thou shalt not kill

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mexi cali
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thou shalt not kill

Post by mexi cali »

"Opinion: No, rural Prairie dwellers, you can’t shoot to protect your property"

"The death of Colten Boushie"

Rural folk in the Saskatchewan area are lobbying for the right to protect their property and possessions with lethal force.

It is a complex, societal issue with no easy answers as far as I can see but I am interested in what others think about this.

Boushie was on Gerald Stanleysproperty illegally. Likely up to no good but regardless. Stanley says he fired at least two warning shots from his handgun but the vehicle with Boushie and friends did not leave. He says he removed the magazine, forgot about the round in the chamber and approached the car, reached in to remove the keys and the gun discharged killing Boushie. Maybe, maybe not.

Now, he is fighting for his own life and I think he goes to prison for manslaughter. We'll see.

Anyhow, the interesting question is how others feel about the extent that individuals should be able to go to to protect their property.

Using this situation as an example, I suggest this; the property owner does not know the intent of the people who are illegally on his property. This could be literally any situation and not just this one.

He is armed, as most rural dwellers are and he has attempted to get the intruders to leave. They don't.

Is a piece of physical property worth a life? Mostly no but again, the property owner doesn't know what the intent of the intruders is.

At what point can you justifiably use deadly force to protect life and limb? If you have reason to believe that you are in harms way because of the presence of intruders on your property, what do you do? do you wait to determine what it is they want? Do you wait to see evidence of a weapon?

Do you wait until they have physically harmed you? Do you wait until they have entered your home where your family may be?

It is very easy to suggest that no piece of physical property is worth killing someone over if you were not in the situation which resulted in a life being lost. If you weren't the one who had to make what could be a split second decision which could impact the rest of your life.

Like I said; there are no easy answers but there are opinions and I would like to hear what people have to say.

I would ask that before you answer on either side that you try to envison it being you who is being confronted.
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Bsuds
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Re: thou shalt not kill

Post by Bsuds »

We once had 4 drunks trying to break in our back door while we were home.
They were determined and even after I yelled at them from inside they continued to kick the door.
Luckily when my Wife called 911 and the Police came in less than 5 min they ran away.

If the Police had not arrived quickly and they had breached the door I would happily have shot them. (if I had a gun which I don't).

As far as the guy on the farm we have to consider that he is situated in a remote area and help is not close or is going to arrive quickly if at all. I'm not sure I believe it happened that way but we were not there. Was he justified? Maybe, maybe not but he warned them and they should have left.

It's unfortunate that someone died but given the circumstances I might have done the same.
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coffeeFreak
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Re: thou shalt not kill

Post by coffeeFreak »

Of course this conversation is based on the assumption that the farmer's version of events is true.
Ka-El
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Re: thou shalt not kill

Post by Ka-El »

mexi cali wrote: At what point can you justifiably use deadly force to protect life and limb? If you have reason to believe that you are in harms way because of the presence of intruders on your property, what do you do? do you wait to determine what it is they want? Do you wait to see evidence of a weapon?

Interesting questions, but I think (and hope) there is little chance the Criminal Code will be amended to allow people the right to protect their property and possessions with lethal force. As far as protecting life and limb, or believing you are in harm’s way, section 37.(1) of the Criminal Code specifies “everyone is justified in using force to defend himself or anyone under his protection from assault, if he uses no more force than necessary to prevent the assault or the repetition of it. Section 37.(2) goes on to state “nothing in this section shall be deemed to justify the wilful infliction of any hurt or mischief that is excessive, having regard to the nature of the assault that the force used was intended to prevent”. Presumably, if you saw evidence of a weapon and could justifiably argue you feared for your life, you could be vindicated in using lethal force.

More specific to matters concerning the protection of property, section 41.(1) states “everyone who is in peaceable possession of a dwelling house or real property, and everyone lawfully assisting him or acting under his authority, is justified in using force to prevent any person from trespassing on the dwelling house or real property, or to remove a trespasser therefrom, if he uses no more force than necessary.” In other words, you cannot shoot someone dead because they were trying to steal your snowblower. Even if we choose to believe the farmer’s versions of events (“I didn’t know my gun was still loaded”), he was using a firearm for lethal threat and/or intent and is responsible for the outcome. Sadly, it would seem to me that he would certainly be guilty of manslaughter, and since a firearm was used in the commission of the offence he will face a minimum sentence of four years (section 236(a)) if convicted.

eta: another opinion:

The death of Colten Boushie has exposed many ugly attitudes in Saskatchewan, and few as troubling as the idea that a person has some inherent right to shoot to protect property like ATVs, trucks and tools. The argument has taken root in online debate around the trial of Gerald Stanley, the man accused of killing Boushie, and it’s hard to say what’s more astounding: the ignorance underlying it, or the arrogance it implies.

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/op ... &ocid=iehp
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vegas1500
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Re: thou shalt not kill

Post by vegas1500 »

I think the farmer in question should have stayed indoors instead of confronting them. That being said I am in favor of using lethal force if my life is in danger in my own home. I may or may not have a glock in the night stand and if I was awoken to an intruder in my house, my only assumption would be that they are there to harm me. I would have no problem using lethal force and dealing with the consequences. A friend of mine lost his cousin because she was awoken by an intruder and was stabbed in the hallway. Happened in Edmonton I believe early 90s... this past summer in my neighborhood there was 3 armed home invasions during the daylight. They were driving around and looking for people in their garage with the door open...like many people do on a nice summers night. I do believe if you choose to use a weapon, you should be well trained and willing to pull the trigger.

http://edmontonsun.com/2014/11/02/forme ... 164a65d90e
Veovis
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Re: thou shalt not kill

Post by Veovis »

Out on a farm, no cops are coming. A discussion means you and your family are raped, murdered or worse. We cannot have a law saying you can shoot if you feel like it, any death should require investigation and justification, however, we can't have a law that makes people up to no good feel safe either.

Perhaps a proximity to police station slide rule.....

Heck I live in town and if people broke in, in the night, I would have the police called, but if needed I would hope I would kill them to save mine.
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Queen K
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Re: thou shalt not kill

Post by Queen K »

I may or may not have bear spray on hand right in my room.

I've been in a van at night where drunks tried to break in. This was in Edmonton, years ago. I still remember what it felt like way back then.

Coming home to my B&E, never occurred to me that the perps might still be in the basement when I ran down there to check o things. Assumed they were gone. DOH. Good thing they were.
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featfan
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Re: thou shalt not kill

Post by featfan »

Sask farmer found Not Guilty re CBC news.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada
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Re: thou shalt not kill

Post by Nedroj »

Just read the story and verdict and I agree I believe justice has been served. It was an unfortunate self defence accident and I would say the trespassers were more at fault for 1) trespassing in the first place and 2) continually trespassing after being warned multiple Times.

If this was in the states they wouldn’t have even received a warning, just simply shot in the head. Luckily this is Canada and they were given plenty of chances to retreat. And I’m sure this guy will live with the moral guilt of having taken someone’s life for the rest of his life. Even though he’s not guilty.

But what annoys me more so now about this is the reaction from the family claiming it’s because Colton was a First Nations and the justice system is racist. Which is complete non sense and the typical bs we’ve seen recently. Race had nothing to do with the verdict.

Outside the courthouse, Baptiste said to reporters the justice system has to change to serve First Nations people
.”
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Queen K
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Re: thou shalt not kill

Post by Queen K »

In complete agreement Nedroj, if this case has nothing to do with race.

Try telling them that.
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vegas1500
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Re: thou shalt not kill

Post by vegas1500 »

It’s always a race issue.........according to the race in question....
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Ken7
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Re: thou shalt not kill

Post by Ken7 »

As WE are not privileged in hearing all of the evidence, one should not assume.

Sitting on side of LAW without prejudice I consider all. When I learned one of the Crown witnesses came forth and stated he lied when originally interview by police and also when giving evidence at the Preliminary Hearing, I began to think what really happened on that day.

If we consider the fact four persons pull onto your property, you are one likely intimidated as you are out numbered.
What was said and done by intruders I do not know, but you have to consider help is not minutes away, but hours.

IF what the defendant says is true, there was a bullet in the chamber of the weapon unknown to him as the clip was removed and the firearm went off accidentally. That being his story without evidence to the contrary. By what the media has stated openly about the evidence, one must consider all.

In Criminal Law it must be without reasonable doubt. When you look the totality of evidence, was there doubt?

What are the elements of the offense Second Degree Murder? What must be proven to prove this charge? Mens rea and actus rea. Was this a planned deliberate act?

Guilty knowledge and wilfulness. A fundamental principle of Criminal Law is that a crime consists of both a mental and a physical element. Mens rea, a person's awareness of the fact that his or her conduct is criminal, is the mental element, and actus reus, the act itself, is the physical element.

Obviously, the jury felt there was question and that the evidence produced was insufficient to suggest that the accused was guilty without a reasonable doubt.

Will have to research the case law, and read what evidence was tendered and then make a educated opinion on what was in court.
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Re: thou shalt not kill

Post by Rider59 »

Veovis wrote:Out on a farm, no cops are coming. A discussion means you and your family are raped, murdered or worse. We cannot have a law saying you can shoot if you feel like it, any death should require investigation and justification, however, we can't have a law that makes people up to no good feel safe either.

Perhaps a proximity to police station slide rule.....

Heck I live in town and if people broke in, in the night, I would have the police called, but if needed I would hope I would kill them to save mine.


I would have no problem adding a few grams of well placed weight to anyone I caught breaking in. If they get within 10 feet on any family member (or the HD) it's gunna be real painful for them.
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Re: thou shalt not kill

Post by Chyren »

Perhaps the Crown charged him with the wrong offence?

I have seen a lot of FN on Twitter commenting about the "all white" jury. How is this NOT considered them being racist?

A jury in Canada is selected by the Crown and Defense combined. Both sides.

The reality is the facts of this trial will become diluted in the racial nonsense that will ultimately spew from this trial.

Some people in the FN community are already linking it to the 60's Swap, and the Residential Schools. This is again nonsense.

Those were real issues that destroyed a ton of lives. This was a trial for murder.

Perhaps if manslaughter was the charge then the Crown could have won. This story is FAR from over.
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Jflem1983
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Re: thou shalt not kill

Post by Jflem1983 »

Gonna throw my support behind the farmer. Rough country around Battleford. I would not want to call it home.

Id be well armed if i lived there.

Cant blame the land owner . Im sure if he would have been the one killed no one would be complaining. Cuz he stuck up for himself hes a bad guy
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