[Cliff R]

"In Arizona we can now use deadly force to protect PROPERTY"

In and of itself......you are NEVER autorized to use deadly force to protect your property, specifically. Even with that said, having to stay in the house while someone goes through all your hard earned possessions while you wait minutes (or hours) for Law Enforcment to arrive is unrealistic.

Here in Ohio, we are no longer bound to retreat to the safety of our homes when confronted by tresspassers, theives, criminals, etc.

Here is the way it goes. IF someone decides to tresspass on my property and gets caught in the act, they will be given orders to cease and desist that behaviour and to lie flat on the ground with their hands in plain site at all times.

IF they choose to run away and make no threatening actions, they will probably live to steal another day. IF they have a vehicle within close proximity to me, I will NOT allow them to reach that vehicle, as I would see this as potential to arm themselves and not solely as a means of escape.

IF they do anything else, like run their big fat mouth, get confrontational, tell me to go fluck myself, etc, deadly force against them will be forthcoming. The FACT that they did not comply with my task directions, and/or any "aggressive" attitude/actions/etc would make me feel threatened in these situations.

I live WAY out in the country, the average response time from Law Enforcement is apprx 45 minutes. I've been DIRECTLY involved twice in the past 12 months with folks tresspassing on my property. In both situations, they chose to leave immediately with 4 dogs right on their heals, and the big one trying to pull peices off of them!

Since at no time did I feel threatened by either of these individules, no deadly force was used against them. Basically, it would NOT be appropriate (reasonable for the circumstances) to gun someone down running off through the woods like their backside was on fire! It could have been nothing more than some 10 year old looking to steal a bicycle for all I know?.....Cliff

[Guilty]

If you decide to get one, Take all the training courses they have available and keep going to the range for practice, practice, practice. learn how to shoot with your weak hand as well as your good hand. Learn reloading tactics using only one hand and practice, practice, practice. Just because you are carrying a gun doesn't mean that you can pull it on someone just to "scare" them. As in previous posts, you have to have a reason to pull it. Some States have weird laws incorporated into their CCW laws and you need to keep up on these. There are reasons it is called a "Concealed" weapons license. Find a gun that you can handle and are comfortable shooting if you don't own one yet. You should be able to go to a gun range and rent a few different models to help you in your choice purchasing one. Just my .02 cents.

[johnsma22]

Originally Posted by Cliff R

Even with that said, having to stay in the house while someone goes through all your hard earned possessions while you wait minutes (or hours) for Law Enforcment to arrive is unrealistic.

I couldn't agree more. What's the old saying, Cliff? When seconds count, the cops are only minutes away, or something like that. This is not a knock on law enforcement in any way, shape, matter or form. It's the simple reality that the police CANNOT be the first responders in every situation. How could they be? They are not omnipresent like my 9mm is.