In these days in Italy there is a big debate about self defence when somebody (armed or not) is intruding inside your house to steal or to harm somebody.
Teorically it is possible to use firearms for self defence, but pratically everytime you use it, even if the thug is armed with a firearm, you find yourself regarded as a "gun nut that make justice by yourself like in the Far West", and not as a law abiding citizien that suffered aggression by a criminal.
Laws don't help us.
The question is: how the law is working in the USA in case of an armed intruder is inside your house (with special regards to rules, law court sentences, opinion and so on...)
Thanks

The laws vary from state to state.   Here in North Carolina, if someone is forcing entry into your residence, you have to right to use deadly force to prevent the subject from entering.  The only other time deadly force is acceptable is when you are in fear for your life and a reasonable person placed in the same situation would be in fear of his life also.  Usually, in either of these two situations the cops, the legal system, and the general public would respect your decision to use deadly force.

It really does depend on where you are in the US. Some jursidictions will prosecute you for seemingly lawful self defense. Best to be in North Carolina, all things considered :)

Or in Texas, my dear Friend! [>]:)]

You know, this really pisses me off.  The fact that you're even thinking about this problem could very well cost you your life.  A friend of mine was being mauled by a Grizzly bear in Wyoming once.  He pulled his .44 mag and stuck it in the bear's ear and then hesitated thinking "wait, is this legal or not??  I might get in trouble for this...errr, uugghhh, what should I do???.....".  After all this thinking he finally shot the bear and saved his life.  Damnit, that hesitation could very well have cost him his life.  Thinking about those sorts of things in the middle of a gun battle could very well cost you your life.  A recent study of gun battles showed that the difference between killer and killeeyy, was two tenths of a second.  i.e. two guys are standing there with guns pointing at each other.  This study showed that the living guy pulled his trigger two tenths of a second faster then the dead guy would have (not sure how they calculated this as the guy is dead and how would you know if/when he would have pulled the trigger - but the point remains).  If someone is threatening you with a weapon and you fear for your life or the life of your loved ones, SHOOT, worry about the f-ing legal system later.  AT LEAST YOU'LL BE ALIVE AND THEY'LL BE DEAD.

The demise of Italy occurred when they lost the war with then tribal Ethiopia. [:D]

It sounds like you need to get rid of the socialist politicians, and English gun bans are just around the corner.

South Carolina's AG delivered an "Open Season" declaration on home invaders.

If they are invading your home, shoot them.

Of course, that facts would have to support they were actually invading your home, but the presumption is the innocence of the home owner.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

In Florida, we have the "Castle Doctrine".
If an intruder is in your home you may use deadly force to stop the threat.
BP

In Indiana, if someone breaks into your home while you are there, I am pretty sure they assume legitimate self defense given a few cases in recent history.  (provided you don't shoot them in the back 10 feet outside your door)


In Arizona, according to my CCW class, they can break in, and walk out with everything you own, and you can't defend yourself unless they specifically put you in fear for your life.

There were not many home invasions in Indiana, haven't lived in AZ long enought to know, but I sure liked Indiana law better.

Isn't there a proverb that goes, "Better to be judged by 12 than carried by six"? [:)]

shoot them outside and drag them in.. wrap a towel around a rock and shatter some glass or kick in a door.

not that i really suggest this.. its all fantasy of course.

But of course.