Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site brl-tgr.ARPA
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!edsel!bentley!hoxna!houxm!mhuxj!mhuxr!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!genrad!teddy!panda!talcott!harvard!seismo!brl-tgr!jcp
From: jcp@brl-tgr.ARPA (Joe Pistritto )
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: self defense, etc.
Message-ID: <7039@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Sun, 6-Jan-85 12:43:15 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.7039
Posted: Sun Jan  6 12:43:15 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 8-Jan-85 03:47:09 EST
References: <177@tekred.UUCP> <4043@ucbvax.ARPA>
Reply-To: jcp@brl-tgr.ARPA (Joe Pistritto )
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab
Lines: 27
Summary: 

Gee, once again I find myself in agreement with Milo, (this is getting
habit forming...)

Yeah, I must admit, if some hoodlum was busy breaking into my house,
etc., I really don't think I should have any quarrel with the law if
I ventilate him.  This is just my 'internal impression', irrespective
of what it says on the law book of whatever State I happen to live in.
In Maryland, where I live, I have received advice from more than one
cop that the appropriate thing to do is wait until whoever it is breaks
in, climbs inside the house, and then blast him...

Our neighbor to the north, Pennsylvania, does allow use of deadly force
against anyone ON YOUR PROPERTY, as opposed to the more common INSIDE
YOUR DWELLING, in circumstances where a threat would be felt by a reasonable
person, (breaking in, or attempting to, is usually considered sufficient).

An interesting comparison is possible with India, where breaking into houses
is fairly common, (at least in Banaras, most of the houses of middle class
type people have bars on the window), but violence against a person inside
the house is almost unknown.  Although handguns are strictly controlled there,
ownership of long guns is common (at least for those who can afford them).
One of the reasons people almost NEVER give for owning a gun though, is
self-defense, it is almost never necessary.  Very strict prosecution and
long jail sentences (or death) are given to people who commit crimes against
PEOPLE there though.

						-JCP-