Protecting your property and protecting your pet questions.

[steve_010]

Sorry ahead of time if this has been discussed (and I'm sure it has).

What are the laws on using a firearm to protect your property?

Example #1: I catch someone vandalizing my house and I tell him to stop. He doesn't stop. I'm in no physical danger but am I just supposed to stand there and watch until the police arrive? What if I drew my firearm and he still didn't stop?

Example #2: I am walking my dog on a public street. Someone comes up and starts beating my dog and won't stop. I'm fearing for my dogs life at this point. Is the use of deadly force acceptable to save my dogs life?

[riverpirate]

house no , dog yes

[1861]

In Pennsylvania , go drink a beer until they are finished .

[fingers80002]

Sorry ahead of time if this has been discussed (and I'm sure it has).

What are the laws on using a firearm to protect your property?

Example #1: I catch someone vandalizing my house and I tell him to stop. He doesn't stop. I'm in no physical danger but am I just supposed to stand there and watch until the police arrive? What if I drew my firearm and he still didn't stop?

Example #2: I am walking my dog on a public street. Someone comes up and starts beating my dog and won't stop. I'm fearing for my dogs life at this point. Is the use of deadly force acceptable to save my dogs life?

#1 No. Drawing will get you in trouble. That is escalating the situation.

#2 Not a person, an animal, yes.

[steve_010]

#1 No. Drawing will get you in trouble. That is escalating the situation.

Wow...I totally disagree with that. What if they were about to set your house on fire but you caught them in the act. Would that be a reasonable situation to draw your firearm to keep your house from burning to the ground? I know that's not the same as vandalism. Is there a line to draw when you can and can't draw a firearm to protect your property?

#2 Not a person, an animal, yes.

So you're saying that it's not ok to use deadly force against a human to save my dogs life? I just want to be clear.

[AxiTech]

I'm not a lawyer, BUT, if it were my house they were trying to set fire to:
#1: Officer, I was certain my family was inside!
#2: that would be the official story, and the guy with the matches would definitely NEVER be able to tell his side of the story. Dead men tell no tales!
#3: the agreement in my neighborhood is: If the cops arrive, the stranger threw the first punch, or escalated the situation and definitely yelled "Ihave a gun and I'm going to kill you".
It helps to be nice to your neighbors!

[Frenchy]

I'm not a lawyer, BUT, if it were my house they were trying to set fire to:
#1: Officer, I was certain my family was inside!
#2: that would be the official story, and the guy with the matches would definitely NEVER be able to tell his side of the story. Dead men tell no tales!
#3: the agreement in my neighborhood is: If the cops arrive, the stranger threw the first punch, or escalated the situation and definitely yelled "Ihave a gun and I'm going to kill you".
It helps to be nice to your neighbors!

Perfect example of words that could come back and haunt you... This is a public forum, every one the world over can read it. Even lawyers and cops...

Why anyone would say anything this stupid online baffles me.

[knight0334]

Wow...I totally disagree with that. What if they were about to set your house on fire but you caught them in the act. Would that be a reasonable situation to draw your firearm to keep your house from burning to the ground? I know that's not the same as vandalism. Is there a line to draw when you can and can't draw a firearm to protect your property?


So you're saying that it's not ok to use deadly force against a human to save my dogs life? I just want to be clear.

Yes, there is.. You cant use "deadly force" to protect property. Arson is a more a crime of violence than it is a crime against property, so busting a thief or vandalism is on another tier from arson.

You can use "force" to remove a trespasser and to protect property from being stolen/vandalized, but not "deadly force". Since you are not required to retreat from your home, and someone is trying to burn you out of it, thus endangering your life - other possibilities open up.

Against your dog, probably not.. A dog is legally only a possession.

There are alot of variables involved with protection of property, there is also the factor of stopping the commission of certain crimes, and so on.

[fingers80002]

Wow...I totally disagree with that. What if they were about to set your house on fire but you caught them in the act. Would that be a reasonable situation to draw your firearm to keep your house from burning to the ground? I know that's not the same as vandalism. Is there a line to draw when you can and can't draw a firearm to protect your property?


So you're saying that it's not ok to use deadly force against a human to save my dogs life? I just want to be clear.

You stated vandalism, not arson, that's different.

That is what I'm saying, you cannot use deadly force to protect an animal, unless another animal is attacking.

[steve_010]

You stated vandalism, not arson, that's different.

I know...I'm just trying to find where the line is drawn...

That is what I'm saying, you cannot use deadly force to protect an animal, unless another animal is attacking.

That's a shame. I give my dog more respect than most humans