Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Frankly I don't know if I would have shot her. I have discussed this topic with my wife and I have told her it would have to be a very high threshold to get me to pull the trigger on anyone. I think my first reaction would be to try to get any intruder to retreat or at least stop advancing. My second reaction would probably be to seek safe haven in the room I am in...that is locking a door behind me provided my family was safe (I have cell phones all over the house and 911 is programmed). I know the cops are only minutes away when you only have seconds. I would not surrender my firearm.

If my daughter or wife were in real danger I would beat the intruder to death with a baseball bat...i get really pissed when someone threatens my family.

I have no idea if I am capable of shooting anyone with intent to harm them. I hope I never have to find out either.

You know? We're thinking about it all wrong. Luckily, the only thing that DID happen to her was being shot!

What if she had wandered into a serial rapist's home? Or a drug dealer's home, and he sic'd the dogs on her?

She got lucky that she broke into someone's home that has that much control.

Speaking of wives and daughters, what if that had been YOUR daughter coming home drunk from a college party and blundering into the same guy's house? How would you feel then?

I'm not arguing that a man should not defend himself and his home, and I'm not arguing that this shooting was unjustified. Just pointing out that the aftermath of an entirely righteous shooting can be very tough for all concerned. Everybody knows it is damned serious business to drop the hammer on someone but the right turn of circumstances can change it from serious to horrifying. Makes things like those motion lights and good secure locks kept locked sound like an awfully good investment.

@dormin; stuff happens. When so blind drunk that you can't tell your own house, or even your own neighborhood, stuff happens with greater frequency. My daughter or wife? I'd convey my understanding to the homeowner and my disappointment/concern to my loved one if they survived.

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I have a 14yr daughter and I can tell you now if that was her, she'd get a lesson from me after she recovered.

On the other hand, what the hell is that guy doing with a gun next to his bed and no flashlight? Seriously, target identification is of the utmost importance.