The homeowner who fatally shot a 20-year-old University of South Carolina student who tried to enter the wrong home on the street he lived on Saturday morning will not face charges because the incident was deemed “a justifiable homicide” under state law, Columbia police announced Wednesday.

Police said the identity of the homeowner who fired the gunshot that killed Nicholas Donofrio shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday will not be released because the police department and the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office determined his actions were justified under the state’s controversial “castle doctrine” law, which holds that people can act in self-defense towards “intruders and attackers without fear of prosecution or civil action for acting in defense of themselves and others.”

  • Touching_Grass@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    but I shouldn’t be forced to after he has forcibly gained entry to my house without permission by destroying a window.

    When you’re killing someone, every step should always be taken to avoid having to kill. Otherwise this situation occurs. You shouldn’t kill innocent people and others shouldn’t be at greater risk at your perceived threats. Especially since it’s not just in the home that people open carry. It’d in stores, its in streets and traffic.

    Right, just access to my family or pets for 11min average while I wait for the cops

    All of that would prevent you from leaving. And standing ground would be reasonable. But that’s the point. If there’s a backdoor and you’re next to it. Get the fuck out. Just leave. You immediately survive and that is what self defense is all about. Sticking around to get into a gun fight is not self defense if you haven’t attempted any other measures to protect yourself.

    Yes

    Beg to differ.

    Its going to be location based. Been a lifelong gun owner and I’m tired of the church of self defense spreading the gospel of fear that you’re useless without a firearm to defend yourself. They’re fucking loons. Life isn’t that rough and you’re more likely to make a bad call like in the story above. Lucky the man in the story gave warning shots instead of firing on the criminals there.

    https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/canada/man-acquitted-of-firing-warning-shots-at-group-who-firebombed-home-1.1102114

    • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      10 months ago

      When you’re killing someone, every step should always be taken to avoid having to kill.

      Took 'em. I call 'em “locks.”

      You shouldn’t kill innocent people and others shouldn’t be at greater risk at your perceived threats

      Agreed. Innocent. People caught red handed breaking and entering are no longer innocent. Innocence evaporates the second you force entry.

      Especially since it’s not just in the home that people open carry. It’d in stores, its in streets and traffic.

      Where the standard of defense is higher due to the other people having the right to be in those public places, unlike one’s home where the expectation is one of privacy and access controlled by the property owner or renter.

      If there’s a backdoor and you’re next to it. Get the fuck out. Just leave. You immediately survive and that is what self defense is all about. Sticking around to get into a gun fight is not self defense if you haven’t attempted any other measures to protect yourself.

      So, “Bye family, hope you survive, I’m diving through a glass door because I won’t have time to cross the room, get the key out, and unlock the deadbolt before he can get me. If you survive I’ll be in the hospital dealing with the injuries I caused myself to protect the guy who may kill you from the consequences of his own poor decisions.”

      Yeah right hoser, keep dreaming.

      Oof you are a gun owner who is willing to endanger others by shooting A) when you don’t “need” to and B) wildly, not aimed at the target, and with no way to know if the lady in the next appartment is in the trajectory? Jeez, stay in canada so I don’t have to worry about your irresponsible ass, your technique may work in the yukon but down here where other people exist that is illegal and runs the risk of you catching a murder 2 charge.

      You won’t convince me to commit crimes you know, sorry to spoil your fun. It may be legal in backwards ass canada but in the US it isn’t. Maybe Texas. Definitely not in my state, county, or city.