Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobra
If someone breaks into my home while I am in it, are they there to rob me, kill me or my family, kidnap someone? I have no way of knowing what their intentions are. I do know that they were not deterred by the lock on the door or window they breached to get in, failed to be dissuaded by the alarm claxon going off, are not terribly concerned about going to prison and view criminal laws as guidelines, rather than rules. I view it as imprudent to allow them the latitude to do as they wish after breaking into my residence. This being the case, it is not likely that both of us will walk out of the house.
They don't deserve to die for stealing, or threating to steal stuff, which is what you guys are saying the people who wish to exercise their Right to defend themselves intend. I deserve to be secure in my home, and worked hard to be in a position where I would be.
The right of a criminal to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness ends at the threshold of my front door. They forfeit those rights the second they break into my house. This is not because I fancy myself to be a judge. It is because I am a US citizen.
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I agree whole heartedly, at least with the overall premise of this position. I believe, however, the two situations under discussion involve some unique circumstances. Unique enough to where I no longer think the above applies.
The above assumes that we are surprised in our homes by someone breaking in unexpectedly, and that we have no idea who that someone may be or what their intentions may be. Such was not the case in either situation under discussion. The homeowners pretty well knew who it was, what would entice them to come in, and prepared accordingly. There was no surprise, no fear of the unknown, none of that. They were absolutely sure, as a matter of fact, that no loved ones would be in danger. The homeowners had essentially eliminated every component that would justify their actions under the "unknown persons surprising one in his home and threatening his loved ones" premise.
That premise was non-existent in these cases. These homeowners were hoping they could get some traction with it, playing the part of the terrified homeowner valiantly defending hearth and home from potentially violent invaders, and striking a chord with their fellow Americans that cherish our right to do so. While I maintain we do have that right, that is not what happened here, in either case. They laid in wait like a farmer protecting his henhouse from a marauding fox. They were in equally little danger, but they owed these kids and their families a bit more than the farmer owed the fox.