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4th law of robotics

(6,801 posts)

229. In the circumstances described in the article?

Reply to Megahurtz (Reply #135)

Sat Sep 29, 2012, 11:00 AM

Sep 2012

Yeah.

In that case he made it a him or me choice. Given that why should I choose him?

Go right ahead, but you will have to deal with the consequences.

In the US there are no legal consequences for legitimate self defense.

Nor should there be.

The guy should not have bolted over there with a gun to begin with.

The guy should never have tried to break in to that house. Or lunged at someone holding a gun with a knife.

You know what else happens in real life? A dad shooting his adopted son in cold blood.

All the time. This is a daily occurrence. That's why it made the news.

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Conn. man kills masked boy, finds out it's his son [View all] oberliner Sep 2012 OP

Bizarre. lonestarnot Sep 2012 #1

Guns' inevitable targets are family members. nt onehandle Sep 2012 #2

No, that's not true. Lasher Sep 2012 #112

Because every family contains at least one son 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #116

inevitable doesn't mean what you think it means. aikoaiko Sep 2012 #225

The 'multiple' gungeoneers who are 'suddenly' responding to this post are wasting their time. onehandle Sep 2012 #241

But they LIVE for this. valerief Sep 2012 #242

Clearly. nt onehandle Sep 2012 #244

Kills son in self defense? Waltons_Mtn Sep 2012 #3

That's what I was wondering. It didn't make sense. Chemisse Sep 2012 #41

Oops. Shadowflash Sep 2012 #4

Smells like Shakespeare to me, that drama. nt MADem Sep 2012 #5

Pretty good disguise. n/t bluedigger Sep 2012 #6

Thank god the man was armed, or this could have ended in tragedy Orrex Sep 2012 #7

precisely. n/t Soylent Brice Sep 2012 #20

Yep! AlbertCat Sep 2012 #21

Have you been living under a rock Dokkie Sep 2012 #190

+1 peacebird Sep 2012 #54

that really sucks... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #8

Thank you. Best reply so far. eom uppityperson Sep 2012 #23

You're welcome, a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #25

Wow, someone cares about a father accidentally killing his own son ChillZilla Sep 2012 #76

Accidentally killing his own son? This was no accident. OregonBlue Sep 2012 #86

How do you know that? obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #92

He pointed it at him and shot. savalez Sep 2012 #122

Link to where he meant to kill his son? obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #164

Link to where he dropped the gun and it accidentally went off. savalez Oct 2012 #259

I guess I'm just weird that way. n/t a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #105

Yeah Canuckistanian Sep 2012 #202

exactly a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #208

Wouldn't it be something if he was peeping in on her getting undressed? Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2012 #9

With a ski mask? Nt geek tragedy Sep 2012 #12

So he couldn't be recognized. Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2012 #19

My sympathies extend to the mother of this child. The father should get life in prison. Happyhippychick Sep 2012 #10

For what crime? The kid burglarized the house of a woman and was armed. nt geek tragedy Sep 2012 #11

Is he a cop? No. This vigilante shit is not good. And we don't know the kid was armed. Happyhippychick Sep 2012 #18

Until some laws are changed you should have the right to oldbanjo Sep 2012 #38

He should be able to protect himself but it wasn't HIS house. It was the neighbor. Happyhippychick Sep 2012 #45

Didn't it say that bw3517 Sep 2012 #48

I''m sure the man who just killed his son doesn't believe this any longer. Happyhippychick Sep 2012 #55

I read in another article that the neighbor was the dad's sister. n/t deutsey Sep 2012 #52

It was his sister's home obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #60

The neighbor is his sister. LisaL Sep 2012 #120

The kid burglarized the house AlbertCat Sep 2012 #22

i dont know this town but were i live it can take the popo forever to arrive loli phabay Sep 2012 #26

Because he's the closest person available. geek tragedy Sep 2012 #34

Two reasons obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #57

Sounds like victim blaming 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #93

Sounds like victim blaming AlbertCat Sep 2012 #193

I've found the sarcasm tag is needed hughee99 Sep 2012 #250

The neighbor is his sister, who lives alone obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #95

I tell my neighbours if something's wrong at night, call the police and then call me. Prometheus Bound Sep 2012 #123

Sympathies should go out to everyone. A father who killed a prowler who just happened to be his own madinmaryland Sep 2012 #14

Yes, this was a tragedy but it was an avoidable tragedy. OregonBlue Sep 2012 #88

Yes. The son could have not tried to break in to that woman's house 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #94

"He won't do that again" Occulus Sep 2012 #113

I don't have a lot of sympathy for idiots who get killed while breaking and entering 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #115

+1 Shitty Mitty Sep 2012 #224

The mother should have been keeping an eye on her son. marshall Sep 2012 #140

I haven't seen anything to indicate he actually has a mother to monitor his behavior. LisaL Sep 2012 #194

Horrible story. cheapdate Sep 2012 #13

You're right... TheCowsCameHome Sep 2012 #15

That's for damn sure. High percentage of Leadership loved by Tbaggers. Hoyt Sep 2012 #28

why didn't she call the police?? bluemarkers Sep 2012 #16

Neighbor would get there much faster. duh. nt geek tragedy Sep 2012 #35

doesn't make sense duh bluemarkers Sep 2012 #46

How exactly do you act bw3517 Sep 2012 #49

She was the sister of the shooter, the aunt of the boy shot jberryhill Sep 2012 #152

I am going to note this in the gun thread I am currently arguing against graham4anything Sep 2012 #17

I wonder if this man will give up his guns now? Scairp Sep 2012 #24

This is only about five miles from me. The woman is his aunt... MANative Sep 2012 #27

like an epic tragedy renate Sep 2012 #32

That story is incredibly sad GOTV Sep 2012 #43

Very tragic. Jennicut Sep 2012 #33

Yes, that's the place. MANative Sep 2012 #50

WTF? Megahurtz Sep 2012 #29

"Pansies"? obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #58

Should I Have Said Coward Instead? Megahurtz Sep 2012 #125

Woudln't that be better than using a gay slur? obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #165

Real men engage in fist fights with strangers at night? 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #96

A Real Man Approach.... Megahurtz Sep 2012 #124

So someone tries to stab you and you . . . duck? 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #129

And So Megahurtz Sep 2012 #135

It was the father's sister's house obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #169

In the circumstances described in the article? 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #229

It appears you don't don't know anything about the mechanics or legalities or morality.... PavePusher Oct 2012 #266

I want to know how long between the call & the shooting. Also, what else occurred? Lights turned on? patrice Sep 2012 #130

Yes Megahurtz Sep 2012 #136

The neighbor is her brother obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #170

I guess not everyone is a kung-fu expert like you. Union Scribe Oct 2012 #260

Unreal. Megahurtz Sep 2012 #30

Way to take the sympathetic approach. bw3517 Sep 2012 #51

I Really Don't Have Much Sympathy Megahurtz Sep 2012 #126

The dead son who was apparently attempting to commit a crime in the middle of the night... PavePusher Sep 2012 #209

Darwin's law at work here Jessy169 Sep 2012 #31

Another article says that the woman next door was the man's sister and kas125 Sep 2012 #36

I'm fairly heartless here. Guy grabs gun and shoots first, without a warning or questioning? dorksied Sep 2012 #37

Yes. We need to know more about what happened in the confrontation.How long from encounter to death? patrice Sep 2012 #133

statistically iamthebandfanman Sep 2012 #39

statistically.. iamthebandfanman Sep 2012 #39

statistically.. PavePusher Sep 2012 #210

Sympathies to the victims mother.....she lost a son and has a complete moron for a husband AnOhioan Sep 2012 #42

Lovely oldsarge54 Sep 2012 #44

Why the mask? Was he planning on assaulting the woman, and did not want to be identified? Tom Ripley Sep 2012 #47

And, the woman was his aunt, which makes it even creepier obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #59

He would still be innocent until proven guilty. You don't execute people for what they MIGHT do. patrice Sep 2012 #138

So, the father should have allowed himself to be stabbed and attacked obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #221

Thank god that gun was lying around!!! Otherwise, he wouldn't have his valerief Sep 2012 #53

And, it appears he would also have his throat cut obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #222

Somethings not right with the fathers story... Javaman Sep 2012 #56

Why was the kid outside his aunt's house at 1 am trying to break in? obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #61

My thought was the kid might be a druggie and trying to rob her. nt raccoon Sep 2012 #90

I concur. If the story is accurate (and that's a big if) it sounds just like addict behavior. slackmaster Sep 2012 #98

Still doesn't justify summary execution. There has to be authentic danger to life or health. nt patrice Sep 2012 #139

Shooting to stop a violent attacker is not "summary execution" slackmaster Sep 2012 #143

I will take that as an assent, then, that we should shoot people for what they MIGHT do, BEFORE patrice Sep 2012 #147

It really does depend on whether someone is rushing at you with an apparent weapon FiveGoodMen Sep 2012 #151

Yes, like the Trayvon Martin case, how far away was this threat? Was he rushing? Even if he was patrice Sep 2012 #160

Yeah, I'm not taking a side on this case. I don't know enough of what really happened. FiveGoodMen Sep 2012 #161

I'm not either, unlike some in this thread, NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION. And yet we are to believe patrice Sep 2012 #163

We don't have any hard information other than what's in the news story slackmaster Sep 2012 #168

I'm sure that will all come out in George Zimmerman's trial slackmaster Sep 2012 #167

You never, ever fire a warning shot obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #174

Funny how people who preach personal responsibility are so slavish about rules WHEN IT SERVES patrice Sep 2012 #185

??? obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #189

Warning shots? Put down the Hollywood. Clames Sep 2012 #238

When someone comes at you with a deadly weapon... jberryhill Sep 2012 #154

That is an intentional mischaracterization. Not all threats are to kill & you don't think anyonehas patrice Sep 2012 #162

Not in that situation, no jberryhill Sep 2012 #184

I don't believe "should" is accurate. It's legally justifiable to shoot people if you REASONABLY... slackmaster Sep 2012 #166

How much damage do you insist I take before allowing me the possiblity of being at severe risk? PavePusher Sep 2012 #211

Kid coulda been high. Brickbat Sep 2012 #63

Just so weird obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #64

I live out in the woods too, and you're right, when you need someone there NOW, it can take the Brickbat Sep 2012 #65

I live in a suburb of a major city, and if the police get here in 20 minutes you're lucky slackmaster Sep 2012 #67

Exactly obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #68

I have been high and dressed in black many times, but never while also wearing a ski mask and... Tom Ripley Sep 2012 #197

Exactlamente bongbong Sep 2012 #80

It appears that the young man made some very poor choices slackmaster Sep 2012 #62

Either that, or you can fertilize the lawn with the father's official story... Blue_Tires Sep 2012 #69

Since we don't know what really happened brentspeak Sep 2012 #70

Given that no arrests have been made and no charges filed slackmaster Sep 2012 #73

Funny stuff bongbong Sep 2012 #81

And of course we also have the typical knee-jerk reactions from cop haters and gun haters... slackmaster Sep 2012 #84

More funnies bongbong Sep 2012 #87

The truth will come out sooner or later slackmaster Sep 2012 #89

Dopes bongbong Sep 2012 #91

That's what I was just going to say. "Lawn order is all fucked up in this country. Arm yourselves!" patrice Sep 2012 #144

Yep bongbong Sep 2012 #173

If it's lawn order you want, the appropriate weapon would be a mower slackmaster Oct 2012 #269

he, he, old joke from the '60s, but I'm gonna have to go look "sward" up, you got patrice Oct 2012 #270

Do you think it's more likely the father just murdered his son for no reason 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #97

That makes more sense than a dope-head teenager making stupid decisons and getting himself killed slackmaster Sep 2012 #101

You're thinking too small 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #107

The father adopted Tyler when Tyler was in his fifth grade class obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #66

Odd, I don't see the gungeon crowd here... primavera Sep 2012 #71

That's because the only people who tout the glories of guns are people who don't like guns slackmaster Sep 2012 #72

They certainly had me fooled primavera Sep 2012 #74

That's because you read selectively, and have a strong bias against people who own and use guns slackmaster Sep 2012 #75

It's certainly possible primavera Sep 2012 #77

I have made several concrete suggestions for that dozens of times on DU, and they rarely get noticed slackmaster Sep 2012 #82

I know you have, slackmaster primavera Sep 2012 #103

Thank you. I ALWAYS appreciate a courteous, rational discussion with people even if we disagree. slackmaster Sep 2012 #104

+1 & What about SYG? which may be relevant in this case . . . nt patrice Sep 2012 #146

Those are all very good suggestions. But the gun issue, like this case, is a hot-button issue. freshwest Sep 2012 #240

Great job bongbong Sep 2012 #83

As noted upthread, I am a local where this happened... MANative Sep 2012 #78

Thanks for the info oberliner Sep 2012 #79

Solutions bongbong Sep 2012 #85

Just call the cops! 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #118

Who are you responding to? bongbong Sep 2012 #121

Ah the old pretend they said cops are worthless strawman 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #127

LOL bongbong Sep 2012 #141

I have a fire extinguisher and smoke detectors in my house 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #231

LOL bongbong Oct 2012 #261

Keep displaying that winning wit 4th law of robotics Oct 2012 #262

More laughs bongbong Oct 2012 #263

K, but someone is carrying a gun, ergo, there is a probability that something COULD happen that the patrice Sep 2012 #149

Because it takes time to call the cops 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #232

"When you have only seconds, the police are minutes away." obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #236

Thank you so much for the info -- please do keep us updated obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #99

The fact that she didn't call 911 could also mean she didn't think it that serious. If she had patrice Sep 2012 #148

She did call 911 -- I have no idea why so many posters say she didn't obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #223

Why did she call the neighbor instead of calling the police? Fearless Sep 2012 #100

Obviously she and the police are all part of a conspiracy to murder that poor child slackmaster Sep 2012 #102

In holding to emotional ties to the gun issue you missed my point entirely. Fearless Sep 2012 #108

Do you think the police could have gotten to her house more quickly than her next-door neighbor? slackmaster Sep 2012 #109

They would have had better firearm usage, that much is clear. Fearless Sep 2012 #110

You believe the police would NOT have shot a masked person lunging at them while clutching... slackmaster Sep 2012 #111

A) that is very often not the case 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #117

In this case it couldn't have ended worse. Fearless Sep 2012 #182

Sure it could have 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #233

It isn't necessarily about the cops using firearms, but also about their LEGAL capacity to deal patrice Sep 2012 #150

Why do you believe she didn't call the cops? jberryhill Sep 2012 #157

True. When the police call was made is a question. That information isn't in the story. nt patrice Sep 2012 #159

The cops were called obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #177

People who aren't cops have a legal right to defend themselves in a dangerous situation slackmaster Sep 2012 #171

No one's disputing that. The question is: do they have a personal responsibility to assess how patrice Sep 2012 #180

Sometimes you don't have a lot of time to make that assessment slackmaster Sep 2012 #187

I disagree with you there obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #176

Just like in NYC, amirite? n/t PavePusher Sep 2012 #212

Read my post above - #78 MANative Sep 2012 #106

Trooper was probably home and asleep One_Life_To_Give Sep 2012 #137

The neighbor is her brother obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #175

This is a very sad story. nt yeswecanandwedid Sep 2012 #114

Yes obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #179

I don't believe the kid really attacked his father. Ash_F Sep 2012 #119

why not shoot attackers in the leg or something. why shoot to kill? Liberal_in_LA Sep 2012 #128

I don't know how easy that is but I bet the dad wishes he didn't shoot at all now. /nt Ash_F Sep 2012 #131

Every firearm class I've taken has stressed aiming for center of mass, but to shoot only... slackmaster Sep 2012 #142

+++1 Even if you miss, you express serious intent that will mean something significant to yourtarget patrice Sep 2012 #153

Another thing to consider is that shooting someone in the leg could still quickly kill them. Ash_F Sep 2012 #158

You never shoot to wound obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #181

No, you do NOT "shoot to kill", you shoot to stop the threat. PavePusher Sep 2012 #257

My CCW instructor said if you pull your gun, you are committing to killing obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #258

If you walk into a courtroom with that, the prosecution will be very happy with you. PavePusher Oct 2012 #265

Why do you believe he would have known it was his father? TorchTheWitch Sep 2012 #216

There are plenty of cases where someone defended themselves with a gun without shooting. Ash_F Sep 2012 #245

the weapon was a knife that was still in the kid's hand when police arrived TorchTheWitch Sep 2012 #248

What I Want to Know is...... Megahurtz Sep 2012 #132

I tentatively believe it, because I have no other source of hard information about the event slackmaster Sep 2012 #145

It's at least as possible that he could have shot his sister, isn't it? Even if one just has to patrice Sep 2012 #156

Everyone who owns a gun should understand the basic rules of safe gun handling slackmaster Sep 2012 #188

Ugh. I was really hoping this wasn't true when I saw the title. . . BigDemVoter Sep 2012 #134

Local news update... MANative Sep 2012 #155

Thanks for the update -- which makes me very sad obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #183

I saw this on WVIT tonight. Jennicut Sep 2012 #191

I raed there had been a robbery and rape in the area the day before obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #172

I don't think they said what the nature of the assault was. Jennicut Sep 2012 #192

Glad to know the comment wasn't just made up crazy stuff obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #206

one of many reasons i would not want a Gun JI7 Sep 2012 #178

Law enforcement was called obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #186

What was this shiny weapon, a screwdriver, putty knife, doc03 Sep 2012 #195

Apparently it was a knife. LisaL Sep 2012 #198

I think I read all the posts on this and I didn't doc03 Sep 2012 #199

Well I read other articles not just what on the thread. LisaL Sep 2012 #200

Masked teen killed by his father had a knife, Connecticut police say oberliner Sep 2012 #201

Then you didn;t read all teh posts, because it was a knife obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #204

The father knew it was someone's son before he fired. slampoet Sep 2012 #196

Adolf Hitler was someone's son, too slackmaster Sep 2012 #203

And the woman he knew he was trying to protect was his sister obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #205

Very sad Catherine Vincent Sep 2012 #207

That's some sick, vile crap. PavePusher Sep 2012 #213

Joe Horn Got Plenty Of Support From DU Gun Enthusiasts. Paladin Sep 2012 #226

What crime was Joe Horn charged with? slackmaster Sep 2012 #227

And Your Point Is.....? (nt) Paladin Sep 2012 #228

He did nothing wrong, so there is nothing wrong with "supporting" him slackmaster Sep 2012 #235

That's Just Sad, Slack. (nt) Paladin Sep 2012 #239

He killed two guys who were no threat to him. And got away with it. Comrade Grumpy Sep 2012 #246

What he did is legal in Texas. The two thieves he killed knew they were risking their lives. slackmaster Sep 2012 #253

Except the situations aren't remotely the same, are they? obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #218

I am appalled at all the people who are implying that the son deserved it Lydia Leftcoast Sep 2012 #214

Aye if he was a decent father Riftaxe Sep 2012 #215

Woudl it have been better for the father to have been stabbed to death? obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #220

Not one reply in this entire thread suggests that burglary calls for summary execution slackmaster Sep 2012 #217

Yeah, But You Fixed That With Your Reply #253. Paladin Oct 2012 #264

There had been a breakin and rape the night before, in the same area obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #219

You seem to be trying to turn back-flips to avoid.... PavePusher Sep 2012 #243

I stand by my statement that Lydia Leftcoast Sep 2012 #247

A person with a knife attacked a man, who then defended himself with a firearm. PavePusher Sep 2012 #249

According to the Hartford Courant article: "Opened fire...shot multiple times" Lydia Leftcoast Sep 2012 #251

What is your point? PavePusher Sep 2012 #252

Because if you're threatened you don't try to avoid it first-- Lydia Leftcoast Sep 2012 #255

I certainly don't feel "righteous", as this was an utter tragedy. PavePusher Sep 2012 #256

P.S. Someone attacking another person with a knife is NOT a "possible threat".... PavePusher Oct 2012 #267

It's Simple I place the knife in his hand. jimdeed Oct 2012 #272

New article from Hartford Courant with some good info obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #230

Ugh, that's just awful. American Beauty redux. nt Zorra Sep 2012 #234

"When you have only seconds, the police are minutes away." obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #237

There's more to this story, I'll bet. Matariki Sep 2012 #254

I'm with you. I have no comment until the entire story is exposed. truthisfreedom Oct 2012 #271

What chance are you willing to take... ileus Oct 2012 #268