Life Ain't Fair

I kid you not: Grandfather of Oklahoma teen killed by homeowner in burglary says AR15 made for ‘unfair’ fight.

“What these three boys did was stupid,” Schumacher said. “They knew they could be punished for it but they did not deserve to die.”

“Brass knuckles against an AR-15? C’mon. Who was afraid for their life?” Schumacher said.

The homeowner who pulled the trigger has not been charged with any crimes because police say he acted in self-defense. But Schumacher reinterated his belief that the consequences literally did not fit the crime.

“There’s got to be a limit to that law, I mean he shot all three of them — there was no need for that,” he told KTUL.

In addition to Redfearn, 19-year old Maxwell Cook and 16-year old Jake Woodruff were also shot and killed in the home invasion. Getaway driver, 21-year-old Elizabeth Rodriguez, was uninjured but later arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree burglary and one count of second-degree burglary.

Police also say Rodriguez admitted to planning the burglary.

So.

Three people break into a house. By his own admission. It was a “hot” burglary, and the feral punks planned for that eventuality as they came armed. By his own admission.

Laws vary from state to state about “castle doctrine” but in many cases, you’re not obligated to retreat out of your house – or for that matter, your car. It is assumed that anyone willing to enter your property with you on premises is willing to cause harm to get what they want, and while retreat may be possible, theft of even “stuff” is a theft of a chunk of your life’s work. History sadly shows that there’s no guarantee that all people can get out safely and unscathed, that hostages won't be taken to help open safes, etc., and that ultraviolence and a bit of the old in and out, while it may not be the original goal, is not in play.

Look at the newspaper headlines reporting these events, and home invasions. It’s not just something out of Death Wish. “Hot” burglaries are dangerous.

Three to one odds. In self defense terms, with no guaranteed path of retreat and life and home in danger, even if the kids were bare handed (and they could always grab clubs and kitchen knives) three to one odds is sufficient to justify deadly force.

Hell, entering the house like that alone justifies deadly force in a lot of jurisdictions, armed or not.

And they came armed. Brass knuckles are nothing to sneeze at – can easily cause lifelong debilitating injuries, concussions, etc.

They weren’t merely “stupid” as grandad put it. Outnumbered, in a hot burglary, committed by armed criminals. Deadly force is absolutely in play. Almost any one of those three justifies it.

And there was no need to break into a guys house, armed, and in force.

So why in gods name would any homeowner “play fair”? Would the grandad be happier if they were shot by a .38 special, or a 1911? Or an XD40?