Ethical Dilemna?

I saw this issue sorta briefly mentioned in the thread about a good starter handgun.

(Youre carrying a gun in this hypothetical situation). If you came home and saw someone walking out the back door with your jewelry box is it worth it to shoot the person and take a human life over $300 worth of jewelry?

My initial reaction to reading that was absolutely yes, id have zero problem doing it. In fact if i saw someone (a person i didnt immediately recognize) walking out my back door with any of my stuff id have no problem shooting them. It would have to look like an obvious robbery though. Now i personally dont have any guns. I've put some serious thought into getting one eventually but at the moment the most dangerous gun i own is a pellet gun lol. Do you guys think that my opinion would change after i got a handgun? Am i a bad person for reading that and having that kind of reaction? I'd just like to hear what people think on the subject. I feel like my initial reaction sorta makes me sound like a trigger happy psycho lol. If youre comfortable saying so, let us know if you have a gun. If you have any stories similar to the hypothetical scenario go ahead and share them if you like.

I personally would not take that shot, I would confront the guy though, if he then presented a threat against my life or the life of others I would fire. It is easy to say that you could kill someone in a hypothetical situation but in reality it is alot harder then that (outside of psychopathy). Especially if the reasons for doing so are foggy at best. Hell, some folks still end up with PTSD or insomnia even when they took a shot in obvious self defense.

Also, Ethics is like nutrition. It has barely anything to tell you about these lifeboat situations. Its the same as going to a doctor when your 70 years old with 150lbs of fat, throat cancer from a history of chain smoking going back 30 years, a liver thats about to collapse from overdrinking, a limb thats falling off, and a brain tumor and then asking the doctor to fix you. Hes pretty much just gonna tell you your screwed.

In Virginia you could be charged with murder for that. That is not self defense. In fact, we had someone here charged with murder when he shot someone breaking into his car. You can not use lethal force to protect property.

I own gun's lots of gun's I carry, both on my person and in my car. Are you a bad person for having that reaction? in a word No. Would I do it no but then again I can't access the threat level you might find yourself in that would cause you to make that decission. But being armed means that in every situation you're different than the people you're around. Because of that you have to have a different mindset than other's. Give you an example, two years ago I on accident cut a guy off in traffic, he get's all pissy pulls in front of me and at the next light gets out of his car and starts walking toward my car. I rolled my window down and appologized for it and was serious. He stands at the front of my car with my wife and new baby in it yelling and threating me telling me to get out of the car bla bla bla, but he never came past the headlight's. I kept my cool didn't move fast or raise my voice and kept a level head. To this day the guy never knew that he was standing less than 6'-0" from dieing on the cold asphault because of it, I never even put my hand on my weapon or reached for it, no need had he kpt walking and gotten to where he could get his hands on me I might have simply taken the weapon out and kept me hand on it while never even pointing it at him or letting him know I had it.

When you have the ability to end a life you have to do everything you can to not need to.

To me, no, it isn't worth it. The biggest reason behind my answer: Where I live, if you were to shoot someone in that situation, you would probably find yourself in prison with a murder charge. Prison vs $300 loss... I'll take the loss of money.

What I would try to do is get the best ID description of the person I could, and maybe even try following them while on the phone with the police.

If I was in my home and they entered without permission, that would be a different matter. I've already been in the position of having someone under the influence of drugs trespass on my property at 2AM while I was home alone with an infant. Did not know the person was there until the next morning when I got up and saw the evidence and then reviewed my security cameras. That was the day I bought my shotgun.

If they were exiting, no. Probably not. If they were threatening me or my family, absolutely in a heartbeat.

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We have had a lot of cases up here in Washington where home invaders were shot down by the resident and in many different situations. There are huge gray areas when it comes to home/self defense and in the situation you presented in Washington you would go down for murder. I know for it to be justified the invader has to be in your house with no intentions of leaving when you gun them down. If you confront them and they turn and bolt even if they are running down the stairs and you took the shot from the top you are going down. You have to think smart when it comes to home defense and in the heat of the moment thats not an easy task.

Agree with Doolittle


I'd probably take a less than lethal shot to the back of the knee and then beat them to a pulp with my fists until the cops showed.

I don't think you're a bad person for having that thought. It's really easy to say that you'd snuff someone out for stealing your stuff, especially for a guy. Not to get into a war of the sexes or anything, but that's how men are wired. They protect what's theirs and if we were to get into the deeper psychology of it, I'd say it's probably not the thought of losing your stuff that would anger you nearly as much as the thought of someone TAKING your stuff. It's in a man's nature to exert his dominance and someone jacking your crap is a display of his dominance over you. In turn, you think, "I have a gun, I win!" Cap, cap.

I'd like to believe that you're more human than animal and if you were presented with this scenario in real life, your human side would conquer the male animal in you. I have a gun now, but it took a long time and a bad experience to get me to consider it. I am nonviolent to a fault and I have always been pretty sure I'd let anyone do whatever they want to me and never even consider taking their life over it. People that I love were assaulted and the gun conversation came up again. My boyfriend is a gun guy and he has taught me a lot about shooting, safety, etc. But he couldn't convince me that I'm a good candidate for carry. He asked me, "If you would refuse to protect yourself, would you refuse to protect Madison too?" Madison is my daughter, and the answer was a resounding and completely honest, "NO!" In defense of her, I'd kill anyone. Anyone at all, and I wouldn't hesitate, or feel guilty in the least.

I do have a gun now. I need a different one, so I don't currently carry. But I have one at home that I could use should the need arise. I really, really, really hope it never does. It probably never will. In my CareBear influenced opinion, saying you'd shoot someone over a jewelry box doesn't make you a bad person. But I do think you should ask yourself and answer yourself honestly, "Do I carry a weapon in case I ever need to protect myself/someone else, or do I carry a weapon because I'll be damned if someone is going to steal my stuff, or cut me off in traffic, or call my girl a nasty name in a parking lot!"?

**Disclaimer : I am NOT saying that Mike is not a bad person. I am just saying this one little thing doesn't make him a bad person**

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Originally Posted by MrLang

I'd probably take a less than lethal shot

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This ^. Not necessarily shoot to kill, but shoot to prevent harm to myself and family until police arrived. Knees would be great...

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Interesting answers guys, i really like them so far. Brandi i lol'd at yours and the disclaimer haha. I dont know how much of my reaction is male instincts but you could be right haha. I dont like other males trying to mark my territory! jk jk lol.

I never thought about the difference between shooting to kill and just shooting to injure them. I doubt id be a good enough marksman but of course id rather shoot to injure so i dont go to jail for murder. If i knew the person wasnt armed id much rather just beat the crap out of them but you cant ever know in situations like that. I didnt think of how laws differ between states so much too. Im not positive on this but i know a guy who moved up here from FL and when he got his gun permit down there the instructor had told him that if someone breaks into your house and you choose to shoot then you better shoot to kill bc otherwise they can sue you and stuff. Not sure exactly how accurate that is but i thought that was interesting too. Someone breaks into your house but if you shoot you could be the one getting in trouble lol.

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Originally Posted by BrandiR

I do have a gun now. I need a different one, so I don't currently carry. But I have one at home that I could use should the need arise. I really, really, really hope it never does. It probably never will. In my CareBear influenced opinion, saying you'd shoot someone over a jewelry box doesn't make you a bad person. But I do think you should ask yourself and answer yourself honestly, "Do I carry a weapon in case I ever need to protect myself/someone else, or do I carry a weapon because I'll be damned if someone is going to steal my stuff, or cut me off in traffic, or call my girl a nasty name in a parking lot!"?

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Hmm i re-read this again. This IS a really good point. Im actually not a confrontational person at all, i dont really get mad often. Thats why i made the point to say i realize i sorta sounded like a trigger happy psycho lol. I guess i probably wouldnt shoot them in real life unless i knew i was good enough to only shoot to injure them.

If it was legal and I had a safe shot, I'd possibly pull the trigger on a thief in my own home.

However I know of no where in the US allows you to pull the trigger on someone who is outside your home with stolen goods and is running away from you.

A firearm is a lethal weapon. People have died from being shot in the leg (Sean Taylor). If it is used, it should be used to stop the person who poses a threat of bodily harm to yourself or others. A person who is retreating, carrying property is not posing a threat. I would not hesitate to use lethal force to defend my life or the life of anyone in my family. However, I would not use lethal force for someone running away after stealing property. To do that is committing a crime, even if you are good enough in a situation like that to shoot to wound. It is not self defense.

Honestly I'd probably shoot. And that's why I don't own a hand gun. I have thought about it over and over. Even went as far as getting a handgun purchase permit. But I just can't me owning a hand gun ending well if I were ever put in a situation like that. Especially if it were my son's stuff. I'd be like "oh hell no you ain't stealing from my boy.", and then I'd be in jail.

if someone was leaving my house, probably not. if someone was entering and it was dark, especially if my child was home, i wouldn't hesitate. not many people go breaking into houses at night without some sort of weapon, and i wouldn't risk something happening to my child or me and me not be there to raise my child. if this is the case i would shoot to put down. it's dark, i don't know if the intruder has a gun. if he decided to shoot back, bullets fly through walls, and i wouldn't wanna risk my child getting hit. now if this happens to me before i have kids, and i'm the only one home, i'll probably just walk out and pump the shotgun where he could here it and if he doesn't immediately get out maybe blow a warning shot through the wall. lol after that i have a hard time believing anyone would stay in the house.

I have a loaded shot gun under my bed and soon will have a .45 carry. If anyone breaks into my trailer they will get shot with the shotgun, first two shell are bird shot next two are loaded with rock salt last two bird so I have a little choice what I shot someone with but in my trailer i will shoot other wise if you are threatening me with out a gun I'm very good at fighting :)

I'd like to add that a very large number of B & Es are committed by "kids". Sometimes they're bad kids. Sometimes they're good kids who are doing a bad thing. Sometimes they were pressured into it.

Point? In my opinion, it's a little (no, a lot) harsh to take the stance that if someone is in your house who doesn't belong there, you would be willing, able, and ready to shoot them. Keep in mind, that could be your thirteen year old kid taking a dare someday.

If you shoot an unarmed intruder or a child, then you took an irresponsible shot.

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

This ^. Not necessarily shoot to kill, but shoot to prevent harm to myself and family until police arrived. Knees would be great...

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Unfortunately around here that would result in them either shooting back at you, or suing for everything you own.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

I didnt think of how laws differ between states so much too. Im not positive on this but i know a guy who moved up here from FL and when he got his gun permit down there the instructor had told him that if someone breaks into your house and you choose to shoot then you better shoot to kill bc otherwise they can sue you and stuff. Not sure exactly how accurate that is but i thought that was interesting too. Someone breaks into your house but if you shoot you could be the one getting in trouble lol.

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That's a sad thing isn't it?! That could happen here too. When I got my shotgun, for use IN HOUSE for protection of my child's life (I probably would have never even bought it if I didn't have a child to protect), my grandmother's first response was, "But they can sue you if you use it!" Sad, but true. There have been cases of burglars breaking into homes, getting injured (even through their own fault) and then suing the home owner. There have been cases of people entering fenced yards with a "Beware of Dog" sign, then suing the owner when they get bit, because the sign was "admitting fault" for having an aggressive dog (never mind the fact the person entered the FENCED yard without permission!). I have spoken to law enforcement in my area, and here's the really sad thing I've been told: If anyone ever does break in while you are home (home invasion) and you have to shoot to protect yourself and your family, make sure they are A) Completely inside your home (i.e. not in the exterior doorway), B) Facing you (not feeling), and C) shoot to kill so the only story the police hear is yours.

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Originally Posted by creepin

if someone was leaving my house, probably not. if someone was entering and it was dark, especially if my child was home, i wouldn't hesitate. not many people go breaking into houses at night without some sort of weapon, and i wouldn't risk something happening to my child or me and me not be there to raise my child. if this is the case i would shoot to put down. it's dark, i don't know if the intruder has a gun. if he decided to shoot back, bullets fly through walls, and i wouldn't wanna risk my child getting hit. now if this happens to me before i have kids, and i'm the only one home, i'll probably just walk out and pump the shotgun where he could here it and if he doesn't immediately get out maybe blow a warning shot through the wall. lol after that i have a hard time believing anyone would stay in the house.

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My husband and I actually have an "abort word" now for this very reason. We came up with it after talking to others who have been in similar situations as us. If you are in a situation where it is dark, you cannot visually identify the person, and they are coming at you, there may not be time to ask "Who are you?" and get a satisfactory answer. My husband may come home in the middle of the night, sometimes leaves the bedroom at night (he'll get restless legs and leave the room so I can sleep), and after our dealings with the bad neighbors (LONG story), we decided that "abort word" was a good idea.

Like Don said. If you pull that weapon out you are stepping through a door that can not be shut and nothing can be predicted once you go through it. The idea of pointing a gun to intimidate or shooting someone to injure is not the best idea in the world. If you can point that gun to intimidate then you do not need to pull it. If you can shoot to injure then you do not need to pull it. For me, when the firearm comes out I am going to take someone's life.

I have no qualms shooting in self defense. In my 57 years, I came close one time. A guy pulled a knife on me one evening when I was tending bar. I withdrew the handgun from beneath the bar and took aim. He fled, because in the "stone-paper-scissors" of real life, gun screws knife. Would I have shot him if he had come any close? Oh, hell yes. If it's my life or someone else's that is trying to threaten me, it's hoo-rah for me all the way.

I have taken a gun downstairs a couple of times to investigate a funny banging in the basement, which turned out to be a (1) raccoon and a (2) possum. In both instances they merely got the broom escort out of the house.


I cannot see killing something or someone that presents no danger and that is not trying to kill or seriously injure me. Not even a possum. I wouldn't kill for property either unless it was a survival situation. But when it's my life or the life of the person who is trying to take mine, hey, they've already demonstrated that they don't value life all that greatly, so they really shouldn't care if I shoot them.

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Originally Posted by OctagonGecko729

Like Don said. If you pull that weapon out you are stepping through a door that can not be shut and nothing can be predicted once you go through it. The idea of pointing a gun to intimidate or shooting someone to injure is not the best idea in the world. If you can point that gun to intimidate then you do not need to pull it. If you can shoot to injure then you do not need to pull it. For me, when the firearm comes out I am going to take someone's life.

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This is exactly how I feel! You just said it better :)

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Originally Posted by sorraia

My husband and I actually have an "abort word" now for this very reason. We came up with it after talking to others who have been in similar situations as us. If you are in a situation where it is dark, you cannot visually identify the person, and they are coming at you, there may not be time to ask "Who are you?" and get a satisfactory answer. My husband may come home in the middle of the night, sometimes leaves the bedroom at night (he'll get restless legs and leave the room so I can sleep), and after our dealings with the bad neighbors (LONG story), we decided that "abort word" was a good idea.

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This is definitely a good idea, its called challenge and reply/response. Its used to identify a friendly. Heres an example of it in action. You hear someone enter the house without unlocking the door, its dark, your groggy, you grab your firearm and hold up in the room. You then call out "blue" and your teenage son who just snuck out for a night of partying without you knowing replies "Zebra" and you avoid a catastrophic event.

This thread is really making me think about things differently. It definitely makes a HUGE difference that i have very little experience with guns. All of you guys who own them are making me think about things in a different perspective. You all sound very responsible about it, the way id hope gun owner should sound lol.

Brandi the thing about kids usually B&E is another thing i didnt really think of. Ive done some pretty dumb things before. Not saying id ever break into a house with intent to steal, but yea, i wouldnt want to get shot for one stupid mistake haha.

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Originally Posted by MrLang

Agree with Doolittle


I'd probably take a less than lethal shot to the back of the knee and then beat them to a pulp with my fists until the cops showed.

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in conceal carry class here in utah they teach you IF you HAVE to shoot, shoot to kill. make sure you really have to shoot. a less than lethal shot will land in in court for the rest of your life facing legal and finacial battles.....

a guy exiting out your back door with $300 worth of stuff is not worth it. thats why there is homeowners insurance. i have a loaded .357 in my nighstand drawer and if someone comes in at night when i cant see if they have a weapon, my kids are home or in the day and i see they have a weapon, i wont hesitate to shoot them, repeatedly.

also, on the issue of someone leaving out the back door, NEVER shoot someone from behind. you cant prove life threatening situation when someone is going AWAY from you....

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

This thread is really making me think about things differently. It definitely makes a HUGE difference that i have very little experience with guns. All of you guys who own them are making me think about things in a different perspective. You all sound very responsible about it, the way id hope gun owner should sound lol.

Brandi the thing about kids usually B&E is another thing i didnt really think of. Ive done some pretty dumb things before. Not saying id ever break into a house with intent to steal, but yea, i wouldnt want to get shot for one stupid mistake haha.

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How you view it depends on your life experiences. I was raised in a very small town. Kids were always breaking into summer cabins, and sometimes homes. But most of the time they weren't doing it to steal or hurt anyone. They did it because they were bored and too stupid to think of something more productive to quell their boredom. This doesn't make it ok, but it also isn't a death penalty offense.

If I were raised in South Central where a lot of the kids are just as dangerous as the adults, if not more so, then I'd probably have a different perspective.

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Originally Posted by carlson

next two are loaded with rock salt

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I didn't even know this existed. That would be ROUGH!

If I were still in Texas, yes I would. Here in Connecticut? No. In Ct you will go to jail. In CT you will go to jail and more than likely be sued unless they were about to commit bodily harm. If someone breaks into your house at 2am and your dog bites said person, you can and surely will be sued. You will not win that lawsuit either. CT law breaking into someones home is not a criminal act in upon itself.
In TX they just have to be on your property. Any time, any day. :gj:

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

If it was legal and I had a safe shot, I'd possibly pull the trigger on a thief in my own home.

However I know of no where in the US allows you to pull the trigger on someone who is outside your home with stolen goods and is running away from you.

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Texas. If they are on your property, you have the right to shoot. No matter what their intent is.

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Originally Posted by TessadasExotics

If I were still in Texas, yes I would. Here in Connecticut? No. In Ct you will go to jail. In CT you will go to jail and more than likely be sued unless they were about to commit bodily harm. If someone breaks into your house at 2am and your dog bites said person, you can and surely will be sued. You will not win that lawsuit either. CT law breaking into someones home is not a criminal act in upon itself.
In TX they just have to be on your property. Any time, any day. :gj:

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Hey im in CT too! Hi neighbor!

So what youre saying is i should live in Texas haha...

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Originally Posted by BrandiR

How you view it depends on your life experiences. I was raised in a very small town. Kids were always breaking into summer cabins, and sometimes homes. But most of the time they weren't doing it to steal or hurt anyone. They did it because they were bored and too stupid to think of something more productive to quell their boredom. This doesn't make it ok, but it also isn't a death penalty offense.

If I were raised in South Central where a lot of the kids are just as dangerous as the adults, if not more so, then I'd probably have a different perspective.

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Great reason to know your area. ;)
Where I live, it is NOT as dangerous as other areas, but there is a lot of property crime, and most of it is NOT bored kids. Most of it is 20-something “kids” who already have a record, and older. Many of them are under the influence of drugs and/or early releases (look up California’s AB109).

I’m not the kind of person who take someone’s life easily, but after dealing with my very bad neighbors (LONG story) for the last year (finally they are evicted), with an infant in the house, my perspective has changed. Dogs can be a great deterrent, but they don’t always stop home invasions or burglaries.

I believe in Delaware if they fall outside the door ( or trying to leave) it murder. they have to pose a threat(weapon) and your life has to be consider in danger. I personally wouldshot them in the lower 3rd ofthe bod ( butt groin and legs ) and then call the cops and inform them I havd shot a would be robber and to keep an eye out. also I would turn the weapon over ot the cops at that time for them to investagate. now if they caring a weapon i simple aim for center mass and empty the clip to protect myself, wife and such. vechile I wise( or outside ( i take a bunch of pictures as fast as the camera will let me shoot and turn over to the cops and file said report and if i see said person on street I call the cops and tail them long enough to show up or ( see whih house they went to) . ( i have a photo with me to make sure first lol..

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Originally Posted by TessadasExotics

Texas. If they are on your property, you have the right to shoot. No matter what their intent is.

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If you are interested in this, I suggest you read up on the Castle Doctrine.

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Originally Posted by OctagonGecko729

Like Don said. If you pull that weapon out you are stepping through a door that can not be shut and nothing can be predicted once you go through it. The idea of pointing a gun to intimidate or shooting someone to injure is not the best idea in the world. If you can point that gun to intimidate then you do not need to pull it. If you can shoot to injure then you do not need to pull it. For me, when the firearm comes out I am going to take someone's life.

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Bingo!! Rule #2 of gun safety, never point a weapon at anything you aren't prepaired to destroy. You and I sound alot alike, my brother once told a someone that if you ever find you're self looking down the muzzle of Ed's, aka me , weapon you'd better have made your peace with God, cause the metting is to follow. I train so that I don't have to use a weapon but I also train so that if I ever do have to, I'm exacting in its opperation and use. I don't shoot to wound I use a knife or stick to wound, my weapon is to take your life and nothing short.

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Originally Posted by Don

If you are interested in this, I suggest you read up on the Castle Doctrine.

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We are a Castle Doctrine state. The week after it went into effect there were 5 justified shootings, since crime in our city dropped by 30% and is still falling. There something in the mind that says "be aware if you kick this door in there is a good chance the redneck on the other side just might teach you to play a harp."

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

There something in the mind that says "be aware if you kick this door in there is a good chance the redneck on the other side just might teach you to play a harp."

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Haha I grew up on the iron range (small towns and country living) this right here is the reason not many break ins happen up there everyone has guns in most rooms if not on them haha rednecks don't play when it comes to guns. I know a couple preppers that have more guns then they will ever need

A similar situation happened with one of my friends grandpa. He came home entering through the front door as a thief was exiting through the back, he then grabbed the shot gun in pursuit of the perp, as the perp exited off of the porch the guys grandpa pumped 4 shots into the perps back fatally wounding him, the perp was not armed. The grandpa was charged with manslaughter and use of deadly force and served time at 77 years old. Most people do not understand how charges are actually articulated. Here is another situation.In my state, say for example you came home to find your wife in the bedroom with someone else and you enter the room then exit to retrieve a fire arm, return and fatally shoot and kill either person , you just upgraded the murder charge to first degree murder because it can be considered premeditated. The best advice I can give someone from my law enforcement/ self defense background would be if you own guns, conceal carry or even considering either, or own or carry any other type of object that can be used or considered a weapon,you BETTER have a deep and clear understanding of your individual state statutes.

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Originally Posted by Don

If you are interested in this, I suggest you read up on the Castle Doctrine.

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Ct has a Castle doctrine also. Doesn't mean much here. They have to be about to harm you before you can react. It has to be life threatening as in they are within 3 feet of you and are swinging to stab you, or they are about to shoot you with their own gun.

I live in Canada so I'd have to use a bat.

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Originally Posted by TJ_Burton

I live in Canada so I'd have to use a bat.

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Or knives. Stabby stabby cut cut!!!

I don't own any guns but have one in my bedroom and my parents carry. I'd have to agree if it was cheap stuff non lethal shot then subdue him. If he threatened me or my family or invaded while we were home I'd shoot him to a pulp without even thinking. But that can be bad.
I heard about this case in some state where a person killed a home invader that was actually a neighbor who was so desk he couldn't find his own house. Now that makes me think

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Or knives. Stabby stabby cut cut!!!

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Naw, I'd rather cripple an intruder, and I think a bat is safer and more effective than a knife.

I was always told growing up its better to shoot to kill than shoot to wound in cases of self defense basically due to our law suit loving society and a dead man can't sue...though some would argue his/her estate could....

Yea i guess so. Tattoo louisville slugger onto their kneecaps lmao

What happens if it wasn't jewelry that was being taken. But your kids or your snakes? Would you automatically pull the trigger with no hesitation? I am just curious when its something real and not materialistic.


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Originally Posted by Solarsoldier001

What happens if it wasn't jewelry that was being taken. But your kids or your snakes? Would you automatically pull the trigger with no hesitation? I am just curious when its something real and not materialistic.


Sent from iPhone 5 using tapatalk :)

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Well i dont have kids but if it was my little brother or sister then i wouldnt shoot bc i might hit them. Same thing with the snakes.

Animals (snakes) are viewed as property by the law, so you don't gain any legal wiggle room just because it's alive and breathing. I suspect you would be well within your rights in most locals to use deadly force on an intruder who was attempting to abduct or otherwise injure your child. In this particular scenario, I'd prefer a bat over a gun, but that might just be me:rage::rage::rage::rage::rage::rage::rage:.

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Originally Posted by dav4

In this particular scenario, I'd prefer a bat over a gun, but that might just be me:rage::rage::rage::rage::rage::rage::rage:.

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I wouldnt want to use a gun on them either if that were the case. Busting them up and Letting them have fun in jail with Bubba would be better imo.

In the original post's situation where the intruder is on their way out, no, I would not shoot. Possessions aren't worth it. Things can be replaced, but if someone breaks in and either my wife and I do not know their intent, you can bet they are getting lit up. I was always taught that in such situations, shoot first, ask questions later and to shoot to kill. I would also be 100% sure of my target as well. No use blindly shooting in the dark.

We own many firearms and both my wife and I are very proficient with them. Luckily we have never had to fire a single shot.

We briefly lived in the ghetto in Abilene, Texas a few years ago and we had a series of break-ins in our apartment (no valuables, just my wife's intimates, pictures of her and a bunch of liquor). Luckily all but one of these were when we weren't home. She did have one man kick in the door when she was home and she drew a pistol that was sitting next to her and the man instantly turned tail and ran. Smartest move he ever made. That was the final straw for us. We flew my brother in law in from out of state the next day to help us move and we were gone by day 3 on the way to our new lives here in Ohio. Enough was enough.

We also lived in a duplex owned by my in-laws which shared a common laundry room. My father in law locked himself out of their half of the duplex one night and walked into our half without knocking (this was right after we moved in). We were asleep at the time. He got a little red dot in the center of his chest and he very quickly announced his presence. He never did that again.

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Originally Posted by AK907

We briefly lived in the ghetto in Abilene, Texas a few years ago and we had a series of break-ins in our apartment (no valuables, just my wife's intimates, pictures of her and a bunch of liquor). .

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Thats really, really creepy lol.