Can a property owner use deadly force to defend their property?
No, a property owner may not use deadly force to defend their property. The life, health and safety of an individual, albeit an intruder, is considered to be more valuable by society than the material possessions in which that individual is trying to steal. However, a property owner is not prohibited from defending said property from another. For example, a property owner is entitled to use reasonable force to prevent someone, or something, from entering their property, or to remove someone from their property. Only the use of force calculated to do great bodily injury, or cause death, is not permitted.
No, a property owner may not use deadly force to defend their property. The life, health and safety of an individual, albeit an intruder, is considered to be more valuable to society than the material possessions in which that individual is trying to steal. However, a property owner is not prohibited from defending said property from another. For example, a property owner is entitled to use reasonable force to prevent someone, or something, from entering their property, or to remove someone from their property. Only the use of force calculated to do great bodily injury, or cause death, is not permitted. However, there are legal loopholes to these guidelines. If an intruder threatens personal safety, or is committing a forcible felony, deadly force may be appropriate. For example, if a robber enters a home and, while stealing items, attempts to rape the property owner, the owner may be legally justified in shooting the robber.
