1911.COM : News & "The Media" Discussion : News & "The Media" Discussion : VA Sheriff supports using force against burglars

News & "The Media" Discussion : News & "The Media" Discussion

VA Sheriff supports using force against burglars

Post

User

Room 055

Posted: Aug 9th 2010, 08:26 AM

http://www.mtairynews.com/view/full_story/9004975/article-Sheriff-supports-using-force-against-burglars?instance=secondary_news_left_column

Sheriff supports using force against burglars

by Staff Report

STUART, Va. — Desperate times often call for desperate measures, and that’s apparently the case in Ararat, where residents wanting to arm themselves against burglars have the full support of their sheriff.

“Numerous” burglaries have been committed in the Ararat area since November 2009, according to Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith.

The latest occurred in the early morning hours Monday, when an 89-year-old female in that community was victimized.

A male suspect, who is believed to be responsible for the other burglaries as well, entered the elderly woman’s home by crawling through a kitchen window. Once inside, the burglar went through drawers and the victim’s purse while she was in her bedroom.

The sheriff said Monday’s incident marked the second time in as many weeks that the home has been burglarized.

Smith added that the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office has identified a “person of interest” in this case who also is believed to have committed other burglaries in the Ararat community.

Right To Protection

Until the suspect is arrested, Smith advocates residents taking lawful steps to protect themselves against a would-be burglar.

The sheriff said he “strongly supports” the Second Amendment right to bear arms and the right of individual citizens to protect themselves.

Homeowners who consider buying a gun often fear that using it against someone breaking into their residence could subject them to prosecution for a death or injury that results. Smith indicated that he has had several such questions from concerned citizens surrounding their desire to arm themselves as a result of the recent burglaries.

The sheriff responded to this concern by stating that “any citizen has the right to protect themselves by whatever means necessary if he or she has a reasonable belief that their life or personal safety is in imminent danger.”

He added, “If you are protecting yourself against an intruder, I will support you.”

Read more: Mount Airy News - Sheriff supports using force against burglars

Joined:
Location:

Jan 8th 09
VA US

Recoil

Posted: Aug 9th 2010, 11:20 AM

Knuff said!

This guy and my local Sheriff must be fishin' buddies.

Joined:
Location:

Dec 27th 07
AL US

InstructorPyro

Posted: Aug 9th 2010, 01:27 PM

Believe it or not I have a Sheriff that wants the citizens of my county to protect themselves as well. CCWs in my county are easy to get.

Joined:
Location:

May 22nd 08
CA US

Bishopn87

Posted: Aug 9th 2010, 02:06 PM

Shit, when I pulled a rifle / bayonet combo on a burglar last year, I nearly got arrested for assault, brandishing and making terroristic threats.

Imagine what would have happened if they'd caught the guy and actually had a complaining witness ...

Joined:
Location:

Sep 18th 09
CA US

AR-ONEFIVE

Posted: Aug 9th 2010, 04:29 PM

lol Bishopn87 here in tx if a burglar breaks in we can kill them and not go to jail and lat i heard they passed a law that your car is also considered your kingdom and can do the same

Joined:
Location:

Jun 13th 10
TX US

suncat05

Posted: Aug 9th 2010, 08:24 PM

The governor here in Florida signed the "Castle Doctrine" into law a couple of years ago, IIRC. It's about one of the very few things he has gotten right since he was elected to replace Jeb.

My Sheriff here strongly advocates one defending one's person, family, and property. And he has told us several times to not worry about shooting any bad guys, if they deserve to be shot, then shoot them!

Joined:
Location:

Sep 20th 09
FL US

Room 055

Posted: Aug 9th 2010, 08:46 PM

IMHO, the Castle Doctrine should be a part of the 2nd Amendment.

Joined:
Location:

Jan 8th 09
VA US

Hermosa Beach Guy

Posted: Aug 9th 2010, 10:28 PM

I live on the second floor here.....

If I am gone, my windows are locked.

If I am home, they are unlocked.

Don't worry about me, I'll let the turd crawl all the way in before I shoot him.

Just to make sure it's a clean shoot........

Joined:
Location:

Feb 13th 09
CA US

Tbird

Posted: Aug 10th 2010, 12:37 PM

The last sheriff we had used to tell people he would talk to that if someone broke into your home, to go ahead and shoot them and he would make sure they would not be prosecuted. That was before we got the castle doctrine. Then before we got CCW laws, he lead a march at the county seat in support of the CCW. He was in civies and he was openly packing and so was everybody in the march. There must have been close to 1000 people in the march. He was attacked from all over this country when he PERSONALLY lead raids to arrest illegals working and non-working in this county. He travelled around country more than a few times giving seminars to other Sheriffs on how to catch illegals and what to do with them after they have them. Unfortunately, he retired from the sheriffs job and ran for Mayor of the county seat city and lost...only 13% of the people voted in the election. Now we have a less than adequate guy in there who never really lived in the county before he got elected. He seems against the people and I do not trust him.

Joined:
Location:

May 9th 08
OH US

Trilarian

Posted: Aug 10th 2010, 04:51 PM

Like your idea HBG. Wouldn't work for me though... german shepherd would be at their throat before I get a chance to shoot. I'll be more likely to pull walking home at night. At the moment there is increased LEO presence as their is a new mayor and police chief. Usually see a surge when new people are elected, then within 6 months it dies off and back to carry or be buried.

Luckily in LA, we have both the castle doctrine and the stand your ground laws in place. As long as your life is threatened, property is forcibly trespassed (yard doesn't count, but house and car do), or excessive bodily harm then you have a clean shoot.

Even when you don't have the law on your side, juries here are pretty much fed up with crime.

Here is yet another reason not to live in the UK....

Joined:
Location:

Jan 7th 09
LA US

AR-ONEFIVE

Posted: Aug 10th 2010, 11:53 PM

while we are on this subject i wanna ask something lets say some one breaks in i shoot him a couple of times and stop he falls and becomes helpless cops arrive what would happen? my question is do i have to actualy kill the person or would they try to say in court something like i new what i was doing was wrong because i stoped shooting so i was aware or something stupid you no how they always fined loop holes to try to make you break or should i just shoot until the guy stops moving so that way there's no one else that can try to persuade the judg i also heard that if yo dont kill the person breaking in they could turn around and sue you....wtf that cant be true right lol

Joined:
Location:

Jun 13th 10
TX US

foxtrot

Posted: Aug 11th 2010, 12:16 AM

Once the threat is stopped, you stop shooting, regardless of situation or location. It's basic morals. I won't delve into TX laws specifically. In some cases, you can set yourself up for civil or criminal action by acting - and I won't dive into the legality of acting as it would be a 3,000 page post to cover the entire country, so lets just fall back on the basis of "right".

We live in a country where it is not one persons obligation, responsibility, or right to be the justice system.

that is a question for the "laws and legalities" forum by the way.

Joined:
Location:

Sep 3rd 07
CO US

Recoil

Posted: Aug 14th 2010, 12:23 AM

I moved to 'Bama from Florida. Florida implemented the "Castle Doctrine" back in 2004 if I remember right. Alabama followed suit in 2006, a few months before I got here. The laws basically mirror FL's law(s). Home and car are sacred, you don't even have to ask questions, of course you have to feel that you are in imminent danger. The car part is to protect from "carjackings". Stand your ground law applies here too. If you are in imminent danger, you don't have to retreat. If someone (anywhere) threatens you with imminent danger, you can protect yourself with deadly force. However, you must meet force with the appropriate force.

It's pretty cut and dry. Our local Sheriff passes out CCW's like lemonade on a hot day...of course when the proper background check is complete and you come back clean.

I had a situation here a few years ago and posted here about it. When I was on the phone with the Sheriff's office, the dispatcher actually asked me "Do you have a gun?" I told her "yes". She said ok, and that a deputy was on the way and it'd would be about 30 minutes or so. 45 minutes later, and after calling me for directions, he showed up. My point...be prepared to take care of your family and self.

Joined:
Location:

Dec 27th 07
AL US

Back to News & "The Media" Discussion

Navigation

Front Page

Forums

Search Forums

Users/Login