MikeK
Gold Member
You're assuming certain predispositions.Scene one.
I see someone breaking into my car. I shout out "what the fuck are you doing with my car?" He turns and takes a step towards me. I do not need to withdraw. I legally blow him away where he stands.
Scene two.
I see some one breaking into my car. I run up, illegally shoot him in the head and say "That's what you get for fucking with my car".
Does it make sense now?
If the fellow you shot is dead and no one has hired a lawyer to represent him post-mortem, then what you say cannot be challenged -- unless the state has decided to charge and prosecute you. One reason for this might be a witness who says your claim of self-defense is bogus and what you did was cold-blooded murder.
What I'm trying to tell you is there is a difference between self-defense and the callous execution of an ordinary burglar -- which is murder. What this means is you may not just shoot someone whom you believe was burglarizing your car.
Short anecdote:
Parking lot behind an EM Club at Camp LeJeune: A Staff Sergeant who is drunk has entered an unlocked black '51 Ford coupe and is trying to start it. Someone sees this and tells the owner of the Ford who rushes outside, pulls the drunken Staff out of the car and proceeds to beat the hell out of him.
Turned out the Staff owned a black '51 Ford coupe, too, and was so drunk he thought he was in his own car. True story.
Bottom line: Better to be safe than sorry. Shoot when you have to, not when you want to.