Can't trust your guard dog
Posted on 04/06/2012 4:58:56 AM PDT by marktwain
BONNEY LAKE, Wash. – Two Pierce County homeowners pulled guns on people trying to break into their homes Thursday morning.
Bonney Lake Police said a man was napping at his home in the 8000 block of 205th Avenue East when he heard someone ringing the doorbell. He ignored it, but then heard the person kicking the door.
The owner grabbed a shotgun and confronted the intruder. The suspect then fled in a pickup truck, but not before the homeowner fired a shot. Police say there was no indication the car or the intruder was hit.
Police said they are searching for the suspect and trying to determine if the homeowner will face any charges.
"The whole idea of owning a firearm is to protect yourself," said Officer Todd Green of Bonney Lake Police. "When you start to put the public at risk is where we get concerned."
The suspect is described as white, about 5-feet 8-inches tall in his 30's with a buzz haircut and a "boxey" build. He was wearing a black leather jacket and gray gloves. The pickup was a blue, older model Ford with a black ladder rack and side step rails. There was a generator and a pink bicycle in the bed of the truck.
In another home invasion in Gig Harbor, two young men rang the doorbell of a home in the 3200 block of 19th Avenue NW. The woman living there, Angela Tallman, an Army veteran, was home sick and did not answer the door.
When she heard someone hiding in the bushes she said she grabbed her gun. She then saw the suspects trying to open the sliding glass door.
"I tapped on the kitchen window with my revolver," she said. "I waved at them with the revolver, made sure I got both of the attention, made sure I showed them it was loaded and waved it at them, pointed it at them and they both stopped and bolted."
The intruders are described as white, in their late teens to early 20s and wearing dark, baggy clothing.
Also on Thursday in Federal Way, a man said he came home to find a burglar. The homeowner armed himself and chased the burglar into a nearby lake. The burglar had to be rescued and was eventually arrested.
Pierce County prosecutor Mark Lindquist said citizens have some leeway in using deadly force to protect themselves or their property in their homes.
"Prosecutors are going to look at things like degree of danger, where the shooting takes place, and who the players are," said Lindquist. "I can tell you this though: In Washington, we are a 'no duty to retreat' state, so you have a right to stand your ground."
But shooting a fleeing suspect who no longer poses a threat could get you in trouble, Lindquist said.
Thursday's incidents are the latest in a recent string of cases in which homeowners have used guns to defend their property.
A retired Puyallup police officer shot and killed a man who was attempting to break into his home Wednesday afternoon.
Last Friday, a North Bend homeowner shot and killed a man who broke into the bedroom where the homeowner and his girlfriend were hiding.
Leave them free to try again. Home invasions are becoming so commonplace. Criminals have become so embolden, there is only one way to stop it. I don’t give a rat’s ass about them.
Can't trust your guard dog
That would certainly get my attention :)
I think the prosecutor said this because I believe that in next-door Oregon you do have a duty to retreat, if possible, and you can only defend yourself with deadly force if you feel that your life is in immediate danger.
Did you see the video of the Gig Harbor woman?
From Q13 FOX News:
Two young men who were trying to break into Angela Tallman’s house in Gig Harbor Thursday got a major surprise when Tallman appeared at a window, tapped her handgun against the glass to get their attention and gave them a look of, “Come on in, let’s play.”
Prepare to be lectured.
You are exactly right, throughout history being armed has given the defender the confidence to stand-up to the criminal attacker. The low life unarmed criminals are generally cowards and lazy, they watch for easy targets. So the first sign of resistance they bolt. The statistics back this up and most won’t shoot someone if they are fleeing the scene. Be aware though of the young, dumb or drug crazed...and there is no real way to tell if they are this type of criminal...they may just do something crazy like retreat and attack, run and get a gun, or just come at you. By there very nature criminals are unpredictable and bent on evil, so warning them may result in retreat (whew good news) or may result in a more intense attack (oh crap)!
Now depending on the laws in your state and your own feelings/beliefs then you may want to tag them before they commit another crime against someone not so prepared like the elderly, children etc. etc.
``But shooting a fleeing suspect who no longer poses a threat could get you in trouble, Lindquist said...``
But in California, the cops can legally shoot at you [in the back, leg etc.] to stop you if you run away from them.
Ask anyone who has been pulled over with cops pointing loaded guns at them just on suspicion. They will say ``Stop or we will shoot!``if you try to run - even though your back is turned and you are unarmed. Just read the Oakland Tribune about the Oakland Cowboys.
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