Mulling over George Pope to Steve Asher 17 Dec 2002

Hi George!

SA> be using "unreasonable force"; killing him would possibly result in
SA> manslaughter charges. It depends on the circumstances, and if the
SA> trespasser is attempting to break into an occupied dwelling & is
SA> killed or injured the occupant is unlikely to be charged.
SA>
SA> There have been instances where trespassers have been injured while
SA> breaking into premises, & have subsequently sued the owner for
SA> damages, & won.

 GP> It's stupid, yup! AFAIAC, if anybody enters my home at night,
 GP> there's an assumption of harmful intent, and being it's dark, I
 GP> can't be SURE they're not carrying a deadly weapon, so I'm going to
 GP> strike first, strike hard, and I'm going to make my first shot/hit
 GP> COUNT!!! :P

 GP> (this is the advice I've received from several RCMP officers!) 

The law is about to change here, to give people the right to defend
themselves & homes etc against intruders, home invaders & the like.
I haven't seen any of the draft law, just going by the Premier's
statements about upcoming sittings of Parliament.

 GP> To me, if someone is in my home at night(especially) it's
 GP> automatically a situation where a quick lethal response on my part
 GP> is completely appropriate and "reasonable"! :P

 GP> And, in MY case, being I don't have a gun, and I'm physically
 GP> disabled, the level of force I'd need to use to ensure
 GP> incapacitation of an attacker, without increasing the danger to
 GP> myself is much higher!  (and, I'm quite willing, if the SOB has
 GP> broke in, to ensure he never does so again (to me or to anybody
 GP> else, ever again!) :P

I think in those circumstances, public opinion would be on your side
& a prosecution would be unlikely. Example was an 80?? year old man
who fatally shot an intruder a few years ago; he was never charged.

Cheers, Steve..

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