Man Acquitted of Murder Under "Make My Day" Law

KKTV Colorado Springs ^ | 12/17/2005 | cawats

[CAWats]

A man accused of first-degree murder is acquitted in Colorado Springs under the state's "Make My Day" law.
The law is intended to protect people who shoot intruders in their homes. However, in this case Gary Lee Hill was accused of killing a man who was already driving away from his house.
Nineteen-year-old John David Knott and three others had earlier assaulted Hill in his home. As they left, Hill grabbed a high-powered rifle and fired a shot which hit Knott in the back.

[truth_seeker]

Who is the DA that had him charged? He needs to be unseated, next election.

[LibWhacker]

A Colorado lawmaker who helped craft the measure calls the verdict a miscarriage of justice. He says the jury may have misinterpreted it.

This lawmaker shouldn't flatter himself. Maybe they just understand jury nullification better than he does.

[babygene]

I think he should have been convicted... Sorry.

[bybybill]

The shooter was beaten up but the MSM never said why. He then grabed a deer rifle and shot the guy that died in the back as supposedly the car the dead guy was driving turned back towards the shooters house.
\The state Sen. that wrote the law giving the homeowner the right to shoot in their home said this case didn`t come close to what he meant and it was a murder.

[orionblamblam]

> As they left, Hill grabbed a high-powered rifle and fired a shot which hit Knott in the back.

That’s why I say hey man nice shot
What a good shot man...

[arasina]

Did you see this?

[babygene]

At some point it becomes "not protecting your property", but revenge. If the motive was revenge, then he should do jail time...

[JudgemAll]

This lawmaker is itching for double jeopardy

[CAWats]

I think he should have been convicted... Sorry.

Maybe he should have been convicted, but I would havr done the same thing. Four men are not gonna come into my house, beat me up, then leave. It's payback time.

[JudgemAll]

by competing harms he did the right thing. These kids were a danger by reasonable doubt.

[JudgemAll]

Lawmakers have their own little arrangements but they hate it when the "serfs" and juries protect their own.

[BigCinBigD]

Good shot.

[orionblamblam]

> f the motive was revenge, then he should do jail time...

Depends on revenge for what.


There's the law, and there's what's right. Sometimes the two intersect.

[flaglady47]

"At some point it becomes "not protecting your property", but revenge. If the motive was revenge, then he should do jail time..."

You know, I'm so sick of "revenge" being a bad thing. Throughout world history revenge has been the norm, not the abnormal. It is such a basic human instinct. Someone kills your parents, you want revenge. You want to kill those that murdered your family. You want them deader than a doornail. This constant denial of such an obvious and basic emotion drives me nutz. If someone burglarized me and beat the crap out of me, I would seek revenge. If someone did something to someone in my family I would want revenge; instant revenge would be preferable. And I would wait a lifetime (because it now takes a lifetime) to see someone get lethal injection for having killed any one of my family, just for personal revenge. Justice is done also, but it is the revenge that makes it sweet.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

You've just stated one of the critical arguments in supporting capital punishment. If capital crime does not result in at least severe if not capital punishment, people will take the law, and justice (revenge) into their own hands. Lynch mobs and vigilantism will run wild.

The idiots who protest a single execution have no idea the number of unlawful executions they are encouraging.

[packrat35]

I disagree. You assault me and drive away and leave a gun in my reach and you are going to die. No one gets free shots.

[packrat35]

I agree. Why is this even an issue.

[CAWats]

"Revenge is a dish best served cold."

[papertyger]

At some point it becomes "not protecting your property", but revenge.

You say that like it's a bad thing...