You guys are in a bad situation with self defense, it would seem. There have been cases here when homeowners and business owners were jailed and imprisoned for defending themselves. I understand that I must be able to convince a jury, or maybe a DA, that I truly believed my life and safety, or that of someone with me, was in jeopardy before using deadly force, but some states have taken steps to remedy the injustices done in cases like those I mentioned, by passing the "stand your ground", and "castle doctrine", laws.
There is a cliche that is heard occasionally in discussions such as this, that "I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. It is likely that many who say this haven't considered what a living hell 7 years in prison would truly be like, if you are found "guilty", under a travesty of justice, of misusing deadly force. But, I have, and decided long ago that there Is at least one thing in this world of mine that is worth going to prison for. I have determined that I would rather spend years in prison, attempting to defend myself from gang rapes and beatings, than the rest of my life in horrible guilt because my wife, child, or any innocent person for that matter, was brutalized or murdered while I stood by and wrung my hands.
I know that "this ain't the Wild West" and "you ain't Bill Hickock", but I take the Apostle Paul's admonition in 1 Timothy 5:8 to heart ......... "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse that an unbeliever" NKJV. A very large part of "providing" is safety, IMO.
SRH
