What value do you place on a human life....

[jonrjen]

Put aside the tough-guy, armed to the teeth, protecting my property, chest out macho gun carrying additude.....LOL (kind of). And yes I know there are a number of states have have a Castle Law/Doctrine giving you the legal right to use deadly force to protect your property. Some states even go so far as to require you to also protect the property of others and their life.

But, when and if the moment comes, that you need to use your firearm to protect yourself....have you given any thought as to at what dollar amount, you would pull the trigger willing to take a human life? Would it be over a car stereo, your big screen, your car or "You fill in the blank".

I am not talking someone breaking in to your house while you are there with a face to face confrontation with an armed intruder. But, say you come home to a break in as they are leaving, or walk out to your car and find someone breaking in. While you have the legal right to protect your property with legal force....would you?

What would be the dollar value you place on the life of the Bad Guy?

[Robby]

Ok, I may or may not be normal in this, however, I would not shoot the leaving burgular, or the get away driver for STUFF! I might try to hold them there for the cops, but I WOULD NOT shoot them for stuff.

Now, for family or myself under threat of harm, felt or real that is the other story. Fear of harm, would bring about another reaction that I hate to think about, but have many times. I would shoot without doubt to protect me and mine.

[.452dia]

Thats a good question to ask the Bad Guys of the world. Is that car, stereo, big screen tv or whatever worth your life?
Me, I would probable not take a life over property. I would try to use other means to stop the thief from taking my property. Force but not Deadly Force unless it comes down to me protecting me.

[Wino]

.................................................. ...........But, when and if the moment comes, that you need to use your firearm to protect yourself....have you given any thought as to at what dollar amount, you would pull the trigger willing to take a human life? Would it be over a car stereo, your big screen, your car or "You fill in the blank".

I am not talking someone breaking in to your house while you are there with a face to face confrontation with an armed intruder. But, say you come home to a break in as they are leaving, or walk out to your car and find someone breaking in. While you have the legal right to protect your property with legal force....would you?

What would be the dollar value you place on the life of the Bad Guy?

Tough question - hope I never have to actually find out. However, in your scenario - if they are armed and caught in the act, I would like to say yes I'd shoot them before they me, and hope that would be the case. if they dropped their weapon and cache of my goodies, laid down as ordered or high tailed it and were not confrontational, I'm not wildly shooting up the area or neighborhood to get a running, defenseless felon. I do not believe "value" of "things" carries much weight in these circumstances. The older I get the more precious life has become - my and mine in particular.

As posted in another long lost thread here, CC'ing before I was legal or after, never gave me a "Rambo" complex. It just helped even up the odds should it become an event.

[MOONDAWG]

Killing people over "stuff" that can be replaced is lame. If apprehended, tried and found guilty the state won't execute them for stealing your stereo, so what gives you the inherent right to?

However when you factor in the life of your family, the perspective changes.

[ccviper]

If I know all they are doing is stealing my stuff, I would hold them until the cops show up, if possible. That is if I come home and they are outside. If I come home and they are in the house when I enter, all bets are off. I wouldnt shoot someone walking out of my house with a TV but if I am home and they break in to take my TV, all they are going to take is an ambulance or worse out of the house.

[jacefox]

My humble thoughts only: If we're talking property only, the bad guy can have the property. Property can be replaced ... life cannot. Unless a human being is in immediate danger of being hurt, I would not fire. First priority should always be to make sure your loved ones are safe from harm. If the bad guy is outside and walking away, I'm not going to fire. Just as I will protect my family from harm, I'm not going to invite harm if the threat is leaving. Again, this is just my humble thought.

[Denton]

1 - Self defense or defense of others.

2 - Property inherently dangerous to others.

The only items I have that are inherently dangerous to others are my weapons and my ammunition.

Everything else is nothing compared to a human life, no matter how stupid the human is.

[IDLE]

I don't look at or in terms of dollars and cents. It comes down to right and wrong. The question as simple as it is is very very complex. For instance, I can not legally shoot someone for breaking into my car, unless they put me I'm fear of my life or my families life. Different scenarios require different actions. Rather than try to figure out what would make us pull the trigger, we need to be on top of the laws that govern us when we pull that trigger. One bad den vision in a self defense situation turns the victim into a murderer. I focus more on what scenarios dictate my use of my firearm.

A few years back, I was in a taco bell when it was robbed. My wife and kids were with me, most other patronage were unaware of the robbery as was my family. That is until my wife watched me pull my 1911 and hold it in my lap, as I told her to continue eating and talking normally and to not turn around. She trusts me and did what I said. I did not pull my gun simply because the taco bell was being robbed, I pulled it because I saw the suspects weapon and had he turned with that weapon directed at me or my family he would have died that day. Even the officer that responded justified my actions as the manager immediately told him I was armed. A simple disclosure of my CCL and we had a brief discussion. The officer said I acted appropriately and thanked me for the information I could give him.
Had I gotten nervous or jumps the gun so to speak, I could have easily become a criminal that day. Knowing your rights and knowing the laws that defend those rights are more important than figuring out what you would shoot someone over.

All laws and joking aside enter my property and try to damage or rob it, I am instantly in fear for my families safety and I will kill your ass!

[glenwolde]

Well I found out I'm worth $2,158,530 according to HumanForSale.com - How much are you worth?

As to your question, if it wouldn't be a devastating financial loss I'd hold my fire. Your legal bills are not going to be cheap regardless of how justified the shooting is. At the very least, even if you are no-billed by a Texas Grand Jury you'll probably spend a couple thousand or more. I'm gonna say somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000 I start shooting.