Farmers, guns, and the "old days"

When a town does what you propose, to basically enforce the Castle Law properly, you open the door to all sorts of crime victims being charged with Attempted Murder by criminals somehow convincing a jury that the victim wasn't in bodily danger. I understand not wanting those people to get away with shooting a fleeing man in the back, etc. It's really pretty disturbing. But to go the other route opens a Pandora's Box that I'd just as soon stayed shut. I think having them get shot is a greater crime deterrent than any threaten punishment by law ever could, even the death penalty. Because they can hold off that event for years, if not forever. Instant death though, wow that's something to think about first. Callused? Maybe. Not respectful of human life? I certainly am. So long as that one isn't out to take a law abiding citizen's life, limb, or property.

And what kind of Pandora's Box do we open in giving a town or any other law enforcement the discretion to decide which laws they are going to choose "enforce properly" or not?
A few years ago, some law enforcement agencies in some areas decided the laws that required officers about to enter a premesis on a raid, as for a illegal drug or weapons, to first announce themselves, identify themselves and give occupants a chance to respond before going in by force created unreasonable dangers to the officers, gave the occupants time to take up arms themselves, etc. So they passed their own legal modifications allowing raid teams to use their "own discretion" as to warnings.
There were several terrible incidents,when police acted on bad tips or even had wrong addresses. The incident that sent that practice to the Supreme court was one in which a drug raid team, with only shouted 'warning' as they were actually already kicking in both front and back doors of a house to charge in with guns aimed, interrupted a child's birthday party in progress...startled occupants could only think they were being attacked by kick-burglars...when they didn't react fast enough, as in immediately, dropping to the floor with hands raised, the police opened fire, leaving several innocent people dead and others wounded.
Turned out the warrant papers had been issued to an address on "west" X street, but somehow they had been dispatched to that same number address on "east" X street.
So if we allow cities, towns, counties, or individuals decide what laws are to be "properly enforced" or not, which they can shoose to ignore, I think that Pandora's Box gets a whole lot scarier!

galanie said:

When a town does what you propose, to basically enforce the Castle Law properly, you open the door to all sorts of crime victims being charged with Attempted Murder by criminals somehow convincing a jury that the victim wasn't in bodily danger. I understand not wanting those people to get away with shooting a fleeing man in the back, etc. It's really pretty disturbing. But to go the other route opens a Pandora's Box that I'd just as soon stayed shut. I think having them get shot is a greater crime deterrent than any threaten punishment by law ever could, even the death penalty. Because they can hold off that event for years, if not forever. Instant death though, wow that's something to think about first. Callused? Maybe. Not respectful of human life? I certainly am. So long as that one isn't out to take a law abiding citizen's life, limb, or property.

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I've seen horror stories in the news going the other way. Where criminals sued and won after being attacked by victims. I guess we could bandy this back and forth forever but I'm happy with agreeing to disagree. I already know I'll not convince you nor will you convince me.

I own a shotgun, but thats for home defense. I also have an arsenal of high powered air rifles that have dispatched critters up to coyote size. Lots of coons and possums. Two coyotes. I live in the middle of knoxville and can't really break out the Mossberg for a coon. A well placed pellet in the brain though is silent and very effective.

DowntownClucktown said:

I own a shotgun, but thats for home defense. I also have an arsenal of high powered air rifles that have dispatched critters up to coyote size. Lots of coons and possums. Two coyotes. I live in the middle of knoxville and can't really break out the Mossberg for a coon. A well placed pellet in the brain though is silent and very effective.

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Very true. I have a pellet gun myself that can do 1000 fps and a well placed shot is as you say, very effective and won't draw attention.