Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying Dutchman  If he breaks in, grabs your tv and tries to leave, and you shoot him then you are liable because he posed no threat to you, only your tv (in the eyes of the law). ( I say shoot him, reload, shoot again and put a knife near him personally). |
That first part of this quote varies state to state. You also need to separate criminal liability from financial liability but in Indiana, Georgia, and South Carolina (where I have experience in this situation) I would not be charged with a crime for attacking an intruder in my home.
As to your shoot him, reload, shoot again comment. Many a lawyer has told me and others, that should I ever injure someone with a car, to go hit them again because it's cheaper to pay a claim for killing them than it is for crippling them. Not that I ever had the chance to try to the theory out.