If someone broke into your house.....

[Siege101]

(Yes this has been done before but its an interesting question.) If you knew that the person was a stranger and not a family member (for example whoever you live with or was accross the globe.) What would you do? Would you take it in your own hands or would you hide or maybe a combination? Now try and think for a moment and don't give me an answer just to sound heroic or something.

I would call the police and get my gun and try to stop this person for whatever intention. In my opinion it would be cowardly just to sit by and not do something. Although when I would make a call to the cops they would be at my house shortly because I have alot of state troopers patroling the area.

[NukeTheEmus]

I'd call the police, and get out of my house. If they're some kind of psychopath then going after the person probably wouldn't be a smart idea. If they're a burglar then they can have their run of the place. I'm not going to shoot another human being over a big screen television and jewels. Especially when almost every insurance contract covers burglary. Of course, I'd never own a gun to shoot anybody with. I suppose you're well within your rights in the United States to shoot somebody with only the slighest provocation in your own house, but I'll take a stand on this one and say that I believe it's probably wrong.

[SePhO_zO]

CTRL C+V from GG:

If I was living alone, that'd be the option I'd take [quoting someone who said they'd get out of the house]. I'd just as soon not do something foolish and try to stop them when the material value of all of my possessions is incomparable to the value of my life.

If I had family in the house, and a weapon close at hand (can't see myself owning a gun), I'd lay back in a corner and wait to use it just in case. If I'm lucky, and it's just a burglar trying to get his hands on a few dollars and some jewelery, I'd just hope he takes his desired share and leaves without discovering me. I don't feel the obligation to try to take the guy out. I don't consider that being cowardly; just smart.

Edit: Wow, that's pretty funny how 'G G' automatically gets converted to 'Spam Haven'. Ya know, only not.

[NukeTheEmus]

Also, why do you believe it's cowardly not to engage in vigilantism? Why does it matter whether you act cowardly? In the end I'd put more value in safety then in how brave my actions are.

If you chase them down with your gun, and they have a firearm then what's going to happen then? Either the person is going to leave, which isn't very likely, or they pull their gun. Now you've got two very nervous people, with two very real guns. Whereas before you most likely could have left without there being any bloodshed, now someone's probably getting shot.

There is one circumstance where I could possibly see going after the person as the best solution is if you thought another person might be being held hostage or in the room or something.

[Froberg]

Taking into account the housing you have in America, with bullets being able to fly directly through walls in many areas, I wouldn't mess around with a gun.

We have solid brick walls here, so I'd be more comfortable using one here.

But the situation in Denmark being that hardly anyone has a weapon, of any kind, in their homes.. I haven't heard of any cases where the burglars went in when someone was there.. they wait until whomever lives in a given place has gone to work, school etc.

I'm not scared of burglary here in Denmark, I'm really not.

[Siege101]

Also, why do you believe it's cowardly not to engage in vigilantism? Why does it matter whether you act cowardly? In the end I'd put more value in safety then in how brave my actions are.

If you chase them down with your gun, and they have a firearm then what's going to happen then? Either the person is going to leave, which isn't very likely, or they pull their gun. Now you've got two very nervous people, with two very real guns. Whereas before you most likely could have left without there being any bloodshed, now someone's probably getting shot.

There is one circumstance where I could possibly see going after the person as the best solution is if you thought another person might be being held hostage or in the room or something.

To answer 1st paragraph: Just let them break in and take what they want. Not on my life. Hypothetical situation and responses from a post at GG from long ago. If someone broke in and they were crazy and they were moving toward the childrens room. Which would you do? Call the cops or shoot them dead. Well the person said they would call the cops and not do a thing. Im not saying you would do something like that but that is an example of cowardice. It is also cowardice to let someone just break in. Usually home invaders are not armed and instances where a home invader are injured or killed also deters them in the future. It is almost like your letting someone just take advantage of you.

2nd: I forgot to mention I have body armor which a friend gave to me as a gift. It was originally going to be used for a student film but it still works. Most powerful one I own is level II with one Trauma plate. Id wear that and I wouldnt pursue but id sure as hell make them think twice before they break in.

3rd:Now thats more a situation for the cops since they will most likely have the training for it. Anyone can defend their homes but it takes someone with the know how to deal with a hostage situation.

[Froberg]

*shrugs*

Again with the american walls.. just listen to where they're walking and shoot 'em through :P

[Siege101]

*shrugs*

Again with the american walls.. just listen to where they're walking and shoot 'em through :P
Just like this week in 24. :D

[Froberg]

cool, haven't seen more than three episodes of that show :)

[Ozafy]

Well, first of my dog would eat the guy :p

but if i didn't have a dog, and he was inside, i'd just call the cops and get to the neigbours house or something.

I don't feel like getting killed over some stuff i'm insured for anyway.

Even is i wasn't insured (damn spelling :p) I still wouldn't risk my own life for some jewlery and cash.

Also not many people in belgium own a gun. Mostly because we don't want them (It's easy to get a gun, all you need is a clear criminal record, and proof that your a member of a gunclub).

[Froberg]

Yeah, having guns is not that common in Europe.

Paintballers, yes.
Gaspowered rifles.. yes..

Firearms? No.

[Augustus]

regretfully in such situations my adrenaline starts running through my veins and i start doing stupid things...
(for example: once our neighbour was pissed at us, because we were playing volleyball in our backyard and that would scare away his pigeons. However, we were not gonna stop playing, since he was telling us we couldn't play all day (only the afternoon) and it would be like that all summer. Then he came into our backyard screaming at us and more like that. Suddenly he took a knife out of his pocket and started threatening us with it. That was the moment i kinda lost my temper. I started yelling back at him how stupid he was to draw a knife against us. Since i live in a studenthouse with 41 people a lot of people looked out their windows to see what was going on. That reaction from me surprised him (especially since i look like a real calm nurdish student). It even surprised him so much that he quickly put away his knife. The other three friends however didn't have the guts to do anything.)

Because of my appearence (calm, nurdish guy with glasses) i am confident i won't get hit. So in a case like this i would probably just go (unarmed) to the burglar (but i'd call the police first). I would just tell him how stupid he is and that the cops are on their way with a very calm voice (so he'll fear me more then i'll fear him). That works for me in many kinda same situations!

Would this be the smartest thing to do? Probably not... The burglar could get so afraid that he attacks me... Or anything else...
However, i think that you never know what you'll do... I compare it with kinda same situations and my reactions...
(No heroic action also, cuz afterwards my knees will be trembling like hell, at the very moment i just don't see the dangers)

Would i ever use a fire-arm? NO, cuz i realise that a fire-arm will only provoke more violence (and i'll never have a fire-arm, just to be sure i wouldn't use it).
(In The Netherlands it shouldn't be hard to get a fire-arm, tho. It's known that the Yugoslaves do their weapondeals from our little country)

I think calling the police and getting outta there (with family) is the best option. When you can't get outta there, you should probably best pretend to sleep instead...

[Froberg]

What if you're a girl and he desides he wants a little action? :sad:

[Augustus]

i would act like i was horney, pretend to give him a blowjob and then suddenly set my teeth i his dick....

or (the best option) just start laughing really loud... that would make him so insecure about everything he even couldn't get his sir standing up ;)

[NukeTheEmus]

To answer 1st paragraph: Just let them break in and take what they want. Not on my life. Hypothetical situation and responses from a post at Spam Haven from long ago. If someone broke in and they were crazy and they were moving toward the childrens room. Which would you do? Call the cops or shoot them dead. Well the person said they would call the cops and not do a thing. Im not saying you would do something like that but that is an example of cowardice. It is also cowardice to let someone just break in. Usually home invaders are not armed and instances where a home invader are injured or killed also deters them in the future. It is almost like your letting someone just take advantage of you.

2nd: I forgot to mention I have body armor which a friend gave to me as a gift. It was originally going to be used for a student film but it still works. Most powerful one I own is level II with one Trauma plate. Id wear that and I wouldnt pursue but id sure as hell make them think twice before they break in.

3rd:Now thats more a situation for the cops since they will most likely have the training for it. Anyone can defend their homes but it takes someone with the know how to deal with a hostage situation.

I agree about the hostage thing, what I meant was more like your description of the person walking towards the children's room.

I can't see how anyone can shoot someone over their possessions, though. I can't see the moral justification in shooting and possibly killing another human being over a television, or jewels, or any other personal property. I don't care how important someone thinks they are, their stuff isn't as important as another life, even the life of a burglar.

I still don't understand your obsession with cowardice and bravery though. If someone else is in danger, it's dangerous to act cowardly, but if you're alone then what does it matter?

[Siege101]

[quote=Siege101]
I still don't understand your obsession with cowardice and bravery though. If someone else is in danger, it's dangerous to act cowardly, but if you're alone then what does it matter?
Who said anything about killing him? If I had a shotgun id simply blow off a foot or hand or limb. With a simple 22 I have would aim at whatever. But the thing is you dont know if he is a burgler or crazy person. For him to get shot and im saying he doesnt nescarilly need to be kiled it would deter future burglers. I do not like being pushed around especially by someone breaking the law. Also let me rephrase my definition of cowardice. Cowardice is to do nothing at ALL. If you call the police then no. Thats not cowardly. If you go out and beat him to a bloody pulp then no thats not cowardly. If you get out of the house and burn it down with him then your not cowardly but crazy. But if you do apsolutly nothing at all when you have those options then thats cowardly. For example that guy who would not do a thing to save his own kids.

[NukeTheEmus]

I forgot that all gun owners think they can shoot the gum off of the bottom of my shoe. Nevermind.

Shoot the hell out of anyone on your property. You're within your rights. I couldn't do it though.

[Siege101]

I forgot that all gun owners think they can shoot the gum off of the bottom of my shoe. Nevermind.

Shoot the hell out of anyone on your property. You're within your rights. I couldn't do it though.
Not all can. :) But if you are a pretty good shot then there is 60-80 percent chance you could on a moving target. With a shotgun it wouldnt be to hard to hit a limb if you aimed correctly. Also you cant shoot anyone on your property. It would only be if they broke in. Think of it like on the Simpsons when Chief Wiggam told Homer that once their in your house anythings legal. Homer then invited Flanders in and Wiggam told him that you cant invite them in.

[space]

I suppose you're well within your rights in the United States to shoot somebody with only the slighest provocation in your own house, but I'll take a stand on this one and say that I believe it's probably wrong.These days if you shoot someone in your home, the burgler will sue and win since there have been instances when this really happened. You have to prove that your life was in immediate danger, such as the intruder having a weapon. That is the way it is in California. My house was robbed when I was 20 and no one was home at the time. If someone broke in now I'd try and call 911 and stand by with a baseball bat.

[NukeTheEmus]

I suppose you're well within your rights in the United States to shoot somebody with only the slighest provocation in your own house, but I'll take a stand on this one and say that I believe it's probably wrong.These days if you shoot someone in your home, the burgler will sue and win since there have been instances when this really happened. You have to prove that your life was in immediate danger, such as the intruder having a weapon. That is the way it is in California. My house was robbed when I was 20 and no one was home at the time. If someone broke in now I'd try and call 911 and stand by with a baseball bat.

I just spend one hour on Google trying to look a for this infamous case. Know what I found? Nothing about any burglar winning a case.

The closest I found was an insurance company SETTLING with a burglar, but then that story wasn't even on a news site, so it's validity is questionable.

Can anyone actually find a news story where this mystery burglar wins a lawsuit against this mystery homeowner? Somehow, I think I'll be waiting awhile for confirmation from a trustworthy source.,

[Primate]

I'd call the police, and get out of my house. If they're some kind of psychopath then going after the person probably wouldn't be a smart idea. If they're a burglar then they can have their run of the place. I'm not going to shoot another human being over a big screen television and jewels. Especially when almost every insurance contract covers burglary. Of course, I'd never own a gun to shoot anybody with. I suppose you're well within your rights in the United States to shoot somebody with only the slighest provocation in your own house, but I'll take a stand on this one and say that I believe it's probably wrong.
I'd do this ^^^^^ damn near word for word.

[space]

I suppose you're well within your rights in the United States to shoot somebody with only the slighest provocation in your own house, but I'll take a stand on this one and say that I believe it's probably wrong.These days if you shoot someone in your home, the burgler will sue and win since there have been instances when this really happened. You have to prove that your life was in immediate danger, such as the intruder having a weapon. That is the way it is in California. My house was robbed when I was 20 and no one was home at the time. If someone broke in now I'd try and call 911 and stand by with a baseball bat.

I just spend one hour on Google trying to look a for this infamous case. Know what I found? Nothing about any burglar winning a case.

The closest I found was an insurance company SETTLING with a burglar, but then that story wasn't even on a news site, so it's validity is questionable.

Can anyone actually find a news story where this mystery burglar wins a lawsuit against this mystery homeowner? Somehow, I think I'll be waiting awhile for confirmation from a trustworthy source.,I will do my best to search for some news that will hopefully be a good source.

I found this, not sure how much of a help it is...
http://www.officer.com/news/IBS/wrc/news-2066082.html
http://www.nbc4.com/news/2947451/detail.html
http://www.kcentv.com/news/local-article-arch.php?nid=3626
I found the above to be interesting. It states, "just because you won't be criminally negligent does not mean that you can't be sued in civil court".

[Siege101]

[quote="NukeTheEmus"][quote="space"][quote=NukeTheEmus] "just because you won't be criminally negligent does not mean that you can't be sued in civil court".
Doesn't really mean anything seeing you can be sued for just about anything these days. You could sue someone for having their dog crap on their lawn. The only thing would be is to find a lawyer who was willing to take it. In the breaking in cases most people would feel more sympathetic toward the homeowner because they can connect with them and the burgler pretty much had it coming when he breaks into someones house.

[NukeTheEmus]

I suppose you're well within your rights in the United States to shoot somebody with only the slighest provocation in your own house, but I'll take a stand on this one and say that I believe it's probably wrong.These days if you shoot someone in your home, the burgler will sue and win since there have been instances when this really happened. You have to prove that your life was in immediate danger, such as the intruder having a weapon. That is the way it is in California. My house was robbed when I was 20 and no one was home at the time. If someone broke in now I'd try and call 911 and stand by with a baseball bat.

I just spend one hour on Google trying to look a for this infamous case. Know what I found? Nothing about any burglar winning a case.

The closest I found was an insurance company SETTLING with a burglar, but then that story wasn't even on a news site, so it's validity is questionable.

Can anyone actually find a news story where this mystery burglar wins a lawsuit against this mystery homeowner? Somehow, I think I'll be waiting awhile for confirmation from a trustworthy source.,I will do my best to search for some news that will hopefully be a good source.

I found this, not sure how much of a help it is...
http://www.officer.com/news/IBS/wrc/news-2066082.html
http://www.nbc4.com/news/2947451/detail.html
http://www.kcentv.com/news/local-article-arch.php?nid=3626
I found the above to be interesting. It states, "just because you won't be criminally negligent does not mean that you can't be sued in civil court".

Sooooo, no story of a homeowner being sucessfully sued by a burglar?

[space]

Not specifically, although I found a story of a guy who lived in a hotel and seen someone breaking in. He injured the intruder or the intruder fell and sued, the man who lived there wasn't sued but the hotel was for not having someting I forgot. Anyway the man who lived at the hotel was not responsible as he was acting on behalf of the hotel.

[Rogue9]

Copied and Pasted from G G

I'd call the police. Then he/she will get one warning before I take their knee out with my 870. And I'm sure some two-bit thief will be much more afraid of me and my 870 than I'll be. As far as I see it, he/she is an intruder might have other ideas to do while in the house, so I could care less about their rights because they're violating mine. Like I said, they get one warning to do the right thing and leave, or they're not walking again.

[Augustus]

about the succesfully sueing the homeowner:

(i am a student dutch law...)
it's (in The Netherlands) so that if you use excessive violence, the burglar can sue you!
i'll tell you a (really happened story) that we learned about this:
there were some kids that allways stole apples from the appleyard of a crippled man. the man saw them do it many times, but (cuz of his handicap) he could never catch one. So one day he had enough of it. He took his shotgun and shot one of the boys. Offcourse he got sued for that succesfully (cuz if a lawsystem would value a couple of apples above the live of a young man it would be very stupid).
This however happened under Dutch law... (and if i would search this case i would find only in dutch texts)
But i think in every country they have a law like this!

I will search in our university this week for some english/american examples... (give me some time ;) )

[Yeyende]

And the award for over-use of parentheses goes to....Augustus!! Seriously dude, theyre not the only form of punctuation (really)

[Augustus]

i did it only 7x in 11 lines :blush:
i know that there are also other punctuation marks, like comma's, but -at that moment- i wasn't feeling in the mood for a text that would meet your standards ;)

[Froberg]

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! :corn:

[Anonymous]

Aren't the USians the ones who put fucking every second word in brackets anyway.

The [situation] was getting critical. Something I've only ever seen yanks do, bloody USians with their freaky deaky "english". :twisted:

[NukeTheEmus]

Aren't the USians the ones who put fucking every second word in brackets anyway.

The [situation] was getting critical. Something I've only ever seen yanks do, bloody USians with their freaky deaky "english". :twisted:

The brackets are a way to manipulate a quote to better fit your story/paper. It's a way of letting the reader know that the writer has added/changed a word.

[Kensomniac]

I would destroy the trespasser with the powah of HEAVY METAL! :idea:

[Froberg]

I would destroy the trespasser with the powah of HEAVY METAL! :idea:

Heavy metal? You? That's rich! :grin:

[Kensomniac]

Oh ye of little faith...

I just tend to have not so heavy stuff playing most of the time...


DON'T GIVE ME THAT LOOK! :|

[Froberg]

*Gives kenso that look.*

[Kensomniac]

*puts on some definitely not metal music*


*starts stripping in front of Froberg*


mw00fles. :D

[Siege101]

*puts on some definitely not metal music*


*starts stripping in front of Froberg*


mw00fles. :D
Are you listening to Michael Jackson again? :eek:

[Froberg]

:corn:

Shake it baby! :ulala: :wank: :condom: :inlove: :heart: :spank: :kiss: :wasted:

[Kensomniac]

*puts on some definitely not metal music*


*starts stripping in front of Froberg*


mw00fles. :D
Are you listening to Michael Jackson again? :eek:

actually it was Badly Drawn Boy - Once Around the Block


But good idea!

*shakes ze moneymaker*