Well I guess I have to move now...again!

[DevilGirl]

Originally Posted by djct_watt

To think that if you kill in intruder who is robbing your home, you can go to jail in CA. You have to justify use of deadly force and (it seems) the criminals often have more rights than victims.

Not just in CA. That's in a lot of states. The general rule is that you use only enough force as necessary. And if you think about it, it does make a little sense. Why should you be allowed to kill somone who is just stealing stuff from your home? If they came in and did nothing to your person physically or mentally (i.e., threatened you with bodily harm to the point that you felt your very life was in danger), then your person was still safe. It's only when your life is threatened and there is no other alternative (i.e. run), that you are allowed to use deadly force.

To put it another way, sure a guy comes in to rob you, and you shoot to kill. You've just committed manslaughter. Why should you be held to a different standard just because someone was trying to take a possession that is replaceable? A life is not. Killing is still a crime, there are just some instances when there are mitigating circumstances (i.e. self defense, military at war)