Call or write your state legislators, and urge them to support LB889. The "castle doctrine" as many call it, is meant to protect people who use deadly force in defending themselves against murderers, robbers, burglars, rapists, kidnappers, muggers, carjackers, and the like, from criminal prosecution or civil suits. You'd think it was common sense that the act of defending oneself, one's family, or friends, or even innocent strangers, from such attacks would be something society whould support rather than penalize. However, this is not currently the case when it comes to the law.
I don't know if the proposed bill goes as far as I'd like it to, but I'm sure it is better than no protection at all. In my opinion, people should be able to protect themselves regardless of where they are, and in any way that they are able to, without being subject to criminal charges or civil suits from those they defended themselves against. (This protection would only be offered to people who were in a place they had a legal right to be at the time and who were not themselves in jeopardy because of their own previous illegal actions.) No one should have the legal obligation to run away from an attack . No one should have to hand over their property rather than fight to keep it.
To those who insist killing someone to protect material things isn't justified, where do you draw the line? Is there a certain "dollar value" where shooting someone would be alright? Is it okay to shoot them if they are stealing my food, but not if they are taking my iPod? If they are stealing my gun, do I wait until they have it and decide to shoot me with it before I can defend myself? If they steal my property, can I have yours? Can I shoot them if they are males over 18 years old, but not if they are females or juviniles? Do I have to see their ID first so I'll know?
Get real! Property is just as important to humans as life itself. Without property (shelter, food, weapons, tools, etc.) there would be no life.
Hopefully, I will never have to use deadly force to defend myself. If I do, I'm not going to be thinking of the legal consequences of doing so until much later. With your simple act of calling or writing your legislators to support this bill, those who choose fight over flight won't be penalized for doing so.
