View Single Post
Old June 19, 2009, 09:32 AM   #17
pax
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 16, 2000
Location: In a state of flux
Posts: 7,520
Quote:
Even though you probably can't shoot for stealing a radio (in most states), this would be a great time to have a baseball bat close by. Maybe bust up his knee and/or give him an attitude adjustment. We will see what he says then.........
If it is illegal to use lethal force, it is illegal to use lethal force - and it would not matter what instrument you used to inflict said force.

Here's the definition of deadly force in Washington state, where I live. Betcha your state has a similar definition in the law books:

Quote:
"Deadly force" means the intentional application of force through the use of firearms or any other means reasonably likely to cause death or serious physical injury.
Whacking someone's kneecaps with a baseball bat is entirely likely to cause a serious, permanent, crippling injury, which is something that any "reasonable" person knows ("reasonable" by legal standards, not an insult toward anyone on the thread).

That makes the use of a baseball bat to kneecap your thief every bit as illegal (or every bit as legal) as it would be to shoot him anywhere on his body under the same circumstances. If it is illegal to inflict serious physical injury or to kill the man, it won't matter what instrument you use to do it - whether it's a firearm or a baseball bat, it would fit under the "deadly force" statute just as well.

pax
__________________
Kathy Jackson
My personal website: Cornered Cat
pax is offline  
 
Page generated in 0.02969 seconds with 7 queries