Re: Overheard on the scanner

On May 8, 9:04=A0am, nos...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 (Paul Ciszek) wrote:
> In article
<b6ba8b5b-8478-46b1-b9be-c2c74fc81...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
>
> =A0<petert...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
> >Here in MA, if you verbally tell them they're trespassing, and order
> >them to leave, they are in violation of the law unless they do so
> >immediately. You can call the cops to remove them if they
> >don't comply.
>
> >But absent any threat of violence, producing a firearm may get
> >you in a lot of trouble.
>
> >The rules change if they're inside your house uninvited.
>
> How much do the rules change? =A0Are there any cases of a MA resident
> shooting an intruder in their house without suffering legal
consequences?
> Was their firearm confiscated?

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. No. (perhaps temporarily until things were sorted out).

I'm not going to bother looking up the cases, but they exist. MA has a
castle doctrine - you don't need to retreat if you're in your own
house.
You can use lethal force if you reasonably believe you or others are
in
significant danger of death or serious injury. So shooting a intruder
in
back as he runs out the door with your laptop is a no no. Shooting
him in the chest as he comes in the window with a crowbar is
probably justified, and unquestionably so if he's bent on personal
injury.

Outside your home, there *is* a requrement to retreat, but only if
you can do so safely.

Yes, there's a lot of fuzzy lines and judgement calls here, with
after the fact second-guessing by other affecting your fate, but
as they say, 'its better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6'.

pt