A very narrowly divided supreme court ruled that Americans should be allowed to keep hand guns in thier home for self defense purposes only. Now, the laws on self defense are very particular in when and where you cannot shoot your weapon. Given the increase in more effective but less lethal weapons, it is likely that the government will keep narrowing down laws to when the use of these guns will and will not become a crime.
With more and more non-lethal weapon technology becoming available the line between immediate necessity becomes blurred. Penal code states that deadly force (a hand gun) can only be used if immediate force is needed. With a non-lethal weapon at hand as well, choosing the deadly force to stop a intruder will be considered illegal. The laws will be drawn thicker and thicker if these non-lethal weapons start to make thier way into more and more homes.
The most common of the non-lethal weapon is the taser. A stunning device meant to deliver a painful electric shock to any attacker or intruder. Though it is true that the taser may not always be effective in long range combat. Taser, at a good quality, will shoot up to and around 35 feet. A average quality taser will probally shoot at around ten feet. Now, if you feel that the distance is too short, law says that any deadly force used cannot be at a long range. If you fire a gun from a long range distance at your attacker who is not within close proximity to you, you’re probally going to jail. Remember it has to be “immediately necessary” firing at someone 100ft a way doesnt seem like a immediate threat. Defensive force is considered within the ten foot radius that your taser will cover.
The taser is not the only non-lethal
technology that is effective. This includes the hand held light laser. This device points a laser at someones eyes and gives the sensation of their skin on fire. Devices like these are making it harder for people to get away with using deadly force as a defense mechanism.
If someone is shopping for a device to stop an attacker and chooses a hand gun over something less lethal like a taser, well they cannot say that they killed with no option. This new gun law implemented by the supreme court may allow you to keep deadly force in your home but it does not mean that there are better more effective ways to protect your family and your home.
