"Home defense not a license to kill, say law officials"

K

Keiller TN

New member
Chattanooga Police Department Chief Jimmie Dotson said he wouldn't want to see any kind of blanket ban on prosecution of someone protecting their home.

"Tennessee law is very clear on a person's right to defend themselves," Chief Dotson said. "When the circumstances of a particular case are somewhat in question, it is the function of the court system to determine whether someone should be prosecuted, and whether they are guilty or innocent on a case-by-case basis."

From: http://www.timesfreepress.com/2001/feb/03feb01/webjustifiable.html

I find it interesting that since the 12 of January, there have been no more home invasions. That was the day that a home invader was shot and killed. From 31 October until then there had been 45 home invasions.
 
Chief Jimmmie Dotson is a damn idiot!

TENNESSEE's law's ? What about ones God-given right to self-preservation.
This is just another elitist cop, with an us-vs-them mentality. I had it some while I was a badge, but his is just plain cocky (hope he attains humility quick)...bad news!
 
While it lacked the...

...sheer sense of drama of the SC Attorney General's announcement, Georgia passed a law (widely derided in the liberal Atlanta media as a "make my day" law) some years ago stating, briefly, that any unauthorized intruder found in a Georgia resident's home was bought and paid for. With the majority of good guys in the TN legislature, perhaps something to that effect could be ramrodded through in the near future. That would handily override any excessively sanctimonious local officials whose protection is picked up on our tab, yet who wish to deny us the means to protect ourselves.
 
Hamilton County Sheriff John Cupp said the South Carolina attorney general's statement was motivated by a "mentality of fear."
Click to expand...

Fool. It was motivated by logic and dedication to his oath of office. Criminals came to believe they had good odds of successfully attacking innocent people, and the SC attorney general knew his state LEO's could not protect SC citizens sufficiently. Ergo, he issues a statement to put bad guys on notice that there is a target painted on their asses. This isn't complicated.

The good people of Hamilton County should call Sheriff Cupp, and invite him to relocate to CA or NY, where they will better appreciate his kindly approach to thieves, rapists and murderers.

I used to equate most police chiefs and sheriffs to pond scum, but I've since been warned that this is unreasonably abusive to pond scum ...

Truly, I place those who restrict and remove the fundamental human right of self defense on the same level as the criminals who rape, rob and murder. He who removes my means of self defense is my enemy, just as is the criminal who attacks me directly. Unfortunately, too many LEO's in leadership positions attain this status.

Regards from AZ


ps - if you want to contact Sheriff Cupp, his web site is http://www.hcsheriff.gov/ , and comments can be made at http://www.hcsheriff.gov/Feedback.htm . Let's keep it civil, as we chat with the pond scum ... er, sheriff.
 
The Chattanooga police statement is not wrong in and of itself. Contrary to the open season in SC, it does not mean that law enforcement would not investigate shootings in peoples' homes, but that if the evidence pointing to the dead guy being a home invader, then there is no problem since that is within the limit of the law. The dork in Tennesee isn't saying that people can't defend their homes, only that there will be due process relevant to the governing laws. Personally, I see nothing wrong with due process - assuming there is some common sense applied to it as well. Due process is part of our rights.

Contrary to what the Tenn. Police may think, the SC statement had the benefit of letting home owners know that they can defend themselves if their home is invaded. Some people really don't know they can. It also was a good PR statement to deter bad guys. The statement, however, did not absolve anyone from their responsibilities as citizens or put any of them above the law.

The dork in Tennesee over reacted. Nobody is going "John Wayne" on this issue, even though he thinks so.
 
I find that, in practice, those who defend (with lethal force) their homes are not procecuted here in SE Tennessee. The police may feel a need to make a public statement to protect themselves legally.
 
Colorado's infamous and much appreciated "Make My Day Law":

18-1-704.5. Use of deadly physical force against an intruder. (1) The general assembly hereby recognizes that the citizens of Colorado have a right to expect absolute safety within their own homes.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 18-1-704, any occupant of a dwelling is justified in using any degree of physical force, including deadly physical force, against another person when that other person has made an unlawful entry into the dwelling, and when the occupant has a reasonable belief that such other person has committed a crime in the dwelling in addition to the uninvited entry, or is committing or intends to commit a crime against a person or property in addition to the uninvited entry, and when the occupant reasonably believes that such other person might use any physical force, no matter how slight, against any occupant.
(3) Any occupant of a dwelling using physical force, including deadly physical force, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) of this section shall be immune from criminal prosecution for the use of such force.
(4) Any occupant of a dwelling using physical force, including deadly physical force, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) of this section shall be immune from any civil liability for injuries or death resulting from the use of such force.

Every state should have a similar piece of legislation.
 
"The good people of Hamilton County should call Sheriff Cupp, and invite him to relocate to CA or NY, where they will better appreciate his kindly approach to thieves, rapists and murderers."

Jeff Thomas,
We have enough idiots in California without taking everyone elses. All these morons is how Cali got so screwed up. Now if you want to work out some trades..............
 
mrat, I should have known someone would call me on that ... :)

Well, we'd like to trade out our Governor Jane Hull, but I'm not sure who I'd want to accept in return ... ;) Any chance you'd let Brian Puckett out of state ... ;)

Regards from AZ
 
shootin intruders

I figure, my house - my rules. I'll just have to practice the three Ss; shoot, shovel and shut up.
mac
 
Just sent Cupp a note. I CAN'T STAND brass acting in such a high-handed manner. I made sure to question his knowledge of SC law. Charlie doesn't make mistakes, it's just that a lot of people don't want to hear the truth. The man brought integrity and honesty to the office, and he hasn't changed at all. No compromises. CHARLIE FOR GOVERNOR!!!!!!!
 
From the Federalist.com

From the "Not Quite Ready for Prime Time" files, here is this week's
"Pierre Salinger Non Compos Mentis" Award for stupid media questions:
"Are police worried about vigilantism?" --CBS reporter, Randy Golson,
questioning Chattanooga, Tennessee's police spokesman after a victim
of that city's 45th recent home invasion robbery shot and killed one
of the two perpetrators. The police spokesman replied, appropriately,
"Protecting your home is not vigilantism. Check the definition." (And
we couldn't leave this out.... When asked how he felt about shooting
the perpetrator, the homeowner responded, "I feel bad. I should have
gotten the other one too!")
 
"Protecting your home is not vigilantism. Check the definition."

Dammit, why can't we have those kind of people here? Trust me, our police PR guys would be clucking about citizens taking matters into their own hands, the dangers of confronting criminals, calling 911, supporting the mayor, licking his shoes.

I gotta move.

Dick
 
Ya see, it's stuff like this that makes me love living in South Carolina. Something about having already fought two separate wars against the government, perhaps. . . I don't know.

But this brings up an interesting question: what's the best gun for home defense?

I know many folk say the shotgun, but I'd just as soon not splatter my walls, floors, and personal belongings with dismembered intruder. What gun can I expect to be the most effective for home defense, while simultaneously doing the least "collateral damage" to my home and property?
 
I just heard the attorney general of SC who made the marvelous rule about home protection just announced he is running for governor.
 
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