From: carlp@frigg.isc-br.com (Carl Paukstis)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Protection for Your Bike
Date: 30 Dec 92 00:34:57 GMT
Organization: ISC-Bunker Ramo, An Olivetti Company

markk@tcs.com (Mark Kromer) writes:

>I grew up in rural Texas near Plano (outside McKinney for the locals).
>When we moved into our house in the early 70's the county Sheriff came
>by to welcome us to the area.  Among his advice to my Dad was words to
>the effect of "If you see anyone prowling around your house and you
>shoot them, just drag the body into the garage so we can say he broke
>in and there will be no questions asked."

I know this is probably unnecessary, but it's my personal Mission In
Life to disabuse gullible netters of this particular notion.

This advice is something that is repeated so often, and is so
completely and dangerously WRONG, that someone (Clayton?) should have
a stock text to use for followup whenever it's posted.

You don't seriously think they won't find out what you did, do you?
Remember "Quincy"?  Even without high-tech forensic pathology, your
_coverup_ will surely be flawed in several obvious ways, since you're
not a criminal and weren't planning ahead, and most likely quite upset
and not functioning at your best.

If your investigating officer, medical examiner, law enforcement
agency with jurisdiction, district attorney, and others who review
your case are ALL intelligent, sensible beings, you will have no problem.

This is ALSO true if you AVOID TAMPERING WITH THE EVIDENCE!

But if even one individual among those listed above and various others
is against people defending themselves with deadly force, or against
what might be perceived as defending property with deadly force, or
mad at you personally for some reason, or even just in need of a nice 
publicity-filled case to jazz up the re-election prospects, you are 
potentially in very serious trouble for "drag[ging] them back to a 
window or doorway".

At the very least you have deliberately tampered with material
evidence of a felony (homicide, by you!).  You may be guilty of
violating other statutes.  Your credibility is seriously compromised
because of your willingness to commit these crimes, so any testimony
you give to fight the charge of homicide will be questionable.

The Sheriff is right up to that point - either run away or shoot 
to kill, whichever is more suited to your own ability & morals and the
situation at hand.  Don't be indecisive, don't warn or wound - if 
you're legally OK to shoot at all, you're legally OK to kill them, and 
probably better off afterward.  All of the acceptable outcomes include 
your being alive afterward, and you MUST do whatever is necessary to 
maximize chances of this.  This whole post assumes that you have a 
reasonable belief that you or your loved ones are in imminent danger 
of grave bodily harm - anything less and you're screwing around on the 
edges of law and morality.  

I'm sure several people will tell you that cops are a bad source of
legal advice.  So is the Net, generally.  I'm just encouraging you to 
avoid breaking the law AFTER defending yourself.  If any of this
sounds wrong or even fishy, contact a local attorney.  For a good,
practical analysis, I recommend _In The Gravest Extreme_ by Massad Ayoob.
--
Carl Paukstis, RRR&RSG             |"The good news is that Clinton will have to
 Olivetti North America/Spokane,WA | work hard to do worse than Bush in terms
 Phone: +1 509 927-5439            | of economic policy.  The bad news is that
 Mail: carlp@mail.spk.olivetti.com | he will probably manage to do so"-Ed Ipser
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles