Just remember, you will be tried by 12 people who were not there, did not experience what you experienced, and will have all the time they need to think about how a reasonable person should have acted, with the advantage of 20/20 hindsight.

Better to run away from 1 than be tried by 12. :)

Pretty much. The big thing is to have done everything possible to avoid the use of lethal force, and not look or sound bloodthirsty. As was told to me, when telling the police your side of the story of any self defense situation, avoid using any deragatory nouns like scumbag, dirtbag, or the like, and generally say only the bare facts, without any colorful words, and don't talk too much.

All you really need to say, is:
- I felt my life was in imminent danger.
- I shot until the threat stopped.
- I want a lawyer.

While the cop your giving your side of the story to may agree with you that the perp you were forced to put down was indeed a scumbag - anything you say or do, he has to write into his report which will appear in court, and throwing colorful words around doesn't help you.

I said home intruder. If I'm in my home with my family and a home intruder comes in, I don't plan on running, asking questions, give him time to see what he's gonna do. Anyone breaking in my home I consider to be a deadly threat. Obvious, I would try to determine if I could stop it without killing, but if my family is in the house, I feel confident I would shoot. Course, I have an alarm system, motion lights and several dogs in and outside, so highly unlikely.

Obvious, elsewhere I would run, do anything possible, etc. I often complain about police bothering me metal detecting, but recently hunting old lot in bad side of town, was about 50 yards from my car, when a gang of about 7 young men gathered around my car. A few hurled racial slurs at me. I had my pistol open carrying as usual, didn't concern them at all. I was afraid they would damage my car, but I stayed back, called police and got the heck out of there.

If you break into my home all quiet and sneaky like, my dog has radar dishes for ears and a bark that will freeze the blood of any intruder. If they get past that obstacle... Katie bar the door. I don't keep ammo in the house due to a stepson that's a few bricks shy of an outhouse but, I don't need ammo. Just a rifle and it's stock. Unarmed intruder? No problem. I have a wide selection of knives I can put in his cold dead fingers after I beat him to death with a butt stock. Or beat him unconscious and hand cuff him until the law keepers arrive.
I'll wish the intruder luck at his trial just as soon as he's released from the hospital.:smug:

Should I feel obligated to send a get well card?:har:
I do have a deer slug or two for my shotgun squirrelled away. Makes a big hole in a human being.

I live in a semi rural area and I don't really see someone trying to sneak into our modest abode. We've got nothing of real value for someone to risk their life trying to get it. Although we did have a local resident do something really really stupid not long ago. He was walking through a Wal-Mart with his son and they were openly discussing a large sum of money he had at home. Guess what... They were followed home and robbed.

Well, whatever one does with the case of a home intruder, if you hear him (or them) out there trying to break in, as silly as it may sound, WAIT UNTIL HE/THEY ARE COMPLETELY INSIDE YOUR HOME, or you may end up being like this guy.
Man Attempts to Stop Felon and Charged

The best course of action:

- Call 911.

- Inform 911 operator there is a home invasion in progress.

- Shoot perp after he/she has made forcible entry.

- Don't use a firearm you cannot absolutely live without, because your not getting it back anytime soon.