I've been robbed...

[Benzie]

They will, in time; hit the cars, see how the community reacts, hit the houses, the same. They'll wait until they think people have forgotten and hit another "soft" target. The trick is to make them think no one is looking.

[Eoraptor]

actually the trick is to wire up a nice juicey target car with a pound or two of C4 and wire it into the windows so that it detonates when smashed or picked

[Benzie]

Technically, that could be considered premeditated manslaughter (or something like that, I'm not a damn lawyer!), since the vehicle will be destroyed in the process thus negating the argument that it's a crime deterent. It is, mind you- I sure as hell wouldn't touch a neighborhood that blows up criminals on a regular basis- but the courts likely won't see it that way.

[Alex.the.Pretty.Good]

... thus negating the argument that it's a crime deterent. It is, mind you- I sure as hell wouldn't touch a neighborhood that blows up criminals on a regular basis- but the courts likely won't see it that way.

I disagree. Personally, I think it's more probably another step in run-away escalation.

If the criminals know that they are "fair game" targets, they'll wait for an isolated citizen and shoot without asking questions.

That and it will also cause criminals to have a more callous attitude towards life in places where people don't have such draconian counter-measures. Just compare the number of police-officers killed by criminals in Western Europe with those in the US. I have no concrete numbers, but I do know that it's pretty rare here.

I really should continue this in the thread started by Dio in the "debates forum"...

[Eoraptor]

TECHNICALLY it's premeditated manslaughter (look at the texas shotgun fence posts of the 1870's which is where the precedent was set), but given how so many police forces are being scaled back, I'd also call it effective deterrent. One military grade shaped charge will keep bad folks away for months, perhaps years...

but, you know, they do call me a pessimist.

[The Supreme One]

Or you could get a shaped charge that detonated only towards them at waist level...

[SickAndWrong]

My brother's friend and his brother were sitting on their couch playing X-Box one night. Three armed dickholes kicked in the front door, and started yelling for their money. The friend's brother handed over his wallet, then asked the guy if he could have his drivers license out of it. Dude shot him point-blank in the head. Fortunately, wanna-be thugs like to carry .22s, and don't aim well. Dude survived, with a concussion, a scar, and recurring nightmares.

Which brings me to the point of my little story. After the following Christmas, my brother and I collected boxes from people we knew. Flat screen TV box, etc. We took all our bogus swag in the house, then unpacked the 12 gauge and the M-4 and waited for dark. When they kicked the door in the second time, they got one hell of a surprise. Sadly, they gave up, but the best part was when the cops were arguing over whose car the one who peed his pants would ride to jail in.

Not that I'm suggesting anyone do the same...

[Trahern]

That kind of thing can go sideways, but I'm glad it worked out for you.

[The Supreme One]

That can go bad pretty quickly when the cops show up

[SickAndWrong]

We had two things on our side.

One, cowards don't like it when their victims are armed.

Two, the cops in GA don't mind a little self-defense now and again.

[The Supreme One]

Them some lenient cops there, damn

[johnlite]

Them some lenient cops there, damn

Fla is even better.

many thanks; johnl

[SickAndWrong]

I'm not sure how you do it in CO, but in GA if someone breaks into your house you are allowed to use force - up to and including deadly force - in self defense. In fact, in GA one is allowed to use whatever force is necessary to prevent any forcible felony.

Fla is even better.

I'm inclined to agree, although "Stand Your Ground" is about to get its first real test...

[Eoraptor]

oh please, that wasn't "Stand your ground;" that was "rambo neighborhood watch guy ignores orders from 911 operator and/or cop and kills a kid for walking through his neighborhood" You know, I ~might~ be able to understand that one if he were walking through a shittly slumhole... but it was a high end suburb.

*ahem*

Colorado also has a make my day law, it was passed shortly after I moved out.

[The Supreme One]

Yes it does, but they still get pretty mad at you