In the defense of my family, testosterone does of course kick in
as a knee-jerk reaction. This though is not to be confused with license
to act like the main character in "Taxi Driver"!
Such people belong in a mental institution, not as home owners.
Very difficult in this country to legitimate self-defense, both as a
homeowner as well as a so-called "trespasser".
Sure you're all familiar with those stories in the news about white
homeowners in the South who didn't like some random stranger's
looks for no apparent reason. Justified the fact that they may or may not
have been loitering on the homeowner's property, whipped out a
Saturday night special and blew 'em away. The Court upheld the former's
right to shoot first and ask questions later. By that time, it was too late for apologies.
Turned out, the African-American victims meant no harm whatsoever, they merely
took a wrong turn.
Was that Japanese fellow, a grad student from Tokyo, partying at New Year's outside
New Orleans back in the late '80's, in the wrong because he was lost in the area and
misunderstood the local homeowner's command "FREEZE!" as "PLEASE!", translating
as "PLEEZ!" in his native language?? He was shot dead and the that homeowner didn't
even get a slap on the wrist.
Ever heard of firing a warning shot in the air first to scare the fellow off?