Shotguns Illlegal?

[Wayne SW/MO]

Your boss may remember a Supreme Court case that involved a shooting by a shotgun. A farmer had an empty house that was broken in too several times, he set up a shotgun aimed at the front door with a trip wire, and someone was killed. A conviction was upheld because of the intent. Its been decades since I read it, but that's the gist of it.

[eric1978]

If you live in Texas, you can go outside and shoot two intruders of your neighbor's house, on the front yard, in the back, and while on the phone with 911 and not face charges. I'm sorry but that's just wrong. If someone is in your house, I say blow his freakin head off, but outside, that's up to the police. Too many people think that because they have the right to own and possibly carry a firearm and the right to protect themselves that they also have an obligation to act as neighborhood commando.

Of course I'm not talking about you, Joe. You seem like a completely reasonable person. And yes, I do have both a shotgun and a 9mm in my house, but they never leave the house unless I'm heading to the range or the field.

[Terry Beeson]

Two recent incidents should be interjected here:

1. The fellow in Springfield who ran after and chased down a purse snatcher shooting his concealed weapon, apparently in traffic. I say he was in the wrong for doing that but commend his intentions. He will certainly face charges for firing the weapon when and where he did. One fact was that he had no reason to fear that his life was in danger... He was chasing them.

2. Recently near my hometown in Arkansas a fellow walked out to his truck to go to work. Two men attacked him and began beating him (by the way, this fellow turned out to be a martial arts instructor in his 50s.) His son was in the house and heard his dad calling for help. He approached the kitchen window with a 9mm. One of the guys saw him and started toward the door. I'm not sure if this guy was armed or not. The son fired one round through the window, killing the perp. The other one fled, leaving dad roughed up a little, but he was able to interview with police and the news media...

As for a shotgun, there are many models out there on the marked SPECIFICALLY designed for home defense. I don't see how they could sell them if they were illegal.

The key to "self defense" in any case is the idea of immenent danger and fear for your life.

And if someone is coming toward my door with a gun blasting, I ain't waitin' for him to come in...

[billynwtf]

They are not illegal plan and simple! The best home protection gun by far.