrong of a bad situation. Like, if it's unavoidable that someone gets hurt, it's preferable that a person who's doing wrong gets hurt that an innocent person. It's unknowable whether there's unavoidable harm, though, which is the crux of it: do you err on the side of caution or on the side of mercy?

That being said: if someone actually wants to do you harm, and you're a responsible gun owner that keeps their weapon locked up and unloaded, by the time you're able to defend yourself it's almost definitely going to be too late. They have every advantage. So I tend to assume you're either going to shoot someone who isn't trying to do you harm, and thus killing someone unnecessarily,, or isn't competent enough (or sane enough) to take advantage of it. In which case you're in the "crazy person/junkie/whatever" break in scenario and god help you there.

 

[LewieP]

In many countries it would be illegal because it's illegal for civilians to have firearms in their houses. Which is obviously extremely rational.

Morally? If there's no imminent threat to any of the residents, a warning shot would make more sense than immediately shooting to kill.

But if they are posing a threat to any residents, then yes this is a fairly typical self defence scenario.

 

[Night]

No, but I'd try not to.

Morally? If there's no imminent threat to any of the residents, a warning shot would make more sense than immediately shooting to kill.

Click to shrink...

A warning shot is something you definitely never want to do, especially in a residential area.

 

[DevilMayGuy]

If someone is breaking into your home you have no clue what their intentions are or if they're armed. To me, there is not an acceptable level of risk mitigation available to a hypothetical armed homeowner to offset the risk of their assailant being armed and willing to do violence that would make not using a home defense weapon for its intended purpose worth the risk. I say shoot first and ask questions never. If they run away, let them. Lesson learned. But I'm not gonna give some scumbag who at minimum has decided that my sanctuary and property are not to be respected the benefit of the doubt regarding my person or family

A warning shot could simply alert them to your armed status and escalate the situation, though I concede that it would likely result in such a thief running away lighter some fecal matter. That's why my home defense weapon is a mossberg 500 12 gauge with alternating less lethal rubber pellets and buckshot. If racking the slide doesn't scare them off then a face full of rubber should hopefully do the trick with no loss of life, in the incredibly unlikely scenario that I get robbed

All of that said, I'm well aware that the presence of a gun in my home makes me 1000000000x more likely to get shot. Mostly it's for hunting but it does double duty as a home defense weapon

 

[oofouchugh]

Shoot 'em. Don't wanna get shot? Don't break into someone's home. In a heated moment where someone is literally destroying any concept of your home being a safe space, you don't have any way to deescalate the situation or ascertain the intruders intentions. Protect yourself and your family.

Home invasions are not an "oopsie I made an accident" situation on the end of the intruder.

 

[Stiletto]

No its not wrong to shoot them. They might just want your stuff, sure. They might also wanna rape/kill you or a family member. They relinquish their right to the benefit of the doubt the moment they forcibly enter someone else's house.

That said there's a bunch of things you can do before it even gets to that point. Gates, alarms, cameras, dogs. Many gun owners don't consider other deterrents, they just go straight to gun cuz its cheap and they wanna feel cool.

 

[Deleted member 3542]

It would be impossible to know their intentions. Maybe they are there to steal something, maybe they are there to kill. Either way they're trying to force their way in and asking them to not do that isn't going to work. Warn them maybe, say you've called the cops and have a gun if they're still outside, but if they're actively trying to get through a door or window or already in a home it's pretty much an immediate threat and you have to do what you have to do.