Controversial Polls 14: Killing Burglars. Fair Justice?

If someone raids your home, should they be met with ultimate force?

if someone broke into my house and i felt thretend i couldnot garetee how far i would go it would be in my head anything could have happened to my wife and 2 girls so i think punishment would deff be on the harsh side
iv got a baseball bat down the side of my bed and i would use it in a instance iv also got a ball near by just incase i fancy a little game during the night so its all legit

The arabs had the right idea with thieves. Chop their hands off, they won't do it again.

If somebody threatened my family, I'd do what it takes to stop them - most likely straight into the kitchen to get a knife. I wouldn't go up to them with the intention to kill them, however.

Afterwards, I daresay I'd be horrified and disgusted in myself.

No way. You don't have to jump straight to killing someone in order to stop them from being a risk, and certainly not with the planning to kill them in your mind beforehand.

so you want just let them do and take whatever they wanted?

I don't agree with using things like guns on intruders, thats just my opinion as i don't agree the public should be allowed things like hand guns "for protection" and by law licensed shotguns need to be locked up so you wouldn't have time fo dat.

But if there is an intruder who is threatening the life of you or your family then yes, you should be able to fend them off by any force necessary.

I'm normally a pacifist on most issues like this, but this is my number one fear. If they broke in to your house I'd say they'd be prepared to kill you if it came to it. I'd defend myself, no matter what.

Paul H wrote:The arabs had the right idea with thieves. Chop their hands off, they won't do it again.

Heh. Here that would mean people would burgle a house to get the chop so they can then have a life time of benefits!

I remember reading a story once that a guy tried to break into a wee old dolls house and fell while breaking through her kitchen window and claimed against her for breaking his wrist.

If someone broke into my home, a safe haven for my family and tried to harm one of them i would not think twice. If i was trying to fight them off and i killed them then they deserve it.....

Especially if there are kids in the house.

Question not asked the right way. It should be: "would you be prepared to kill somebody to defend your or your family's life?". I guess most would answer yes, placing the value of a human life they cherish over a stranger's life.
As for losing property, it depends. If I think I could take the burglar out then I might give it a go, but not killing somebody over my TV! WTF? Punch him a few times and restrain him while we wait for the cops to arrive.

MatLogan wrote:I remember reading a story once that a guy tried to break into a wee old dolls house and fell while breaking through her kitchen window and claimed against her for breaking his wrist.

That happens a lot and because of a loophole in the law they get away with it!!

Steve wrote:so you want just let them do and take whatever they wanted?

No, but anyone who thinks your only option is to kill someone or let them do what they want is an idiot. You can defend yourself without jumping straight to "He's broken into my house, I'm going to kill him." If you defend yourself and they end up dying, I don't think you should go to jail for it or anything because that was their own fault, but if you decide to kill someone rather than restrain them, then you have committed murder, burglar or not.

That's why I put 'Other thoughts'. I would never intentionally kill somebody, but fear is a very difficult emotion to deal with. Some people don't know their own strength, which can be heightened by adrenaline, and may accidentally cause a fatal injury.

if i found someone in my house i'm not going stop and search because you dont know what they are carrying so i'm be trying to put them down as fast i can even if that means killing them

Now, if I was upstairs asleep and the hubby wasn't here . I would creep into the kids room, call the police and let them take the stuff...I have home insurance. If they came upstairs and wanted more than money/valuables... I would do anything I had to in order to protect my children.

If the hubby was here, he would be down in a shot and he wouldn't hesitate to do something very nasty.

We are law abiding people who never harm anyone, It makes me so upset to think that we even have to think about these things

should be made a right

Dave wrote:should be made a right

The problem with that would be that people would abuse that right. Kill somebody and get away with it by saying they broke into their home.

I would never intentionally kill someone. However, our house is full of weapons - axes, chains, scythes etc - so if somebody threatened my family I wouldn't hesitate to use one to stop them. I wouldn't deliberately go in for the kill, though, I'd just try & disable (or maim!) them.

Hayley wrote:

Paul H wrote:The arabs had the right idea with thieves. Chop their hands off, they won't do it again.

Heh. Here that would mean people would burgle a house to get the chop so they can then have a life time of benefits!

It wouldn't be their hands I'd chop off!

Eleanor wrote:

Dave wrote:should be made a right

The problem with that would be that people would abuse that right. Kill somebody and get away with it by saying they broke into their home.

its like a round about, bit like the death penalty

I do think you should be able to use 'reasonable force' with burglars. I suppose the problem is what is reasonable?

I don't think you should kill an intruder unless you believe your life is in imminenet danger. If that is the case than you have every right to defend your home and family.

you dont know if you life is in danger or not i dont think i would like to find out also so if anybody comes into my house they better get ready for the biggest beating they ever had in their life

If you have a weapon and they don't your life isn't in danger. If they charge you or reach for a weapon then your life is in danger.

in moment like that you not going be look for a weapon and becasuse he/she asn't got one in his hand doesn't mean they dom't have one they could pulling out a sword

Why would you not be able to see a weapon? Unless they come into your room you have gone to investigate a noise. If their hands are empty they are unarmed. If they reach inside of their clothing the assumption is they are going for a weapon.

that why you put them down quick just in case i rather not wait find out what they may or not have, i know someone who waited and ended up getting put in Hospitals for month

It's worth remembering also that a lot of society wouldn't be able to defend themselves as well as others ... Elderly , women living alone, less abled bodied . Those who are more physically capable would have a greater chance of using reasonable Force, whereas the only choices for someone less able might be to allow it to happen or use a weapon.

yout right sarah

Steve wrote:you dont know if you life is in danger or not i dont think i would like to find out also so if anybody comes into my house they better get ready for the biggest beating they ever had in their life

Yeah, but that's the difference between murder and defending yourself. If you kill someone because they might have been a threat, you've basically murdered someone when you could've knocked them out or whatever. Whereas if you're just trying to stop them and they end up dying, I can understand that because it's not what you meant to do, you were just defending yourself and stopping a threat. But you don't need to jump straight to killing them.

I vote that they take their life in their hands if they break into my home. If they clearly surrender, I wouldn't kill them (same if they ran out), if they even looked like they might be trying funny business, I'm afraid I would make sure that was the last move they made. Just my opinion and hope I never have to put it into practice. It would not be pleasant any way I look at it.

I'm a Mom of 2 small children.. Break in at your own risk. Nough Said

And, in an instance like this. I don't know what laws are for the UK or any other part of the world. Here in the sates, if someone breaks into your home and they get injured, they can sue you for getting hurt on your property! NO JOKE! So. My theory is, leave em alive pay for it... kill em.. pay for it another way... sooo lose lose situation.

A lot of Internet warriors in this topic. "I'd get a knife and gouge his eyes out, the *". Sure you would, keep telling yourself that.

WTF!!

Mani wrote:A lot of Internet warriors in this topic. "I'd get a knife and gouge his eyes out, the *". Sure you would, keep telling yourself that.

That's a very sweeping statement. Are you saying that you wouldn't defend yourself & your family against a violent burglar?

calling people internet warriors without knowing could make yourself look rather silly

I can't find the eye gouging comment at all

me too that why is said WTF

Steve wrote:that why you put them down quick just in case i rather not wait find out what they may or not have, i know someone who waited and ended up getting put in Hospitals for month

Exactley, what would you say 'have you got your weapon coz if not i wnt get mine!

Ben wrote:I vote that they take their life in their hands if they break into my home. If they clearly surrender, I wouldn't kill them (same if they ran out), if they even looked like they might be trying funny business, I'm afraid I would make sure that was the last move they made. Just my opinion and hope I never have to put it into practice. It would not be pleasant any way I look at it.

same as you ben, i hope to god this never happens but my automatic reaction is to fight if in danger (im not a warrior tho haha)

Mani wrote:A lot of Internet warriors in this topic. "I'd get a knife and gouge his eyes out, the *". Sure you would, keep telling yourself that.

What would you do then god forbid if someone entered your home

at the end of the day, when these thugs enter your home you dnt know if there their to burgle they could be coming in to do that and also take you family out, there are too many articles in the news were familys have been raped, tortured or killed in there own beds.

when it comes to safety of my family and home its top priority! I know that i can always grab something in an emergency that will defend myself. Another reason why tyke sleeps upstairs as any noise and he will n there first to alert.

its simples, thats our property our family what right do these people have to hurt and take what it ours, its sick and wrong!!!

got me ranting now

Internet tough guys. I'd do so and so. Of course you would. Whereas in real life 99% of humanity locks the door and waits for the bad guys to leave while praying the police arrive. Talk is cheap and unless you have previous experience of dishing out violence, or professional training, you're just a victim with an appetite to escalate a property theft situation into grievous injury for yourself. In extreme stress situations, most people freeze and can do nothing but run away. Somehow in this topic everybody has the killer instinct to grab a kitchen knife and go chop chop on another human being. Sure.

Mani wrote:Internet tough guys. I'd do so and so. Of course you would.

I'm struggling to find where you find this tough guy comments though Mani. There has been a good few comments saying they'd defend themselves but tbh I agree with them, I'm not belligerent or an interent warrior but I'd def defend myself. I can't find where you quoted someone saying they'd gouge someone's eyes out?

Paul H wrote:The arabs had the right idea with thieves. Chop their hands off, they won't do it again.

Surely it can be seen comments like this are exaggerated for comic effect?

Mani wrote:Internet tough guys. I'd do so and so. Of course you would. Whereas in real life 99% of humanity locks the door and waits for the bad guys to leave while praying the police arrive. Talk is cheap and unless you have previous experience of dishing out violence, or professional training, you're just a victim with an appetite to escalate a property theft situation into grievous injury for yourself. In extreme stress situations, most people freeze and can do nothing but run away. Somehow in this topic everybody has the killer instinct to grab a kitchen knife and go chop chop on another human being. Sure.

Sorry, I think this is unfair. We hope that no one ever has to go through this in there life. I have had close friends who have been burgled and ye sthey have had to fight back t protect there family and kids. yes i agree untill you in that situation then you dnt know but this is a 'what if' situation and friendly poll

not everyone has a killer instinct but i stand by what i said.

Mani wrote:Internet tough guys. I'd do so and so. Of course you would. Whereas in real life 99% of humanity locks the door and waits for the bad guys to leave while praying the police arrive. Talk is cheap and unless you have previous experience of dishing out violence, or professional training, you're just a victim with an appetite to escalate a property theft situation into grievous injury for yourself. In extreme stress situations, most people freeze and can do nothing but run away. Somehow in this topic everybody has the killer instinct to grab a kitchen knife and go chop chop on another human being. Sure.

beleive me with the knowledge i have im no internet tough guy and working the doors over the years iv stopped a load of violence and when need be dealt out resonable (in my eyes and in the eyes of the law)force.
and before you come back with doorman bully more than 99%of the time dealt with no hussle bussle but saddly when you have 8stone lads off there face on drugs you may need to use force .
we as humans have a built in defence if family were at risk we would attack.

[/quote]we as humans have a built in defence if family were at risk we would attack.[/quote]


i second that.....and for your bouncer story, force has to be used at times agree with that, some are nuggets who think they are hard men when they out and feel sorry for the door men

I feel sorry for a lot of door men too tbh. I watch little smart mouth lads push them to their very limit every time I'm out.

Albeit, one of you nasty door men denied me access to the bar a month or back as he said I didn't look 18, and I'm 25.


Sorry

calling people internet warrior when you dont even know these people is just stupid IMO