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-