righteous(?) shoot...

[Austin]

Originally Posted by echo_5

Many times while heading to the range with my shooting buddy, we've discussed the following scenario:
I own an SUV, and when I head to the range to shoot long guns they are in the way back and ammo is behind the driver's seat. The handgun(s) are carried on my person. Usually we stop at a particular convenience store for soda and snacks. Here is the question: If a person were to steal my truck and I exit the store to see them driving it out of the parking lot, am I justified in shooting? Grand theft-auto is a felony and now a felon is in possesion of my rifle or shotgun (or both!). The issue is that if the thief doesn't know it's there, is it legal to shoot? I would never shoot to protect property (my SUV) however I don't want persuing officers shot at with my rifle. I think it would be a righteous shoot even if the criminal isn't aware of the gun but I would be interested to hear other's input, especially current or former LEOs.

Nope, that is not a good shoot in Oklahoma. That person driving away from you is not a threat. If they were driving toward you, you could possibly articulate that they intended to kill you with the truck.

I personally feel that thieves should be shot (or hanged) but I am not willing to put on an orange jumpsuit to do it.

[wildcathunter]

Originally Posted by rockwerks

That is a stupid statement. What will pulling your gun and shooting at a moving vehicle possibly accomplish? Chances are hurting bystanders...........plain stupidity

just because you cant shoot straight and would hit the man standing 30 feet from the vehicle dosent mean i will... if its my property and you take it i should have a right to defend that property and with deadly force if necissary

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by wildcathunter

just because you cant shoot straight and would hit the man standing 30 feet from the vehicle dosent mean i will... if its my property and you take it i should have a right to defend that property and with deadly force if necissary

Ideally, you should have that right, but legally you don't. And I won't call it "stupid" or anything like that, but shooting at a metal object (car) gives a greater chance of a ricochet, which *could* harm an innocent bystander, and open you up to nasty civil litigation. So yeah, the situation as spelled out sucks, because you can't do anything about it (The BG is attempting to flee) But, count me in with those who say to call the LEO's and warn them of the additional threat of all the weapons in the car.

[putmanphoto]

Coming from someone that had her purse stolen from her car while I was in the store....

I live in a small rural community - everyone knows everyone... Even so, when I get out at the store, to get gas, snacks, I always LOCK my car and take my keys with me. I am usually not in the store long enough for someone to break into my car and hot wire it - before I would be standing at the door ready to pull my gun...

[devildave31]

I think I would have to agree that no imminent danger is present. I would call the authorites and report the auto and firearms stolen.

Additionally, this thread gave me a good idea. The only place that I am aware of having a copy of the serial numbers on my firearms is on the firearms themselves. If I were to report them stolen, I would not be able to give that information on the spot. I should make it a point in the very near future to copy that information to a safe place.

[JustMe]

Yes, you should be able to take out the perp stealing your property. Ideally you could say that since there were weapons in the SUV (even if the thief did not yet realize that fact), you were preventing the thief from becoming an armed menace.

But that's the ideal. In reality, you would likely wind up in a world of hurt for no good reason. LoJack your vehicle and call the cops unless the guy's deliberately pointing the front bumper in your direction.

[Daugherty16]

The first question is whether the shoot would be "legal. I am not LEO, nor attorney, but you should read your state laws until you canquote them, then go ask a LEO and a lawyer what they mean as they are actually enforced. In most states, property crimes do not rise to the test of using deadly force. Especially when a reasonable person would not find that under the circumstances, you feared for life, limb, or were faced with the imminent prospect of great bodily harm.
A sidebar, already raised, is whether a civil jury would necessarily follow the same decision as a criminal jury. All you have to do is look at OJ 's murder case for assurance that the different standards of evidence can mean a world of difference in outcome.

The second question is whether you "should" shoot, even if legal. I submit that each time a CCW draws his or her gun, all of us are exposed a little. When a granny makes a "good" shoot of a lifetime criminal attempting to rape and murder her granddaughter, we are all justifiably proud and even the softest liberal has a tough time finding fault. However, even if legal, what you propose effectively amounts to flinging lead at someone's back as they attempt to flee. Yes, with your rifles and your car. But how would that look - you expose your concealed weapon, shooting at a moving vehicle, possibility of collateral damage on innocents is high, if you hit him he could crash and kill innocent bytstanders, if you miss or pass through glass you could hit little Suzy on her new roller skates. All things considered, this wouldn't play well on the 6:00 news.

Keep your car and your weapons insured. Call the police immediately, make sure they know the perps stole your guns, and stand back and let justice take it's course. Remember that every action you take as a CCW affects us all, in a nanny-mentality public determined to dictate how we should all live.

[Okiedokie]

It concerns me that the OP would even have to ask the question.

[Okiedokie]

Originally Posted by JustMe

Yes, you should be able to take out the perp stealing your property. Ideally

Do you really think that's an appropriate response...and that the appropriate penalty for having stolen property is the loss of your life?

[JustMe]

Originally Posted by Okiedokie

Do you really think that's an appropriate response...and that the appropriate penalty for having stolen property is the loss of your life?

The original poster was talking about having his vehicle stolen which in turn contained weapons that the thief could use at some later point to murder other citizens.

In that event:

1) I feel no sympathy for the thief
2) I would consider firing to stop the thief a public service as doing so could stop him from using the weapons to murder other people.

Regardless, my state does not recognize property theft as a valid reason to fire a weapon at someone, so I would legally have no choice other than to call 911 and hope they could nab him before he did further harm.