is it justified to use deadly force or to shoot

**springfield1911** · February 15th, 2009, 01:11 PM

say you are at home watching tv you hear someone trying to break your door down or has come in. you hold your gun up telling the intruder to stop or you will shoot. your family is in the bed room, say he doesn't listen and continues to come at you. you know if he gets to you theirs a chance he will use the weapon on you, and if that happens your family will also be endangered now in the state of pa it say if you feel that your life is in serious injury or death you can use deadly force. my question is are you justified to shoot. remember he doesn't have a weapon (yet) but if you do not respond he may have yours.

**RoyJackson** · February 15th, 2009, 02:00 PM

Oh boy...more fodder for the internet cowboys and Rambos

**JoeWilliams** · February 15th, 2009, 02:04 PM

If you have reasonable cause to fear for your life or someone else's, you can use a reasonable level of force to stop an attack.

Someone breaks into my house and continues an attack despite having a gun pointed at him and being ordered to leave, I'm going to be that scared, and will defend myself and my family.

But, I'm no lawyer, so take it for what it's worth.

**38SnubFan** · February 15th, 2009, 03:23 PM

I'll keep my answer to this one simple (for the time being):

If someone breaks in my house, I've drawn my gun on him, and he is still advancing towards me, I'm going to shoot until he's no longer advancing or has retreated.

As far as I'm concerned, that is all I'm legally justified to do.

-38SnubFan

**benc4liberty** · February 15th, 2009, 03:41 PM

My life, the lives of family and/or friends in my home supersedes any worry about getting in trouble for protecting said lives. Then again, I leave the doors locked, so if they're breaking in, I'll hear them if it's during the day, call the police and do what I need to do to protect myself. If it's at night, I'd be more apt to leave the lights off, therefore, I probably won't be able to see details such as a handgun-which means the assumption is of life threatening danger; it's home court rules, I know the terrain, they don't. My family and friends-that I have over, who-for whatever reason- might come over anytime during the night, know I'm armed at home, and that entry without my forewarning could be very dangerous.

**Steeltown** · February 15th, 2009, 05:54 PM

If an intruder is in your home and coming towards you with a weapon or with nothing at all and your pointing a gun at them and telling them to stop and they refuse I am not sure why you would NOT shoot them. If you have a gun and use it for home protection but would only consider shooting an intruder who also has a gun then it is basically worthless! I guess the real question would be is a gun owner more worried about his or her rights or protecting their family. If they are more worried about their rights then they should sell the gun to someone who values their family's lives more than their own rights.