Gun Control & RKBA
Related: About this forumSan Jose: Police say burglary suspect was fatally shot by citizen trying to detain him
Local newspaper just published this "armed citizen hero" story:
Witnesses at the complex reported hearing an argument, a single shot and screams. Emergency crews attempted to revive Soriano, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
San Jose police Officer Albert Morales said they encourage residents to be watchful, but to get authorities involved rather than attempt to catch suspected criminals themselves.
"Allow us to have the opportunity to go out and take care of it," he said. "There have been many times when we have arrived on scene and been successful apprehending numerous burglary suspects, while still inside the home or just afterward."
He added that citizens shouldn't resort to a potentially lethal confrontation "unless, of course, your life is in danger and you are acting in self-defense, then you have to do what you have to do."
Whose side are you on, the shooter or the police officer? Problem with Morales's statement is that the burglar may continue to harm the homeowner while the cops are on the way.
slackmaster
(60,567 posts)Loudly
(2,436 posts)Police say "give us an opportunity to respond to the crime in progress before acting as judge, jury and executioner."
That's just a polite request from the people who are trying to keep society civilized.
gejohnston
(17,502 posts)call the cops and be a good witness. This might sound wimpy or whatever, I'm not going to get my ass beat or stabbed over a car stereo. I'm not going to run out the door and shoot someone defending someone's stereo either.
That said, according to the comments, the city laid off cops and dismantled their burglary unit. I would have to look at that as a mitigating factor.
AnotherMcIntosh
(11,064 posts)http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_22300612/san-jose-police-say-burglary-suspect-was-fatally
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Lizzie Poppet
(10,164 posts)I'd call the police and hope they got there fast enough to catch him, but confronting him would be a bad idea for me. I'm too small to be any sort of deterrent threat, and my size (and gender) might tempt them into believing an assault would be the best chance for them to get away. Because I'm be armed, however, that could easily escalate into a situation like the one described here. It's not worth a human life (even some scumbag thief's...).
Because I choose to arm myself, I believe I have a greater responsibility to avoid conflict situations whenever possible.
hbskifreak
(57 posts)So is it really worthy to "accidentally" murder someone for stealing a car or car stereo? Breaking into a car is a very different thing than breaking into someone's house, especailly if the owner is home. But FFS, call a cop and then get a new radio.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)1. You investigate to get a description of the thief, to pass on to the police as a witness.
2. Thief notices you, and responds aggressively, chasing you.
3. You are armed, and the situation escalates.
Did 'you' do anything wrong here?
I personally would not attempt to apprehend anyone, law enforcement is not my function. But I would most certainly investigate any such activity, and try to get a description. If I do so, am I just stuck with a beating or worse, if the thief attacks me, and I happen to be armed? Should I not protect myself?
In fact, going beyond a description, I could see the property owner reasonably saying something like 'hey man, leave my shit alone, I just called the cops'. If this results in a physical attack, again, if the property owner is armed and responds, has he or she done anything morally wrong?
This is why I said 'insufficient data' above. What happened here could have been vigilantism, or something else.