biteme said:
Yes, by law if you catch someone in the act of breaking into your house, you may use deadly force. They have to be inside. You can't shoot them thru the door. You could, but you may or may not get charged depending on the circumstances. I think that I will hide and let them enter and then blast away. 1 less potential murderer in the world. Anyone that would break into your home may be willing to kill also.
Most of the states have the, "Make my day" law which says you can use deadly force if the person
forces their way in to your house and gains entry.
Here is the verbage for one the state's MMD law.
"Any occupant of a dwelling is justified in using any degree
of physical force, including but not limited to deadly force,
against another person who has made an unlawful entry into that
dwelling, and when the occupant has a reasonable belief that such other person might use any physical force, no matter how slight, against any occupant of the dwelling.
Any occupant of a dwelling using physical force, including
but not limited to deadly force, pursuant to the provisions of
subsection B of this section, shall have an affirmative defense in
any criminal prosecution for an offense arising from the reasonable use of such force and shall be immune from any civil liability for injuries or death resulting from the reasonable use of such force."
The bottom line is if the intruder forces their way in to your house, or gains entry unlawfully you may use any force necessary, including deadly force, to protect yourself, your family, and your property
inside your house.
If you chase the intruder outside your house and use deadly force against them, you lose this immunity and can very well be prosecuted for murder.