Comments on: Not Messing Around

By: Ro

Ro — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:38:58 +0000

In DC, you can get away with shooting an intruder in your house or yard if you can show investigators there was a legitimate threat to your life.

By: caphillchick

caphillchick — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:36:17 +0000

your use of force has to be equal to the threat….no bodily harm unless you face the threat of bodily harm (so hurting your window/tv does not equal right to shoot) sorry folks

By: News Reader

News Reader — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:11:20 +0000

I have a friend who was livid recently, before the new gun law there was an on-line news article actually quoting a DC official who said that DC wouldn’t press charges if you used an illegal firearm in self defense inside your home. Interestingly, that sentence was removed from the article without any official notice of the revision, hence his anger at his perception of the lack of journalistic integrity. Fortunately he captured a screenshot of it for what it’s worth.

By: Skeletor

Skeletor — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:48:33 +0000

Actually, if you take the test to get a firearm license in the city, they go over when you can shoot someone. Sadly you can’t shoot them for messing with your car. (And they are wise to the ‘I was just cleaning it’ line.) You’ve got to get your victim to come into your house. At least that was on the test 9 years ago. Maybe the rules a looser on stabbing. Personally, I use the China Hut Carry Out to kill my victims. No fingerprints. You’ve got to get your victim good and drunk, as most sober people recognize the danger of China Hut.

By: not telling

not telling — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:28:34 +0000

Given how rusty that sign is, I’m guessing that sign went up long before the gun laws in the District were revised allowing the resident to own any gun, let alone shoot it, regardless of the reason. So I doubt the person who put it up cares whether or not it is legal to shoot someone trespassing.

But there’s no law saying you can’t put up a sign that says whatever you want.

By: Odentex

Odentex — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:23:12 +0000

Every state is different, AJ. In Texas it’s legal to shoot someone in defense of property (even someone else’s), whereas here you have to call Phil Mendelson and try to work it out with the criminal, and discuss his feelings, before you can say a naughty word or dare ask the criminal to stop beating or shooting you.

By: ontarioroader

ontarioroader — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:04:38 +0000

Yeah, but their families do file civil charges.

By: RD

RD — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:49:41 +0000

Dead men don’t tell tales…

By: aj

aj — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:40:18 +0000

It’s my vague recollection from law school that it is not OK to use deadly force to protect property, but is OK to protect yourself from serious bodily harm. So if this resident shot someone for simply tresspassing or even to prevent a theft, the resident would not have a valid defense.

By: Nate

Nate — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:20:25 +0000

I don’t think DC has a self defense law. Before the Supremes overturned DC gun ban, you would at least have been charged with CPWL and possession of unregistered firearm and ammo.

I know this guy that killed a man in G’town. Guy was beating him up pretty badly. The guy I know had a pocket knife and managed to poke the guy and (un)luckily hit a vital organ. The guy didn’t know he was even wounded and walked away. he died later. DC didn’t charge my friend with murder. They did charged him with carrying a dangerous weapon though.