More homeowners fighting back against intruders
Feb 29, 2012, 10:41 PM | Updated: Mar 1, 2012, 6:03 am
In Washington state, homeowners have the right to use deadly force when they fear for their lives, and gun rights expert Dave Workman believes there has been an increase in those willing to do so.
The headlines have become more frequent: “Everett homeowner shoots, kills alleged burglar,” “SeaTac homeowner shoots intruder in the head,” “Edmonds homeowner fatally shoots intruder.”
In Oklahoma, an 18-year-old mother received national attention after she shot and killed one of two intruders who had broken into her home on News Year Eve. Sarah McKinley asked a 911 dispatcher for permission to shoot the intruder to protect her 3-month-old son.
“I’ve got two guns in my hand. Is it OK to shoot him if he comes in this door?” McKinley asked the dispatcher.
“I can’t tell you that you can do that, but you have to do what you have to do to protect your baby,” the dispatcher replied.
In Washington state, homeowners have the right to use deadly force when they fear for their lives or the lives of their loved ones, and gun rights expert Dave Workman believes there has been an increase in those willing to do so.
“I wouldn’t say that this is a sudden surge, but I think we do have a population I think that is fed up with crime,” said Workman, senior editor of GunWeek.com. “They’re starting to fight back.”
Workman is also author of Washington State Gun Rights and Responsibilities, a handbook that helps gun owners understand what their rights are when it comes to home defense.
“It’s acceptable to use deadly force in this state when you are in fear of grave bodily harm or death,” Workman said. “It’s not acceptable to use lethal force when it comes to property. If somebody’s just trotting out your front door with a television set, let the police handle that.”
Workman said the increase in homeowners shooting, and sometimes killing intruders may be due to an increase in the number of people buying guns to defend themselves.
Wade’s Eastside Gun Shop in Bellevue, Wash. has seen an increase in overall gun sales, with more people also purchasing revolvers and semi-automatic pistols, which are ideal for homeowners seeking protection.
“They don’t want to be a victim. They want to have something to protect themselves with. They want to be able to fight back,” said Manager Chad Curtis.
Curtis said they offer a popular course in home defense to help beginner and intermediate shooters come up with a plan to defend themselves in case of a burglary. The class covers gun safety, maintenance, marksmanship, and gun rights.
“We want them to have some confidence. We want them to feel like they know what to do,” Curtis said. “What would they do? What are they willing to do?”
