i dont think it was the sword that scared them, he was afraid that he was going to get bitten by those GIGANTIC teeth.

 

What an ******.  

 

Oh yeah, I remembered that...now that was really amazing! Thank God, no one was hurt!

 

Unfortunately, as far as the law is concerned, a burglar has more rights once they are in your house than you do. If they trip, fall, and break a bone, they can sue you for medical expenses. If they get bit by your dog, the dog WILL be taken away and put down, and they can sue you for medical expenses. If you injure them while trying to protect your belongings, they can sue you for medical expenses, and battery. The only way you have a right to defend yourself is if they threaten you with bodily harm in some way, pointing a gun at you, hitting you first, threatening you with a weapon of some kind, and admit to doing it. So basically, once a burglar is in your house, you're fucked if you do anything other than offer to help him carry out your stuff.

I researched this recently because of some odd happenings in the neighborhood and pretty much gave up on the US legal system as a result. Once I read that dogs can be put down for protecting their home from a burglar, I was done.

 

Wow. I figured this was the way things are in our sue-happy U.S. culture, but that's pretty discouraging.

How about taking down burglars outside of the house? Pre-emptive strike-wise? Like how we do with other countries?

 

What a dumbass.

He should've put the Prime helmet on too

 

Holy crap, I just realized... this was in Hialeah. I go to college there. Hehe, its like my second home.

 

Only if you're the vice president. *ZING*

But um, no. You can't do anything, at any point, before they either threaten or actually cause you harm first.

 

Keep in mind I doubt those are federal laws they are probably local/state laws that are applicable to where you live and may not be the case in other areas. I am under the impression that in MA you are all good so long as you shoot to disable and not to kill.

 

Years of watching manga really paid off, heh. 

 

that should read "reading manga" or "Watching anime"

 

In theory. Unfortunately, in practice, about the only state that routinely finds for the homeowner/defender these days is Texas. Most everywhere else, you'd better hope you didn't cause much worse than a mild bruise if you hope to not get hit with medical expenses.

 

But then they still have to admit (or have it be proven) that they either threatened or actually caused you harm, right? You'd think trespassing or breaking and entering was proof enough.

 

Pretty much. About the only sure-fire defense you have is if they've already put a bullet in you or stabbed.